Topic: At what point did Levaquin hurt your tendons?
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I have been on Levaquin now for 4 weeks. About 4-5 days ago, I started noticing my knees were hurting some. At first, it was just tinges at night while laying in bed.
Now it's been about a week, and it's getting worse to the point that I'm wondering if it's a side effect and not a herx. Now they are hurting when I go from sitting to standing, or just kinda in general. The knees hurt on the underside and also all across the front.
Would 4 weeks in be some kind of herx? Or does this sound like the tendon issues people talk about?
I have had knee pain as part of my Lyme. This feels pretty similar, just more intense. It feels like extreme stiffness.
I don't know how to "know" if it's your tendons or something else in the joint area that's hurting??? Can anyone shed light?
I guess my question is...at the 4 week mark, is it likely to be herxin' or floxin'?
It is getting to the point that I don't think I should take another pill until I know it's not floxing (side effects).
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Also...what part of your body did it affect?
For me, because it's knees, it is screaming Lyme. But I'm gonna stop the Levaquin to be safe until I talk to my doctor.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
While I took Levaquin, the pain in my knees worsened over time. After 3 weeks they got bad and I started thinking, if this could be a sideeffect. I had slight pain also in other joints.
After 4 weeks Levaquin I stopped the medication and the floxing started one week later.
Before Levaquin I never had kneeproblems even though I'm dealing with Lyme since 22 years.
Posts: 269 | From Germany | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Was on Levaquin for 10 days (for sinus infection).
A week after I stopped my Plantar tendon got all buggered up - inflammed and very painful.
Been a long distance runner/marathon runner for 20 years and NEVER EVER had a case of Plantar - that is till afer I took Levaquin.
For me I do not think it is lyme related but a side effect of the med. My Sports Doc said to be careful for 6 months after taking Levaquin.
Posts: 376 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2009
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Hoosiers, I've been going after bart for two months with rifampin. I've done levaquin too but it was too expensive so I decided to try rifampin this time.
I had my lyme sx pretty much knocked down except a normal cycle flare. So now I've got bart knocked down and I'll be darn if lyme hasn't decided it's in charge again.
For 6 weeks now lyme knees are horrible and it's just about daily. I've had lower back pain (new sx for me) that is really getting the best of me. Neck pain, ankles, wrists. All lyme stuff.
Gigi has always reported how territorial these bad guys are. How one gets down and the other raises it ugly head.
IMO some of the hoopla about levaquin is from it being able to go deep into muscle and bone and cause the bacteria to act up. I found that with levaquin.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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For me, Levaquin caused calf pain, about 6-7 days into it. Was a deep, sharp pain. Spoke to my doc, he had me stop the Levaquin and pain subsided within about 5-7 days.
He had me give it a second try. Same thing, 5-7 days into it, my calf again, but on the other side, very deep and sharp. At that point, it was decided it was the rx as I'd never had this kind of pain previously and he put me on a different rx. That was my experience. Good luck. TS
Posts: 566 | From West Coast | Registered: May 2008
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posted
I'm glad to read this topic. I've been on Cipro for 3 weeks now, and a week ago I started having pain in my feet (both feet) and calves. Since this is also a bart symptom, I've wondered if its a bart herx, or a side effect.
I've never really had these symptoms before.
Posts: 490 | From TX- Go Cowboys! | Registered: Aug 2009
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
My pain started about 3-4 weeks on Levquin and, like you, I thought it was a herx as it was muscle pain which I had before with Lyme. But in the 5th week of Levquin, I felt a sharp stabbing snap in my shoulder, same arm. That was it.
I would quit for awhile if I were you and load up on minerals, B12, D3 and amino acids. That is what rescued me. I was in so much pain for 8 months that I could not sleep. It is thought that levaquin reduces blood flow to the tendons which is what causes the damage.
-------------------- 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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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
On day 4 for me. I actually was on crutches for 2 weeks aferwards. BUT then I did two more rounds WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF MAGNESIUM 2 WEEKS PRIOR AND DURING (per Dr S) and did not have any tendon problems as long as I stick with the high mag doses.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i was on levaquin about a month and then my legs got so sore i couldn't walk.
i was at my dil's house and she has a two story. i couldn't get up the stairs.
since i was in north carolina i stopped on my own. it took several months fr that pain to go away.
my doc didn't think it was the levaquin but i did.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Within two weeks I couldn't raise my arms. My usual exercising made things way worse. It has taken a month to go away completely.
Posts: 37 | From ma | Registered: Feb 2010
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Or just read the side of the box... this is a drug that can damage you in more ways than you realize. Dave
Posts: 41 | From Pa | Registered: Jan 2010
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
I wouldn't take my chances. The other thing about Levaquin is the ruptured tendons can come weeks after you are off the drug.
Be very careful.
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I have stopped it until I talk to my doctor. Him and I are both aware of the black box warning.
Interestingly, I took some Magnesium citrate in a powdered form in water last night, and my knees seemed to feel better after.
I honestly don't know if this is side effects or a herx, so I figure better to be safe than sorry for now. But as of right now, it is not severe, but I'm still stopping.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
I ate Levaquin for about 6 months. While I was on it I did have some pain in my achilles tendons. I did some searching and although the drug is dangerous in terms of ligament tears (and perhaps other maladies), a substantial number of people related that their tendons had hurt while on the drug, but that they had remained on it anyway. I did the same. My tendons never got really sore, but they did get sore, which was pretty disconcerting. I can't say for sure how well the Levaquin did or did not work.
Posts: 152 | From West Palm Bech, FL | Registered: May 2008
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