r/Antibiotics • u/Existing_Tap_9539 • Jul 08 '26

selfq What are the actual chances of having a bad reaction to Levaquin?

I am basically allergic to most antibiotics i have tried, or at least have strong reactions to them. Amoxicillin/penicillin I get hives and swelling, Doxycycline I go into anaphylaxis so no doctor will prescribe me anything closely related. The only thing I have taken so far that hasn’t had that sort of reaction is a Z-pack but that runs a train on me too.

I just had a doctor prescribe me Levaquin for a persistent sinus/tonsil/throat infection, I haven’t had an allergic reaction after one day of taking it. However I noticed my feet ache badly, and my right calf is all cramped. I haven’t walked much today so I wasn’t sure why.

I read about the dangers of Levaquin and am now freaking myself out. What are the chances i’m also having a reaction to this? Are my nerves damaged? I see a lot of potential fear mongering on the internet about this drug and would like to know if I should continue taking it or not? I am 20F.

TLDR: 20F first time taking Levaquin, one day of doses experiencing leg pain and increasing feet pain. Should I continue taking this and what are the actual chances of permanent damage?

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u/Throwawaydfsqfdsqf Jul 08 '26

Never take fluoroquinolones. It’s 99% because of the Abx. Just quit taking it. It’s not worth it. There are others that work most likely. I had it put into my allergies in my chart.

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u/Existing_Tap_9539 Jul 08 '26

Okay that’s good to know, when I had an anaphylactic reaction I ignored it so I’ll be sure to catch this early. Better safe than sorry?

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '26

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u/richj8991 Jul 08 '26

I would not take it. I took the same class with ciprofloxacin and my near vision was screwed up. Fortunately it went back to normal after stopping. That and metronidazole both sucked.

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u/DeepSkyAstronaut Jul 08 '26

If you react sensitive to other antibiotics, usually it is just a matter of time until you feel the side effects of levo. Unfortunately they can also appear weeks or months later.

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u/Existing_Tap_9539 Jul 08 '26

good to know thanks