posted
I've been taking Levaquin since 3 months and I'm not sure if it did anything except causing tendons pains and making me extremely exhausted.
Have to admit that I had to pulse it to be able to support it. I took 250 mg a day at 115 lbs (together with Minocyclin 50 mg in the morning and 100 mg in the evening). The first few days I always felt quite good but around day 4 or 5 I was so fatigued that I had to stop for 3 days to be able to go to work.
So, I did the pulsing like LymeladyinNY had posted: 4 days on and 3 days off. After 1 month each I had one week break.
I had the feeling it gave me more energy the first few days and then it wiped me out completely. I also think that it improved my sleep. At least I fell asleep faster but I awoke again at around 5 a.m..
Psychologically, I was depressed and at the brink of panic all the time. Otherwise, I didn't notice anything.
I stopped it about 10 days ago because I'm going in vacation soon and I simply cannot do this in the state I was with Levo and Mino (and I'm living only for these 2 weeks of vacation per year - no other pleasures in life anymore).
Now, the exhaustion is better as well as the psycho stuff and the tendon pains. But since 4 days I'm having a stingy headache on the left side with my scalp hurting when touched, my eye hurting sometimes when touched, etc. I had this in a milder form many years ago but it never lasted.
My question is: Do you see any positive effect or is it the wrong abx for me and I'd better try something else? Shouldn't I have noticed more improvement?
Appreciate your opinions.
Gabrielle
Posts: 767 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Gabrielle, Curious... how long have you been on Levaquin? And, what have you been diagnosed with(Lyme, Bart, Babs, etc.)?
Posts: 386 | From Southeastern PA | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Where are your tendon pains located? If they're true tendon pains, you shouldn't be taking it! My knees hurt very badly when I started on Levaquin, but it was a herx so went away.
When I took Levaquin i herxed horribly for six weeks, then saw steady improvement.
If you've been pulsing it 4 days on 3 days off and at half the 500 mg dose I was on, it might be taking longer for you to get through that initial feeling bad spell.
If it's making you feel bad, and now you're feeling better off it than you did before off meds, I'd say it's doing the job.
I'd discuss it with your doctor though after you get some opinions from us.
Have a fun vacation!
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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I was 3 months on it - but pulsing only which means in total I had only 36 pills of 250 mgs.
I was diagnosed with Lyme, Bartonella (from Fry labs) and Ehrlichia but I'm not so sure about that last one because the next test was negative.
Sixgoofykids,
2 hours after the first pill I started to have pains more or less everywhere from the knees downwards.
The knee pain went away pretty soon, what was left was pain around the ankles and in the Achilles tendons.
I think that the Achilles pain is some damage done to the tendons because since I carried a heavy TV 3 stairways down on Sunday they hurt again, although the pain had nearly stopped since I stopped the Levo.
I don't feel better since stopping - in the contrary - I feel worse: head ache, eye pain, blurred vision, itching, sweating, bad sleep...
It's just the fatigue, the psycho and the tendon stuff that got better - which can all be side effects from the Levo.
Gabrielle
Posts: 767 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Levaquin is a drug recommended by Dr. B for Bart. Have you done anything to start treating the Lyme yet?
Posts: 386 | From Southeastern PA | Registered: Oct 2007
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I've been on levaquin for a little over 3 months, close to the same amount of time that you've been taking it.
I am taking it everyday at the same dose of 500 mg. It has been very difficult because I feel bad most of the time. My muscle soreness and joint pain has increased a great deal on levaquin.
I don't notice any improvment in the way I'm feeling but I know it is working because the long red streaks are fading. They didn't start fading until I stopped taking rutin which I think may have been interfering with levaquin. You might check to see if anything you are taking could be interfering with levaquin.
It just may take some of us longer to notice improvement. Also, for some people the side effects of the drug may make it hard to tell if there is real progress being made.
Are you taking levaquin as your doctor prescribed? Have you asked your doctor about why you are not seeing success? You may be having a bart relapse now that you are off levaquin but your doctor would be the best person to help you figure out what is happening with bart and levaquin.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Yes, I've treated the Lyme a lot already since Oct. 2003 but it didn't make me well that's why I finally got the Fry test and started treating Bart.
Terry,
That sounds good that your streaks are fading. Wish I had some to tell, I have lots of skin problems but not such sure signs.
quote: Are you taking levaquin as your doctor prescribed? Have you asked your doctor about why you are not seeing success? You may be having a bart relapse now that you are off levaquin but your doctor would be the best person to help you figure out what is happening with bart and levaquin.
Unfortunately, my doctor cannot help much as NO doctor here in Germany knows about Bartonella. They are only starting to believe that it might be a problem and have zero experience with it. I told my doc what to prescribe.
My doc thought it was a good sign that the first few days on Levaquin I felt better and that my sleep improved. Maybe that's true.
Thank you all for your answers so far.
Gabrielle
Posts: 767 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2004
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
well as for starting I got bart that I am sure -(maybe I had other strains before), but very sure 14 years ago in NORDHEIN WESTFALIA in Germany.
Well it has been more than a year and finally ( check my post)I increased the dossages and today I am back from my llmd.
She still find bart and lyme.Ehrlichia , babesis and mucoplasma fermentas are not showing back ( hope they will not come back)
I am now on the highest dosages to get bart.She muscle tested again and found my body still wanted : Azithr 600mg Rifampin 600mg ( 2x300)started sleeping since last year LEvaquin 500mg ( with proton pumper ) made me sleep better HH capsules 2 pills ( I am taking 3 as it maded m e sleep deep at night )definitly relaxed after adding it.
I am taking HERBS ANDROGRAPHIS no antibiotics as that is what my body wants for lyme.
SO ...my achilles tendons -are the same as yours, my knee are the same as yours , my body aches are better than before but still there.
I already have been 3 months full 500mg opf levaquin -not the only soplution , I have been 9 months together in Rifmpin and 7 on azithr
Plus rifing every week and 2 months IV blood irradiation with fluoresent lights for 2 months before starting antibiotics
SO with that said -Depends on your load.
When I stoped levaquin as you did -I felt the same thing.YES my head has still patches of burning on the top of the right side of my head.
Yesterday I had a bout of migrane( had stoped levaquin and added HH -so migranes started 6 days after I stoped levaquin).
So do not quit.My drs ( as DR J S said on his book) need combination of several drugs as they help to penetrate better on killin it. I am not over yet.
BART is the nestiest .
HOW long do you thing you had bart ?
YES my skin start getting better but still can see that bart is there less though.
So with that said I have been chasing bart since MAY 2007 .
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
You wrote: Psychologically, I was depressed and at the brink of panic all the time. Otherwise, I didn't notice anything. ------------- That sure sounds like a bartonella symptom to me, and a sign that the drug is working. Bartonella is known for causing nasty mood/psych symptoms. But.....my LLMD recently told me that LEVAQUIN can cause those same feelings until your body gets used to it. Such has been the case for me.
Can you go back on?
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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I think I can say for certain that I got it 1967 in Canada from a young stray cat. After it scratched me that was when all my problems started. So, it's now 41 years.
CD57,
Yes, these mood things are certainly Bartonella symptoms. But as it can also be a side effect of the Levaquin, one doesn't know anything for sure.
Yes, I can go back on it but I won't before I'll be back from my vacation. If I go there in such a bad state of mind I will jump out of the driving car...
My doc ordered a couple of tests again and I'll see her on Friday. Then we'll decide if and what I'll be taking during the vacation.
Thank you for your answers.
Gabrielle
Posts: 767 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2004
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they hurt again, although the pain had nearly stopped since I stopped the Levo.
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