Avelox and pneumonia

I love Avelox! I had a chronic sinus infection along with bronchitis and what was the beginning of walking pneumonia. I could not breathe out of my nose and my chest rattled, and I was coughing up yellow mucus that had a foul taste. My doctor gave me samples of 3 Avelox to start with, and a prescription for Doxycycline to take for 7 days after. I just finished my 3rd pill of the Avelox, and it is amazing how much better I feel! I will of course finish out the prescription of antibiotics that he gave me as well, but maybe he only gave me 3 Avelox because they aren't good to take for a full cycle, I don't know. All I know is that I have had none of the problems as described here and I can breathe again.

I was prescribed 400 mg Avelox 1x a day for pneumonia. Had 1 in the hospital and an additional 4 doses at home. That 4th evening my vision in my right eye became totally blurred, like a heat mirage type of blurred is the only way to describe it. I called the on call doctor and while I don't think he believed me, he did change me to Ceftin. I have arthritis in my knee and after 5 days of bed rest from the pneumonia I had to go and get 35cc's of fluid drained off my knee. It is now almost one week after I stopped the Avelox and I'm having extreme calf cramps in my left leg. I have no history of this. Very strange drug that I will not be taking again. It did get rid of the pneumonia.

Have taken Avelox for bronchitis and pneumonia in the past. I was well-informed as to possible side effects, and it was suggested that I drink a glass of tonic water daily, that the quinine in it can help offset problems of this class of drugs, the quinolones.
Started myself on it last night for a five-day course, again for bronchial infection (very bad cold turned into bad cough, bringing up discolored mucus, bad taste in mouth). I have asthma and have had bronchial infections many times following a cold.
Had the slightly jumpy reaction, trouble sleeping, and snatches of a song fragment replaying in my head. Finally fell asleep and feel ok this morning--better, actually, as i think i caught the infection at an early stage and it will be gone with a five-day course of this drug.
The reason I have been prescribed this med is that I am allergic to virtually every kind and class of antibiotic. I can successfully take quinolones and sulfa (like Bactrim)--that's it.
However, I've found it to be very effective and the side effects quite minimal. I am drinking that glass of (diet!) tonic water, taking the medication on a full stomach (something carb, like pasta or lots of bread), and being careful not to do any heavy lifting for next couple of weeks to avoid any tendon issues.
This is a very effective drug for those of us who cannot take Zithromax, Penicillin, Erythromycin, etc. My doctor, who runs the pulmonary dept at a hospital, is well-versed in what to use and when.
Will let you all know if there are any problems during or after the 5-day course.

I have been taking Avelox for 6 days after being diagnosed with pneumonia. I have been feeling weak, fatigue and out of breath, also having occasional stomach pains and feeling drowsiness. Then on the 5th day of the medication, I've noticed red bumps were breaking out on my fingers, starting from my right thumbs, they are painful to touch. I have one more pill left and decide not to take it anymore. I should have researched more on this before taking.

33yr Male, fairly fit. South Africa.
(very cautious on any drugs or illness - thanks for the internet for research)
About 5 weeks ago I developed severe sinusitus (headaches, dry nasal paths burning like hell, irritating eyes, sore throat...) Doctor prescribed the usual Augmentin SD. this cleared the nose, pain, throat. On the last day of the course, my chest started burning, together with coughing. Diagnosis was bronchitis (not pneumonia). so the doc prescribed Avelox for 5 days.
The pharmacist took great care in explaining all the side effects to me, and warned me to rest enough, drink lost of water (as with many medicine), don't take multi-vitamins or supplements with iron, zinc, magnesium, and most important that for 6 weeks not to do any exercise, not even walking too much, as your muscle tendons can be damaged. (I even stopped working in the garden, or lifting heavy boxes)

Taking the advice, I got better, and up to today (2 weeks since last pill), I haven't had any side effects as mentioned here. I will continue to check for any in the next few weeks.

I had been suffering from bronchitis for over a week; my doctor believed that it may have been developing into pneumonia so he prescribed a seven day supply of Avelox along with an inhaler (for my congested airways). About an hour after taking the second pill (day two) and a couple puffs from the inhaler, it felt as if my throat was spasming (possibly closing), my chest hurt, and I felt incredibly anxious. I actually called 911 (which I have never done before) and the EMS suggested I stop using the inhaler. So I did. I stupidly finished off the week's worth of Avelox (yesterday 11/9) and am still struggling with moderate to severe anxiety. My stomach has hurt almost all day today, and it still feels at times as if my throat is spasming. Has anyone else experienced this?? I thought it may be anxiety-related, but now I'm not so sure.

I'm seeing my doc again tomorrow and plan on telling him that I never want to use Avelox (or any fluoroquinolone) again!!

I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and my doctor prescribed avelox. 2 days into taking the med I developed cramps in the lower bowel and diarrhea and I was always tired no energy. I figured that the avelox killed the bacteria in my gut and started taking Acidophiles pills. 7 days into the meds I found this page and immediately stopped the avelox and called my doctor. He put me on biaxin and put a note in my record. NO AVELOX! Well it in now going on 4 week later and I still have diarrhea (explosive) and my doctor is baffled. He is sending me to my GI doctor now. I have Ulcerative Colitis. I am worried that avelox may have caused a flare up.

My husband was hospitalized with pneumonia on July 14, 2008. He was given Avelox via IV in the hospital and a 7 day pill prescription when he came home. Even in the hospital, he complained of muscle aches, but no one keyed on the antibiotic as an issue. When his breathing was better, he assumed he should try to do physical activity...but when he tried to play some golf one day, and do a little deck staining another, he payed for it with severe joint pains...even then, no doctor said anything about the antibiotic. He has lost over 25 lbs since this began, and has lost absolutely all muscle tone in his body..

He's stopped trying to do anything, but the last month has been terrible for him...every joint in his body hurts--he can hardly walk, there were days he couldn't lift a fork to his mouth with one hand... I brought him back into urgent care on Aug. 9th...that doctor was the first to mention that it could be a side effect of the Avelox he had taken 3 weeks before...

Since then, we have been to his primary care doctor, who doesn't think "the Avelox has anything to do with it. Now that I've googled it and seen the new FDA warning, I can't understand any way it wouldn't be at least part of the problem!

He's been give Vicodin for the pain, and they're running more tests, but I intend to go into the doctor with every thing I've seen on this..I don't have a problem with them using this medication for his pneumonia, but am so frustrated that they didn't tell warn us of this side effect--especially when he's tried to tell them what he's feeling.... I just think he would have been so much better by now if they would have switched him off of the drug as soon as he noticed the pain..

Sorry, meant to say -"The warning packet and the website for Avelox both state not to combine Avelox and Prednisone, as well as using caution when prescribing for the elderly, which i see some of your doctors have NOT done"

My Dad,a 78 year old highly functioning man, was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday evening, June 25, with a case of bacterial pneumonia. They gave him his first dose of Avelox, at 10:00PM. Twelve hours later, he was hallucinating, agitated, had an irregular racing heartbeat. He also had severe tremors, shaking. They gave him more medication for his heart and transferred him to the cardiac unit. They put him on a blood thinner, heart medication. Tested his heart and examined his brain. All tests came back negative. Thank God my father's heart is strong, or we probably would have lost him. 3 days later, I was on the internet researching Avelox, and noticed immediately that all of his problems were side effects of this drug. My family notified the doctor immediately and demanded that they switch my father's meds. The doctors did so reluctantly. They had never heard of these kind of side effects related to Avelox, even though it affects almost 3% of the population. My father had his last dose of Avelox on Sunday. Today, Tuesday, he is still having some "visions" and is confused. I don't know how long it is going to take for these side effects to disappear. The doctors are no help. This medication has caused my father and family severe stress, and prolonged his stay in the hospital. It has cost the insurance company extra money, since they had to do unnecessary testing on my father to try and determine the cause of his symptoms. He was also given additional meds that he never would have needed if they had just prescribed Zithromax from the beginning. AVOID AVELOX - IT COULD KILL YOU!

I was prescribed avelox for mastitis and a UTI. I was fine until after the 3rd dose, I had MAJOR anxiety attacks that would start from my head down through my legs, like a tingling sensation. I felt as if I was going to fall over or faint. I then had tremors or the shakes. Doc said to continue the med after telling him how I was feeling. I then couldn't take the symptoms and went to the ER and they said the same thing, continue taking it. Now my gut feeling was to not take it, but I had a bacterial infection and didn't want that to get out of control, so I took the 4th dose. The next morning, it was the same thing all over again, tingling/dizziness from my head that would run through my whole body, and the shakes again. I went back to the doc and they told me it was safe to stop taking it. It has been 3 days since I stopped taking it and I still feel terrible. Very tired, my head just does not feel right. I hope with each day that it gets better. What a nasty drug this is and For anyone that reads this, please take this warning seriously, you do not want to feel like this. Oh, one more side effect, I had the tight chest also.

First let me say, i have taken Avelox twice before and had NO side effects whatsoever! It worked great on my pneumonia the last two times (a yr apart) and i recovered very quickly. However, this time was different. I usually only have pneumonia once a yr Jan or Feb time frame, this time i have gotten it thanks to an unthinking oaf (who knew we have 7 little ones at home) and came to visit with a rip roaring sinus infection. I get pneumonia when everyone else gets sinus infections, who knows why? This time my dr. prescribed the usual Avelox for 10 days and the very first dose i was ok for the first hour and after that, wham i was in the bathroom with diarrhea and almost immediately began to vomit to the point where i could not control it, and then my hands and feet turned red and itchy was gone the next morning. I feel lucky compared to some of these people, and i have many drug allergies so i do understand it can be quite aggravating, but any time you have any type of reaction to any meds you should IMMEDIATELY discontinue and then call the doctor. any doctor who tells you anything else should be FIRED!! My husband and i are both EMTs and let me tell you, if your doctor doesn't discontinue use of a medication that causes reaction of any kind--let alone a severe one needs to go back to school. Anxiety attacks, etc. that some of these people have had are NOT minor, they are not side effects, it is an allergic reaction, to a medication. If it were me, i would be firing that doctor immediately or getting a second opinion. Common Sense is so rare these days, if it doesn't sound right, it probably isn't. Do not be afraid to shop around for a new doctor, YOU are their bread and butter, You are still a customer and there are so many out there these days you can find one that IS what he or she should be, concerned about You and YOUR health,
not one who speaks over you or disregards your concerns or symptoms! If your doctor keeps you on a medication that you are allergic to--FIRE him or her and find a new one!

I was given a free 10 day coupon for Avelox by a physician to treat an awful cold that wouldn't go away. He also wrote a prescription for, and I got it filled at a pharmacy, an inhaler. Avelox is the WORST medicine I have ever encountered in my 69 years!! I took it for 4 days and QUIT (today) the *^%(% thing. Who wants to be dizzy, crabby, anxious, short with people, impatient, thirsty all the time, constantly gasping for breath, and NO energy at all?
Bayer should be prosecuted, condemned for creating this poison pill. I can't believe this med it is still allowed for public consumption!??

Starting taking Avelox last Thursday (May 29) after having a sinus infection/pneumonia. Sunday afternoon I was watching "one flew over the cuckoo's nest. I started getting really paranoid that i was gonna loose my mind and started a panic attack and plenty of anxiety. Monday I was hanging out with my amazing girlfriend and started getting really anxious and depressed over basically nothing. Today is Wednesday and I'm really dizzy and anxious as I write this. F#$% this medicine, I'm calling my doc tomorrow to take something else... You're not going crazy, it's just the avelox. PS - Good site to find :)

I took this after landing in the hospital with mono, strep and pneumonia. It seemed to work well to treat all of those (combined with another antibiotic) but it has bad side effects--dizziness, nausea, rash all over (arms and legs especially...and it gets worse in the sun), and i've also noticed little bumps all over my lips. I'm not sure if this was caused by the avelox or the famciclovir they gave me...has anyone experienced any of these side effects with avelox? I'm especially interested in anyone who has experienced bumps on their lips...

I am a 43 year old female who, until I found this site, thought I was dying of bone cancer - I am not even kidding. I just finished the last of my 10 day prescription for Avelox (for bronchitis and sinusitis). And I feel like I have been beaten about the head and body. Honestly, every part of my body aches and I can barely walk. I have absolutely no energy; throbbing and shooting pains up and down my arms and legs. Not to mention sharp pains in my chest area periodically. I have very clouded and unclear thinking abilities; and my neck and head hurt so bad not even an 800 mg ibuprofen helps. Oh and let's not forget the chills which are right down to the bone - I cannot get warm and I have yucky night sweats to boot. I would most certainly be interested in a class action lawsuit. I really hate that I took 10 days worth and wonder when I will start feeling better. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AVELOX - it is not worth the painful side effects! The prescription flyer I received with the medication did not mention any of the side effects I encountered.

Avelox - someone needs to get a class action lawsuit going. I was put on this Friday (2/8/08) for pneumonia. The MD said it was a great very strong antibiotic and would kick in really quick. Within 4 hours I was having some problems with urine dribbling out - something I've NEVER had before. By the next day I was having to change pads every 30-60 minutes with gushes every time I coughed - and that made me go through multiple pants until I started to use my babies diapers. By the third day I couldn't leave home. My pneumonia was much worse, as if I hadn't taken any antibiotics for it at all. I stopped the Avelox and went back to urgent care - the doctor didn't even argue that my pneumonia was worse, one listen to my chest and he was quite concerned. He put me on Zithromax and I'm doing better as far as the pneumonia.

The bladder incontinence is still bad and hasn't let up even though I haven't taken any Avelox for 3 days. I called Bayer's branch that makes this stuff to file a complaint and the customer rep said "You must be unusual, there have been no complaints of bladder incontinence with Avelox before." She barely listened to me and told me to go back to my doctor to see if he could help - which he can't because he has no experience with this and would have to call the drug manufacturer anyway! She was totally unsympathetic and when I got upset would put me on hold for several minutes and then pick up again.

If you look at Avelox from a marketing standpoint, NO patient would take it if they ended up in diapers! I know I wouldn't - so they sell it hoping to sneak it by and make money. Only they have now damaged my body and I don't know if I'll ever be back to normal. I'm still suffering from sensitivity to light too - which they claim is a false side effect but has been really severe for me too. Can hardly drive during the daytime now when I've gone to the doctor as the light is sooo strong for my eyes.

When I told the doctor that the Avelox had made two of my joints painful to the point I could not lift my baby or kneel on one leg, he said not to worry. I hadn't been on it long enough for the tendon to rupture. WHAT??? That wasn't listed as a side effect either but obviously THAT has happened enough (and can be proven) that the drug company has told doctors about it.

Someone needs to hold these drug companies accountable for the damage they do...

I was prescribed Avelox for a sinus infection and bronchitis. I didn't have any problems with the Avelox until after the second dose. By the third dose, my abdomen was extremely distended- to the point that I could barely eat b/c the pressure from my abdomen was pressing into my chest area and caused trouble breathing. I saw my doctor after the 3rd dose and explained how bloated I was. She told me that sometimes antibiotics upset your stomach. I was told that I didn't have to take any more of the Avelox (which I wasn't planning to take anymore anyway). It has now been 8 days since I've taken Avelox. I am still bloated. I think the bloating is slightly better. But I'm still miserable and wondering when I will feel better. I dread eating because I know I'll feel worse when I do. I'm just thankful that I haven't had some of the other reactions I've read about here. I'll never take Avelox again.

I want to start out by thanking the others who have posted to this website. My dad is 83 years old and was hospitalized for bilateral pneumonia. The doctor gave him 4 days of Avelox by IV and prescribed Avelox 400mg by mouth for seven more days. We have been up every night since he was discharged. The first night he was very confused. I did not think to much about it because often when older people are moved from one environment to another they become disoriented. This did not get much better so I looked up the side effects on the computer for Avelox 400mgs. I was amazed at all of the known side effects. We have been up every night since he has been home. Yesterday I gave dad the second dose of Avelox against my better judgment because I had read all these postings. I showed these listings to my sister last night (she is an RN) and she said not to give dad anymore of this. I cannot believe the mess we find ourselves in because of taking this medication. I think it is more like poison than medicine. He woke me up at 4:30am this morning telling me that there was a cat underneath the window blinds at his bedroom window. He made me stand back and pull the blinds clear to the top. There was no cat and my dad looked at me so pitiful and confused. I tried to explain to him that it was this medicine and that we had stopped giving it to him. God love the man he has been to hell and back because of this junk. If you look at the posting for February 10th 2003 you will see as I did a list 3 and 1/2 to 4 pages long listing the side effects. This medication is more like poison!!! I would NEVER give this to anyone again. It has literally been a nightmare for my dad and I both. PLEASE DO NOT LET ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY TAKE THIS MEDICINE!!!!! Learn from my mistake. I just told my dad that I was very sorry for giving it to him. I would never knowingly give anyone something that I thought might hurt them. He has had many of the side effects listed. Dear God how I regret giving him that poison!!! I would suggest to anyone before taking a new medication to look up the side effects on the computer or talk to the pharmacist before starting a new medication. At least that way you will know what to look for. Please don't make the same mistake I did!! As I sit here typing this I hear my dad in the next room talking in his sleep. No wonder he is probably having another nightmare. His body jerks and twitches when he is asleep. It is hard to see a loved one go through this and know you were partly responsible for it. It is now almost 7am and I hope he and I both can get a little more sleep. AS I SAID EARLIER LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE!!!! DO NOT TAKE THIS "MEDICATION".

Last November, I got pneumonia. My doctor prescribed Avelox. I took the first dose while standing in the doctor's office. Less than one hour later, I was standing at the pharmacy counter and began to become irrational and very anxious. I called my husband who met me at the grocery where our pharmacy is located. When I saw him, I ran from him. Can't explain that except that I had become very freaked out. Can't believe I drove myself home either but the anxiety continued and was so bad that I could not sleep, could not stand to be touched, could not read. We called my doctor's emergency line. They denied that I was having a drug reaction but I knew better. I started drinking water like crazy. I contacted a friend who is a phychologist. She agreed that I was having a drug reaction and prescribed lorazepam which I took the next day-still very anxious. I could feel the anxiety but I did not care. Funny now-not then. I had horrible attacks off and on for almost two weeks. A month later, I was still edgy but no longer anxiety attack prone. My doctor refused to remark in my record that I had had this reaction. I fired him. I have read about and discussed similar reactions to this drug with many people-yet the doctors refuse to believe it. What can we do?

My husband was prescribed Avelox 3 weeks ago when he was diagnosed with pneumonia for the 2nd time in 2 years. It seemed to work quickly on the pneumonia, but he has large bumps under the skin, like cysts and the skin above the bumps is red. They seem to be popping up randomly on his arms and legs and some will fade away. The 2nd dr that he saw at the clinic said it wasn't aside effect of the Avelox, but was a bacterial skin infection. She just kind of jumped around from one diagnosis to the next, which leads me to believe that she is clueless! My husband can barely walk now and I fear at least tendonitis or at worst, tendon damage. He has an appointment with another dr tomorrow for a 2nd opinion. After reading some of the horror stories connected with this drug, I have to wonder why this was prescribed when they could have given him the same antibiotic that he responded so well with the last time he had pneumonia. I will post the new doctor's diagnosis tomorrow.
JReynaud

ive had so many side effects theres just too many too name. im in pain constantly because of this poison. i took it for 8 days and for the last month my life has been hell. im only 19 years old but i feel like im 80. this drug should only be prescribed in life or death situations like severe pneumonia. but not for sinus infections. my muscles, joints , tendons are in constant pain. my skin has been blistered due to an extreme sunburn. im going to doctors continously trying to find out how i can heal my ravaged body. my life has been destroyed. DO NOT TAKE THIS CRAP, UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO GAMBLE YOUR LIFE.my body has been destroyed like thousands of others, because of ignorant doctors and drug companies who only care about money and not human suffering. DO NOT TAKE THIS POISON!!!! I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN TAKE THIS CRAP AGAIN.

I have been taking Avelox for five days after being diagnossed with pneumonia. I was prescribed other drugs as well and has since stopped taking those because of adverse side affect.Since the Avelox has been my only medication, and I have experienced an array of side affects. I have been having trouble sleeping, vomitting, stomach pains, dry mouth,headaches, muscle fatigue, and other abnormalities that have been a nuisance throughout. I understand medications affect people in a variety of ways, but to cure one problem and create numerous more is ludicrous. Has To Be A Better Way!!!!!!