Hello,

I took Factive (the latest release of this drug type) not listed anywhere here, for only 5 days for a sinus infection.  Symptoms did not occur until later, so I did not put it together, I am sure like many.  I expected the side effects to take place within the dosage.  After an MRI of the brain and CT of sinus, appointments with ENT, Eye Dr. and neurologist, I was told nothing wrong, probably migraine headache, possible neuropathy, come back in December, we will see how you are doing. Like many others, I felt I was crazy.  After doing my own research, I know it is this drug.  The neuropathy is now raging now throughout  my entire body.  I am just hoping it stops soon without too much damage. 

I have encouraged every one I know not to take these drugs.  I have also known of three other people  that had similar symptoms to mine and advised them to check to see what medications they were given.  All responded a Zpac.  I would not give up.  I repeatedly called them to see if it was a Zpac or a medicine packaged like a Zpac like I took, two out of the 3 so far took Leviquine, not even knowing what they are taking.

I soon will be contacting the neuro to see what his opinion is regarding the Factive I took.  Some of the Drs. make me feel I am crazy.  I know my health and my body and I know this is not normal.

Just needed to talk to others with the same health problems created by this drug.  I am glad this web site is out here.

I can only assume many people have taken these drugs and have these symptoms and have no idea why.

Factive Victim

Hello, I'm a recovering 2x victim of fluoroquinolone antimicrobials. Like you, I was a software engineer/developer with a spectacular career in an excellent company ahead of me.

I was first given Tequin and later Levaquin. Compared to others, including yourself, I reacted atypically to Tequin (having something similar to Steven's Johnson's Syndrome) and Typically to Levaquin (experiencing the collage of permanent and semi-permanent conditions that are common to victims).

My life, just as yours is, will never be the same as a result of my exposure to only 2250mg of Levaquin. Both exposures and their subsequent fallout were the result of nothing more than a typical sinus infection. Neither of which were determined to be bacterial before the drugs were given.

I would encourage anybody receiving a fluoroquinolone or quinolone for treatment of any illness to first request another equally-effective drug not in this family, and if none is available to request a culture and sensitivity analysis to determine if the drug is going to be effective and thus worth the risk of living permanently with a significantly-diminished quality of life.

The probability of reacting adversely to these drugs is, in fact, exponentially higher than stated by the FDA-required statistics in the drug inserts, and the syndrome of events that can occur is barely covered. The side-effects/illnesses come as a packaged-deal, not individually. Generally, tendinitis and permanently-decreased tolerance for exercise, semi-permanent/permanent peripheral neuropathy, semi-permanent severe anxiety, permanent tinnitus (ringing of the ears), and permanent general dryness are the most noticeable although there are at least a hundred smaller and no less enjoyable lasting symptoms that occur in the majority of those who react. The only thing shared between all victims is the fact that our blood-work is almost always completely normal, yielding no proof of the hell we experience and no basis for belief by a physician. Occasionally, there will be evidence of generalized inflammation and elevated liver enzymes or cholesterol, but nothing to raise a flag that states that you're suffering the indescribable misery of feeling like you're no longer behind the wheel... but in the passenger or rear seat of your own brain/life.

Don't forget, the result and reality of all of this often results in another illness in addition to the suffering: Depression

There are a host of support groups and bulletin boards in existence. Each one is valuable and can provide support and advice. Please do your research before accepting samples or a prescription for one of these drugs. They may effectively treat infections, but they also over-prescribed and effectively destroy lives; very often permanently.

These drugs also have the ability to set of latent autoimmune illness. My own life is evidence of this. I'm now suffering from aggressive Crohn's Disease, which started with the first pill. It took more than a year of begging for somebody to pay attention in order to have a physical examination and antibody-specific bloodwork done. By that time, I had a stricture in my ileum which was 14cm in size and nearing complete blockage.

If you do chose to take one of these drugs, listen to your body and don't ignore anxiety, insomnia, pain, or discomfort. They're the precursors of the fallout and, although there is no evidence that dosage is related to severity of symptoms or recovery time, it cannot hurt to contact your physician and demand another class of drug immediately.