Levaquin and the FDA: A Love Story (Part 4)
29 Oct
Here is Part 4 of the documentary Certain Adverse Events. John Fratti from Levaquin Adverse Effects Blog is featured in this segment. If you have experienced similar adverse effects, post your experiences in the comments section.
I have taken Levaquin or Cipro at least four times in the past year: for sinus/bronchial infections and once for diverticulitis.
I have been seeing a nuerologist for periferal neuropathy since last March. Not until I took the medicine the last time in May did I realize the strange tingling and burning as well as throbbing in my legs and sometimes in other places was increased when I took it. I had suspected the medication the time before when I was on it because the tingling, and especially the throbbing, increased after having subsided somewhat. Then in May I finally read a warning, but after having taken half of the medicine already. The warning came from my pharmacy with the medicine, but I failed to read it the first few days.
I then copied the pharmacy’s warning information and took it to my doctors.
I started an exercise program with a trainer in September, and I found that the tingling and throbbing decreased but did not disappear. I have stopped the exercise and the tingling has increased, but the throbbing rarely recurs. Perhaps people who DO NOT have tendon problems from the medicine could try exercise. I did both aerobic and resistance exercises.
I had no tendon problems recently, but I had read of the tendon problems from Cipro way back in 2000 after my son took it for an infection after having his wisdom teeth removed. Later a fellow freshman soccer player at his college spoke of the trouble he had been having with his ankle all summer. His mother said he had taken Cipro when I asked her. Then I told her of the tendon problems associated with Cipro. I wonder why the problems from Cipro were not more widely publicized back then. Instead, people are just finding out and – worse yet – doctors either do not know of it or they just prescribe it and neglect to warn their patients.)
I had taken Cipro before 2000, and had shoulder problems that started while I was still taking it. I wondered about a connection, but did not get any confirming information until 2000. I still have some problems with that shoulder
Thanks for your comment Linda. I’m sorry to hear about your troubles. It’s becoming more and more evident just how many people have been affected by fluoroquinolone toxicity. I hope your therapy continues to show some improvements.
As you mention, sometimes even when the warning IS on the package we’ll skip over it. And that’s our fault. But when it isn’t, because the drug cos don’t think the risks are that real or that important to disclose, then they should be held accountable. As we’re seeing with all of the litigation going on now, it looks like they might be in the coming months and years.
All the best,
Mike