If anyone has any info about Levaquin I’d appreciate if you shared it. I read what is in the archives, and what is online, and it sounds like the devil’s antibiotic… Ruptured tendons, neuro problems, etc. I have swimmers ear (on and off since July) and an ENT wants me to take a seven day course. I’m especially concerned about the tendon issues because I have Muscular Dystrophy and many of my joints (especially shoulder) are poorly stabilized my muscle with extra strain on tendons. Anyone know of other antibiotics that I could suggest as alternate or other info? Thanks!
Ryan
There are several antibiotics with similar antibacterial coverage as Levaquin - but, the tendon rupture worry is very unlikely (with any quinolone, although reported). Nice thing about Levaquin is the once daily dosing and less chance of diarrhea compared with other abx.
I’d just ask him/her for another “option” (i.e. Biaxin)
Good luck!
I am undergoing antibiotic therapy for chronic, late-stage Lyme disease. I do 4 week cycles of AB’s (3 weeks on, 1 off) and have been using Levaquin in conjunction with Septra for the last 4 or 5 months. I have not noticed any deleterious effects such as you are concerned with. My understanding is that Levaquin and/or Septra pass the blood-brain barrier and therefore can target brain tissue. I was having severe cognitive deficits until I began this combo. I thank God for these meds, because I can now think fairly clearly and am slowly getting my life back. I can exercise again and am able to work part-time in a very physically demanding job (LMT). My hope is that I will regain the strength and stamina to perform full-time within a year.
Ivan
This class of drugs can cause weakening of tendons and potential rupture, BUT, chances are about 1 in 5000. Factors to consider are age, other medications (ie. corticosteroids or steroids), age >60, renal function, and rheumatoid arthritis. I’d say that you’ll live. To be on the safe side, monitor you achilles tendon for any discomfort, tightness/stiffness, soreness, and or pain when putting weight on your foot.
By the way, you said for a swimmer’s ear? It must be pretty bad for the Dr to prescribe you this, usually it goes away as long as you keep your ears dry (no swimming for a few days) and may prescribe you an antibiotic ear drop along with painkillers (tylenol/advil and warm towels).
Good luck to your tendons.
The class of quinolones is associated with tendon rupture. I would request another option, depending on the bacteria the ENT suspects, there are plenty of good choices (Ketek, Biaxin, Augmentin etc). As far as Lime Disease, I believe Biaxin is the choice product, not the combo?
Okay 'arry “Put the Lime in the Coconut” Nielssen… 
We cycle my AB’s as need be. My next cycle will be Augmentin and Biaxin XL. It’s all about symptoms and response to the particular meds. Of course, one reason for cycling is to keep the bacteria from morphing and the med losing effectiveness.
I won’t take an quinolones for that specific reason. While the risk is supposedly small, why take it when there are alternatives available? Think about how much it would suck to rupture an achilles, or other major tendon when you were just trying to fix a sinus problem or something like that. Makes no sense to me at all.
Ask your doctor about Tequin.
I was put on a high dosage of Levaquin in 2001 and experienced bilateral achilles problems to the point where I could barely walk. My doctor said that the medication had nothing to do with it. Come on. The medication was the only thing new in my life at the time. The PDR (physicians desk reference) even states achilles rupture with high doses.
Ask your doctor about Tequin.
Ah, no - Tequin is just another fluoroquinolone and very similar to Levaquin. Drug companies try to keep the names somewhat similar to help the layperson (see the “quin”). Generic names are easier still (gatafloxacin vs. levafloxacin vs. ciprofloxacin, etc.). As an added bonus with Tequin, you may get some wacky blood sugar fluctuations making training tough (assuming you choose to train through a sickness like many/most of us idiots do).
Biaxin would be a better bet, even if you get some transient diarrhea or GI issues that are more common with it. I highly doubt your ENT was thinking at all about possible tendon issues in an athlete (and frankly, I probably wouldn’t as well if I weren’t a runner myself).
Thanks for the input. After I expressed my concern he said something like “Well, we can’t have you take it now b/c you will hurt yourself and blame it on me for prescribing it.”
His new prescription is a 10 day course of 500mg Keflex 4X day. I haven’t started it yet, not sure I trust this guy.
Thanks again!
RL
Glad you’re starting to feel better. Keep fighting brother!
RL
Thanks. Same to you, bro.
Ivan
So much for “beside manner” - geez, nice response. And the other thing: Levaquin and Keflex are POLAR opposite antibiotics with respect to their coverage (i.e. different antibiotics for different bacteria). So why go from one to the other? Obviously just writing an Rx from hip with little thought.
I was just prescribed this and after reading the horror stories here and other places I am scared to take it. Tendons, eroded cartilage. Geez it seems like a high price to pay if you are one of the unlucky ones…
http://www.askapatient.com/...35&name=LEVAQUIN
http://www.rxlist.com/...eric/levoflox_ad.htm
There are plenty of other good antibiotics. You should be able to call the Dr. office and ask for something else.
I wouldn’t ever take this again. I was prescribed it for a dog bite I had last summer. I went out for a run feeling fine but about 1 mile in I got severe/sharp pain in my calf and had to walk home. Something must have torn because I could barely walk for days. 1 week before my A race for the season! I never had any problems with my calf before that. It also made me have really weird dreams/thoughts. It’s nasty stuff.
Well shit…I am into day three of a levaquin pack. I have two more doses left there is no way I am running for the next three days. So does the possibility go away once it is out of your system? How long does it take to get out?
Metabolized pretty slowly, hence the once per day dosing. All of the quinolone abx have excellent bone/tendon penetration (a good/bad thing). Not sure how long the “tendon rupture risk” is (albeit extremely rare) is after stopping though. My guess would be about 10 days?
keflex is a bizarre choice for swimmer’s ear/sinus etc used more for skin bugs.
I would have put you on augmentin - twice daily dosing - big risk is diarrhea but that can be dealt with. certainly easier than 4x per day and had the coverage needed…
someone else asked how long until levaquin out of your system - at least one week…