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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Severe Pain In The Joints And Muscles While On Levaquin?

I have had three patients of 3 different age groups complain of severe joint and muscle aching after being on Levaquin. In the 84 y/o male, the aching lasted 4 weeks. In the 50 y/o female the severe aching lasted 2 months and is still aching, but at a tolerable grade. She took Levaquin last February. The 36 y/o male is in his 3rd week of severe aching. He finished the drug 5 weeks ago. I have not found an article to address this--just the tendon rupture possibility. Thoughts?
Mon, 13 Feb 2017
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Joint pain after taking Levofloxacin is possibly due to tendinitis.
Tendinitis is a very rare side effect of levofloxacin and most commonly occur in people over 60 years and in people on corticosteroids.
Muscle pain/Myalgia is also side effect of levofloxacin which goes away without causing any problems.But in extreme rare instances ,especially in elderly patients ,rhabdomyolysis can occur. So if an elderly patient is complaining of muscle aches after taking Levofloxacin ,it is safer to check for creatine Kinase levels.
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What Causes Severe Pain In The Joints And Muscles While On Levaquin?

Joint pain after taking Levofloxacin is possibly due to tendinitis. Tendinitis is a very rare side effect of levofloxacin and most commonly occur in people over 60 years and in people on corticosteroids. Muscle pain/Myalgia is also side effect of levofloxacin which goes away without causing any problems.But in extreme rare instances ,especially in elderly patients ,rhabdomyolysis can occur. So if an elderly patient is complaining of muscle aches after taking Levofloxacin ,it is safer to check for creatine Kinase levels.