LEVAQUIN increasing anxiety?

[jaimeo]

I was prescribed Levaquin today for a UTI infection.  About 2hrs after taking my initial dose, I noticed I was feeling nervous and very agitated by my kids' normal behavior (they are 7yrs,5yrs and 2yrs old).
4 hrs later, I felt as though I was losing it.  I am currently taking 10 mg Lexapro and 1/2 mg clonazepam daily to treat anxiety/depression.
I googled Levaquin and found numerous articles saying that this antibiotic is harmful.
Does anyone else have any experience with this med positive or negative?
Thanks for your help.

[jaimeo]

I called but got voice on both lines.....
I figured I could tough it out - and I did.
Thank you.
Went back to LBI for the day yesterday with the kids - stayed over and left this am at 9.
Chris was there with his 2 so it was a bit crazy.
looking forward to Wed!
Will call you tomorrow.

[suzi-q]

Why didn't you call me!  When I got a uti my doctor gave me Cipro with no side effects at all. See you Wednesday!

[jaimeo]

Thanks.
I'm feeling better after my second dose today.
I will still check with the pharmacist.
I'llmlet you know.

[tanns]

I was on Lexapro for about nine months.  I never thought it really helped me because my chest discomfort (which everyone said was anxiety) never went away.  Some of the craziness did and I never realized THAT was anxiety until I got off.  Anyway, I did have "breakthrough" anxiety and went straight to the cardio.  He always called it breakthrough anxiety but I ALWAYS, ALWAYS thought it meant my heart was about to go.  So, I guess, yes, it is possible to have breakthrough anxiety on SSRIs BUT Levaquin has been known to cause an increase in anxiety/panic (at least in some people).  It may very well be effective for UTI's but there has to be something else that works well too.  I would still contact a pharmacist and see what they think.  I was on 750mg of Levaquin, but the symptoms were the same.

I wish you luck and hope you feel better soon.

[jaimeo]

Now I'm really confused.....
spoke to my psychiatrist this afternoon, and she asured me that it is normal to have some "breakthrough" anxiety while on meds and that Levaquin is a useful drug particularly for UTI infections.  She said that since I only take 500mg/1x a day for 5 days, that I should tough it out and take extra klonopin if necessary.
Now I'm more nervous than before.  
Before speaking to her, I had decided not to take anymore, after reading all of these horror stories online.  I took my second dose mbut now am feeling palpitations and shortness of breath and wondering how much of this I am causing myself.
HELP!

[jaimeo]

Thanks for your info!
I'll talk to the pharmacist.

[tanns]

All the of the drugs in that class have the capability of causing the same symptoms.  I assumed from reading online that if one caused a symptom, they all would.  I talked at length about this with a pharmacist at the Mayo Clinic and he told me that it isn't necessarily the case.   They have a reference that lists in order of occurance the most common side effects.  If I can remember correctly (I've thrown away the paperwork he gave me) Levaquin has anxiety/panic first but Cipro (also in this class) doesn't.  I have decided not to use any because now I am paranoid.  As I always do, I would suggest talking to a pharamacist about the side effects and reactions and taking that info to your doctor to discuss.  They can't prescribe you something new, of course, but they are often more knowledgable about the effects of drugs.  

  

[jaimeo]

Thanks, I was thinking maybe I was making something out of nothing.
I will call my Dr. today to have the script changed.
Are all of the meds in this class capable of these side effects or would I be fine with something else?
My Dr. is aware of my condition (anxiety) so I am assuming that he is not aware of the possibility of these side effects.
Thank you for any suggestions!

[chadry]

I hate it. I took it for a bladder infection because I am allergic to sulfa. I think the dose was too high. I was getting these really wierd feelings in the muscles of my stomach, which made me really nervous. Inever felt anything like that before and have not felt it since . I had a lower dose prior to that experience and I was ok. I just did not like the way it made me feel at all. It has been awhile since I took it but I think that it made me nervous. I remember asking the nurse where I work about it and she told me it had alot of side effects.
Chadry

[tanns]

I had a horrible anxiety reaction to Levaquin.  I remember mentioning it on here a long time ago and quite a few people mentioned that they had a reaction too.  I took only the one and will not take another one again.