Levaquin (Levofloxacin) delayed side effects

[lightNlife]

According to the literature available with the medication, one of
possible side effects of Levaquin is tendonitis. I D/C'd the
Levaquin about 2 weeks ago (I was on 750 mg of it) because of joint
pain and serum sickness. The joint pain and the tendonitis went
away for awhile, but now it's back. I'm wondering how long this
stuff stays in my system and if this is permanent damage? My
achilles tendon is particularly painful. Is there such a thing as a
delayed side effect?<br>
<br>
I'm currently taking NSAIDs for the pain, and Prilosec OTC to
protect my stomach from the NSAIDs.  Never a dull moment with
CF, that's for sure.

 

[anonymous]

I know of several people who "blew" their Achilles while on Levaquin (including my late husband). It takes a long time for the effect and pain to o away just as it does when you hurt your Achilles some other way. It is real easy to overdue from what seems like common activities. Can only suest that you talk to your doc about the Achilles.
ood luck
-LisaV

 

[anonymous]

LisaV----

How long was your husband on Levaquin before he blew his Achilles tendon? I take levaquin (750) about 3 times a year for a period of 3 weeks each time and have had no problems with it but now after reading your post I want to be able to look for signs of possible problems.


Lgrace--The only meds that gave me joint pain (hands, wrists, elbows and ankles) was when I was on antibiotics for MAI. It started 4 months after I started the combination of 3 drugs (Ethambutol, rifabutin, Biaxin) and lasted until 4 months after I stopped taking them. I was really happy when the pain went away as the cramping and stiffness was increasing in intensity. My doctor just thought I was developing some arthritis especially since it runs in my family. But now we know it was from the drugs. I haven't had an ounce of pain in my joints in over a year.

I hope you find relief soon.

 

[NoExcuses]

1/2 life of levo is only a few hours long. so it's not in your system.

but permanent damage? i'm not so sure. i'd call your doc.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
Sorry I didn't see your question.
Sorry too that I don't remember exactly how long he had been on the Leviquin. It's not just Levaquin that can do this - any of the quinolines (sp?) can.
The first time his Achilles blew he seemed to happen while he was sleeping at night - went to bed fine then woke up with it blown -- which was weird enough that his doc took it as a clear sign of a drug reaction. There's a guy (JohnO) on the forum at <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://copd-support.org">http://copd-support.org</a> whose doc has had to keep him off the whole class of drugs. You could post there and ask him (there's no archive, need a new post).

I don't think it's so much a case of building up a level of Levaquine over months and months (see Amy's post for why I think that too) as it is that the tendons are damaged over and over again and it takes a good long while for tendons to heal -- and for some people they just never get as good again.

Hope this helps,
LisaV

 

[anonymous]

Thank you LisaV. I will look into this.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">