I don’t usually go around bad-mouthing drugs. But every good rule sometimes needs to be broken, especially it can help many people avoid a LOT of suffering.
It has come to my attention that the drug Levaquin ( a very potent anti-biotic) has a black-box warning on it. This needs to be taken very seriously, as I have several patients who have serious and lasting side effects from using the drug.
Hopefully if you are taking care of yourself (which includes getting regular, at least seasonal, acupuncture) you can avoid getting serious infections that includes the use of any anti-biotics. But as we all know the world is not perfect and sometimes even with the best preventative care we end up with a serious infection that needs to be treated with an anti-biotic. Just remember you have choices!
In my opinion, Levaquin should be the first to cross off your list. In my practice I have seen a number of cases of serious after- effects from the use of Levaquin.
When my elderly mother (who remained sharp-as-a-tack till the day she passed) used it she began to halluncinate. This is a common side effect that is reported in my limited experience. As far a I know this resolves itself once the drug is discontinued.
The after-effects that I am most concerned about is the reported tendonitis that sometimes afflicts persons after they have taken the drug. It does not go away.. in fact it only gets worse as time goes on. Painful achilles tendon, painful feet, painful shoulders, swelling of the lower legs are some of the syndromes that have been reported to me.
I understand that the soft tissue is being attacked at a cellular level. I believe that an auto-immune process somehow gets set up.
Obviously this does not happen to everyone. It happens often enough and is debilitating enough that if I had a choice I would not use it.
I just thought that you might like to know my experience so that you can make an informed choice the next time you need and anti-biotic. (Hope that you never do).
If you do have a problem you should know that Acupuncture can be helpful as well as specific supplements.
One specific supplement that would be very helpful would be Vitamin D. Vitamin D will help to calm the immune system. You want a dosage of between 2000 IU to 5000 IU once every day. Of course Fish Oils (Omega 3 fatty acids),(especially EPA) daily in the amounts of 3000 IU to 4000IU will help bring down the infamatory response. Just be sure that you are not taking a blood thinning drug before you start Fish Oil as Fish Oils will also thin the blood. Any thing that is a good anti-oxidant (Vit C, Vit E, CoQ10, Ginger etc…) can also be helpful in bring down inflamation.
There is a lot more that you can do supplement -wise but you really should be working with a knowledgable person that can help you customize your program.
So be an informed consumer! Be Well!
