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What Causes Pain In Elbows After Having Levofloxacin?
Question: Recently I my doc advised to take levofloxicin for pain in gorin area suspecting pathological problem UTI. 500mg pet day for 7 days. Aftrt taking second dose my kneww and elbows started hurting and i got headache and stomach bloating. I immediatly stopped dose and now weekness and stomach bloating went away but i have muscle pain and burning sensation and elbow pain still there and also i have a heaviness in head even aftrr 10 days. Currently my doctor advised me to take ibuprofen for week 600mg 2 times a day. As he mentioned its a side efect and he said sometime it takes time to go away. Usually how long it takes to go away ? and why this burning sensation in knees and elbow ? Is there a sever damage ? I am really worried please give your advice .
Brief Answer:
Dehydration is the cause; need to hydrate well enough
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Some of the symptoms you mentioned are indeed side effects of levofloxacin, but not all.
I believe most of your symptoms are due to dehydration (loss of fluids) which has resulted from the repeated or increased frequency of urination due to the UTI. Dehydration can easily cause symptoms like:
+Generalised weakness
+Muscle pain
+Difficulty going about daily activities
+Muscle weakness
+Pain in bones and joints
+Vision disturbances
+Dry skin
+Dry lips
+Headaches
+Dry mouth
and so on.
So although the ibuprofen will help, in my opinion the more important suggestion for you would be the following:
+Drink at least 3-4 litres of water per day
+Use ORS (oral rehydration solution) either in the powder form (to be mixed with 1 Litre of water) or in the liquid form: Consume at least 1 litre of this per day
+Get as much rest as possible
+If your UTI symptoms are still present then initiate another antibiotic, but with an antacid like ranitidine, pantoprazole, omeprazole, etc. All antibiotics cause some amount of gastric irritation (which can also cause abdominal bloating) which is taken care of by these medications
Dehydration is the cause; need to hydrate well enough
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Some of the symptoms you mentioned are indeed side effects of levofloxacin, but not all.
I believe most of your symptoms are due to dehydration (loss of fluids) which has resulted from the repeated or increased frequency of urination due to the UTI. Dehydration can easily cause symptoms like:
+Generalised weakness
+Muscle pain
+Difficulty going about daily activities
+Muscle weakness
+Pain in bones and joints
+Vision disturbances
+Dry skin
+Dry lips
+Headaches
+Dry mouth
and so on.
So although the ibuprofen will help, in my opinion the more important suggestion for you would be the following:
+Drink at least 3-4 litres of water per day
+Use ORS (oral rehydration solution) either in the powder form (to be mixed with 1 Litre of water) or in the liquid form: Consume at least 1 litre of this per day
+Get as much rest as possible
+If your UTI symptoms are still present then initiate another antibiotic, but with an antacid like ranitidine, pantoprazole, omeprazole, etc. All antibiotics cause some amount of gastric irritation (which can also cause abdominal bloating) which is taken care of by these medications
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doc, As I was told by doc regarding hydration I am drinking more than 5liters per day including water and juice but still do u think dehydration could be possible with my case ? and regarding my UTI symtom actually i dont have frequent urination I just have pain in groin. Currently stomach issues went awat and only remaining symtops are pain in knee and elbow and headche(feel heaviness most of the time and sometime pain). As per your suggestion i will take ORS. any other thing which will help me get rid of these ?. Whatever I am experinecing now , due to get any of the patients with similar aftr antibiotic ? and how did u treat them ? how long usually it takes to get rid becuase when i read in web forums many say its danger so i am worried. Please give your opinion
Brief Answer:
Do not worry sir, let us wait and watch; should improve
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
Yes, please do initiate the ORS which should help correct an electrolyte imbalance. Also, please go about a complete blood profile which will help rule out any other complications like anaemia.
You are too young to have any prostate related issues, but have you undergone an ultrasound for the abdomen and pelvis? If not, then it would be wise to go ahead with it.
Are you sexually active sir? And if yes, please do get an STD-profile conducted as well as some sexually transmitted infections can also cause such a presentation, it would be wise to rule them out.
I would also like to add an anti-histamine to your treatment regimen as it would help to reduce any allergic symptoms that you may possibly experiencing.
Yes sir, I do get many patients who experience antibiotic allergies and we usually just:
+Discontinue the antibiotic first
+Advise plenty of water
+Prescribe an anti-histamine to help reduce/control the allergic symptoms
We need to wait for the antibiotic causing the allergy to leave the body, and so we may have to wait for a dew days till this happens. But it should not take more than a few days (7 maximum).
Do not worry sir, your course of levoflox was short and is not long enough to cause any serious complications. Let us just wait and watch sir, keep me updated as I am here to help and will be waiting to hear from you about the changes and hopeful improvement.
Best wishes.
Do not worry sir, let us wait and watch; should improve
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.
Yes, please do initiate the ORS which should help correct an electrolyte imbalance. Also, please go about a complete blood profile which will help rule out any other complications like anaemia.
You are too young to have any prostate related issues, but have you undergone an ultrasound for the abdomen and pelvis? If not, then it would be wise to go ahead with it.
Are you sexually active sir? And if yes, please do get an STD-profile conducted as well as some sexually transmitted infections can also cause such a presentation, it would be wise to rule them out.
I would also like to add an anti-histamine to your treatment regimen as it would help to reduce any allergic symptoms that you may possibly experiencing.
Yes sir, I do get many patients who experience antibiotic allergies and we usually just:
+Discontinue the antibiotic first
+Advise plenty of water
+Prescribe an anti-histamine to help reduce/control the allergic symptoms
We need to wait for the antibiotic causing the allergy to leave the body, and so we may have to wait for a dew days till this happens. But it should not take more than a few days (7 maximum).
Do not worry sir, your course of levoflox was short and is not long enough to cause any serious complications. Let us just wait and watch sir, keep me updated as I am here to help and will be waiting to hear from you about the changes and hopeful improvement.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor, Thank you for you response. Yes follwoings tests are done. 1. Pelvis ultrasound- Reports says no issue with kidney, prostratre , testicles and no hernia and no lymph nodes. 2. Urine test is done to evaluate UTI - everything came normal.
3. He did palpation testing by touching area with his hands he says nothing looks abnormal. Intially doc said it could be orthopedic due to sitting fot long and gave ibuprofen and some excerise nothing improved after 2 weeks he said sometime infection is in uthera and so better we will treat with antibiotic and so started levofloxocin. To answer your quesries no I never had sex. This knee burning and headche started after starting antibiotic and defenatly it is due to it. and it been almost 10days i took last antibitoic. Total i took only 2 dose and stopped out of 7. As yoy mentioned it could be allergic ; sometimes i feel itching also and dry skin so if it is alergic does it go away by self if wait and relax ? or it should be treated with tablet. ?
3. He did palpation testing by touching area with his hands he says nothing looks abnormal. Intially doc said it could be orthopedic due to sitting fot long and gave ibuprofen and some excerise nothing improved after 2 weeks he said sometime infection is in uthera and so better we will treat with antibiotic and so started levofloxocin. To answer your quesries no I never had sex. This knee burning and headche started after starting antibiotic and defenatly it is due to it. and it been almost 10days i took last antibitoic. Total i took only 2 dose and stopped out of 7. As yoy mentioned it could be allergic ; sometimes i feel itching also and dry skin so if it is alergic does it go away by self if wait and relax ? or it should be treated with tablet. ?
Brief Answer:
No sir, you need not initiate any treatment for that; few suggestions
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again my friend.
If it is allergic the side effects should go away on itself once the medication causing the allergic reaction leaves your system. No medication is really required for this, but the following can help you sir:
+Drink plenty of water
+Use an anti-histamine medication (e.g. pheniramine, also called avil in India)
+Do not panic or stress
Indeed the symptoms you are experiencing in relation to your UTI-like presentation, could be due to long duration of sitting and for the same I would advise:
+Get out of your seat once every 15-30 minutes and just walk or move around for 5 minutes
+Drink plenty of water
+Do not overeat especially at work while you are in the seated position
+Try your best to lose weight if you are obese, and do not put on weight if you are not obese
+Check your blood glucose profile regularly
I look forward to hearing from you again, so please do not hesitate to keep in touch with me about your progress so I can help you further.
Best wishes.
No sir, you need not initiate any treatment for that; few suggestions
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again my friend.
If it is allergic the side effects should go away on itself once the medication causing the allergic reaction leaves your system. No medication is really required for this, but the following can help you sir:
+Drink plenty of water
+Use an anti-histamine medication (e.g. pheniramine, also called avil in India)
+Do not panic or stress
Indeed the symptoms you are experiencing in relation to your UTI-like presentation, could be due to long duration of sitting and for the same I would advise:
+Get out of your seat once every 15-30 minutes and just walk or move around for 5 minutes
+Drink plenty of water
+Do not overeat especially at work while you are in the seated position
+Try your best to lose weight if you are obese, and do not put on weight if you are not obese
+Check your blood glucose profile regularly
I look forward to hearing from you again, so please do not hesitate to keep in touch with me about your progress so I can help you further.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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