I loaded on magnesium for 2 1/2 weeks and am taking a reduced dose about 10 hours before levaquin.
For the last 3 days I have experienced burning and tingling in my thighs, feet and shoulders.
I have some soreness in my neck and shoulders.
If I walk longer distances I feel some slight pain in my heels.
I have not had any tendon pain.
I read the following, on levaquin, from a medical website. 'If symptoms of peripheral neuropathy including pain, burning, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness develop, patients should discontinue treatment and contact their physician.'
None of this is debilitating so far. I am just concerned.
I would appreciate your opinions. Is this a herx or a side effect of the drug? Should I stop or continue?
Thanks very much.
Posts: 43 | From Sacramento, Ca | Registered: Jul 2009
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Jeff,
I have been on Levaquin for about 3 weeks. I experience the burning, numbness and tingling as well...esp. in the a.m. to afternoon then it gets better.
I also have really bad 'spaciness/brain fog' in the a.m....again gets better as the day goes on.
Oh and I sweat at night all night long and have general foot discomfort...not real pain.
I am sticking with the levaquin after speaking with my doctor. Esp. since as the symptoms wax and wane...would suggest that you run it by your doctor.
That said, I had burning on IV Rocephin as well and numbness and tingling have been with me since the onset of illness.
Just a thought, but maybe levaquin is doing what it is supposed to do...thus the increased symptoms...
If i experience tendon pain, i will discontinue immediately!
Oh I also have agitation and my body wants to move all of the time.....stirring up Mr. Bart?
Be watchful, speak to your doctor, and good luck!
feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I'm with feelfit on this one. I'm three weeks into Levaquin. I have had increase in soreness in my neck and shoulders. But I'm positive its do to die off inflammation and not the drug itself.
As feelfit said {the bad 'spaciness/brain fog' in the a.m....again gets better as the day goes on.} I feel this to be my case also.
I have no tendon pain. I have increased sole pain in the morning, as the day goes it gets better.
I do feel a bit more restlessness, agitation, and insomnia. But I can handle it. Yesterday was pretty much a brain fog free day. Today it's back but I feel better.
I believe Levaquin is working, and am sticking with it. I see no purpose to get carried away with the hysteria surrounding this drug. If I get tendon pain I will stop. As individuals, we all make choices in trying to determine what protocol works. So hopefully you will benefit from this drug.
-------------------- HERX is a Four Letter Word! Posts: 716 | From If you're going through hell, keep going......Winston Churchill | Registered: Apr 2007
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Does the soreness in the neck/shoulders feel like a herx? Like does it feel....like you just got bit by a tick?
The neck and shoulders thing makes me think this is a herx. Though, when I get neck issues from herxes, it's usually to the point that it hurts to turn my head or tilt it up or down. Do you have that?
You could call your doctor and ask anyways...and if you think it's a herx, you could tell him/her so.
Personally I wouldn't worry and I would assume it's a herx, but I hate to tell anyone that with Levaquin because of the adverse issues people report.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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I have emailed my llmd's office and am awaiting a reply.
The neck and shoulder soreness does feel like a herx. These symptoms have been with me for a long time, but lately have been much better, until now. It does hurt to move my head up and down and to turn it.
I am most concerned by the burning, tingling and numbness. Today it was intense and included arms, lower back, neck/shoulders, legs and feet.
I wasn't concerned until I found two web medical sites that called this a severe side effect and advised stopping with these symptoms. It does seem to be less intense in the pm, but I still feel it.
I felt better reading feelfit's post because of the similar sensations. But, I am still concerned.
I guess I will pause until I talk to my doctor.
Jeff
Posts: 43 | From Sacramento, Ca | Registered: Jul 2009
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
I took Levaquin for a week. I really thought it was helping my brain so I tried to hang in there. I am having some discomfort in the tendon in my knee which concerns me. I've been off it for 2 days. I may start back.
I had not heard about those other side effects. Those sound like side effects of Flagyl. I am very careful if I start getting the tingling with Flagyl. It can become permanent if one stays on it a long time.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I think I did a poor job explaining the point I was making, re-reading this.
I realize you aren't really worried about the neck symptoms as side effects, but what I meant was, if you think the neck/shoulder symptoms are a herx, then to me, it seems there is a greater likelihood the tingling and burning could be a herx. If you know at least one symptom is a herx and not a side effect, you can work backwards to help figure out the cause of the symptoms you are worried about (tingling, numbness).
No way to know for sure, but if the whole collection of symptoms appeared at the same time, maybe it's all a herx. That was the perspective I was giving.
I think it's good you emailed your doc. Hopefully they will let you keep taking it, because my feeling is that the tingling/burning is probably part of the herx.
I would go with your intuition though.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Go to www.fqresearch.com raed about this family of abxs before you take one more pill. I had a bad raection to them and have been sick for 22 months. Which is not a herx ...I am now rifing for lyme and know the difference b/t a herx and what almost killed me. you should be more than concerned ...Most MD's don't know squat about the quins.
In the website link to one of the forums and ask about the quins you will be amazed at the response.
i don't understand why MD's are prescribing these for lyme...there are much safer choices. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dr.Dave
Posts: 41 | From Pa | Registered: Jan 2010
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Dr. Dave they are rx'ed for Bartonella not lyme....
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Hey Doctor Dave sorry about your bad experience which you claim is from Levaquin. First off why did your MD prescribe this drug for Lyme..Most people know this isn't the drug for Lyme disease.
It is used for some of the co-infections. Like in my case Bartonella {BLO}, and Mycoplasma.
People should be aware of the black box warning for sure. But we shouldn't discourage people from even trying this drug.
I personally am starting to see good results on my third week of Levaquin. I feel the brain fog lifting, and things are happening for me in a positive way.
-------------------- HERX is a Four Letter Word! Posts: 716 | From If you're going through hell, keep going......Winston Churchill | Registered: Apr 2007
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I developed muscle pain in my arm while taking Levequin, and like you, my doctor and I dismissed it as a herx. He asked me if the pain was in the joints, which it wasn't so I continued the drug. The pain went into my back and my arm ached so bad I could not use it.
Then suddenly when I was just reaching out to grasp something, there was a sharp stabbing pain in my shoulder and a snap. I immediately quit the drug. Everything else I tried to use I had a huge reaction to so I had to take herbs for 8 months until I completely relapsed.
I could not use my arm for over a month. I went to physical therapy. The aching continued for 8 months. I had to try to sleep sitting up in bed because if I rested normally the pain was overbearing.
Finally I took a very expensive supplement to promote healing and the pain went away. Now over a year later, if I do not take the supplement my shoulder begins to ache again.
This was NOT a herx, I assure you. I read in one book that many LLMD's will not give it to their patients because of the risk, which is not minimal.
However if you can tolerate it and are young, then it is a very good drug for getting the bartonella under control
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
After a week of finding excuses and putting it off, I just took my first does of levaquin(500 mg.).
I expressed my concerns about tendon issues, etc. at my last llmd visit but he says he thinks levaquin hits Bart the hardest and didn't seem overly concerned about side effects(easy for him to say!).
So, here I sit, scared to death about what may happen. And hoping I don't imagine bad things happening!
Never have been as nervous as this starting any of the other meds I've taken.
Man would I love to hear some good stories and happy endings regarding levaquin.
Anyone?
And if you don't have a happy story, could you make one up? I kid.
I did a search and it looks like I'm seeing more bad than good regarding this drug.
Posts: 423 | From Upstate NY | Registered: May 2009
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*tumbleweed rolls past*
Posts: 423 | From Upstate NY | Registered: May 2009
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
well topaz, can't help you.....so far I have only felt bad on levaquin.....will check back in if any change.
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Topaz, I had a good experience on 30 days of Levaquin. It got rid of my bart.
People don't post good experiences usually. They post about problems, looking for advice and help from others.
That's why the responses are lopsided in favor of negatives.
My lyme doctor said tendon issues with levaquin are "rare." I did weight lifting while taking it (as part of the required Burrascano exercise program I had to do).
But, I was told to stop all magnesium when taking Levaquin, and that is what I did. My now famous lyme doctor reiterated this rule the other day with another patient. So, that is still his current practice.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I'd swallow motor oil for if it could get rid of anything I have in only 30 days!! Wow. I hope I find my lucky drug someday.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Wow. I hope I find my lucky drug someday.
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