I was just about to create a thread regarding these drugs.
I used to get severe sinus infections and after years of back to back zpack prescriptions that didn’t clear them up the doctor put me on levaquin. It worked for the sinus infection but I developed tingling in the soles of my feet that became full blown pain in my feet, legs, hands, arms and I have tingling in my lips and chin. This was in 2006 or so, and in 2008 I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy through skin biopsy and qsweat tests. It was thought to be through an autoimmune pathway which later turned out to not be the case. They just call it idiopathic SFN now as all my ANA have been normal since that first year or two.
I recently did an online search asking “is there a link between levaquin and SFN?” and the results were overwhelmingly yes and sometimes through an immune mediated pathway.
I have asked doctors in the past if the levaquin could be responsible for the SFN and was brushed off as most thought it was just tendon issues with the quinolone class of drugs.
Now it’s too late for any kind of class action lawsuits as the statute of limitations is past. I guess I have to take comfort in knowing that levaquin was removed from the market but not until it hurt so many people!
SFN has ruined my adult life. I’ve had it for about 20 years and I’m 60 now. The pain (and brain fog from gabapentin) has prevented me from having almost any job I am good at or qualified for. I wanted to go back to school and get an advanced degree but really struggle to learn and remember new information. Pain prevents me from doing SO many things! And when I think about all the time spent and testing I’ve been through not to mention the worry and pain and money from copays and procedures and increased insurance costs it makes me cry with sadness and grief and frustration and also fury. I’m so disgusted with the lack of accountability for the drug companies and I really think this should have been more elevated in the news so other people don’t have to suffer as so many of us have. Shame on them!