Levaquin, which belongs to a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones and is generically referred to as levofloxacin, is used to treat bacterial infections. Levaquin is often prescribed to treat sinus, lung, stomach, or skin infections.

While Levaquin is effective, there are many potential Levaquin side effects that people who are prescribed the medication may not be aware of. In addition to the usual side effects of nausea and headaches, there are more serious risks.

Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones work by limiting bacterial growth. As a family of antibiotic medications, fluoroquinolones are extensively prescribed to treat urinary tract infections and respiratory infections.

Some bacterial infections that may be treated through the prescription of fluoroquinolones includes sinusitis, septicemia, intra-abdominal infections, pneumonia, typhoid fever, urethral and gynecological infections, and bacterial gastroenteritis. Other drugs that are part of this class include Avelox and Cipro.

Fluoroquinolones, such as Levaquin, have a list of side effects which may include the following:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Anxiety/Agitation
• Skin itching
• Blurred vision

However, there are much more serious Levaquin side effects being reported as of late. Some of these side effects include:

• Aortic dissection
• Aortic aneurysm
• Tendinopathy
• Tendon ruptures
• Retinal detachment

Levaquin Side Effects: Aortic Dissection and Aortic Aneurysm

According to the Mayo Clinic, an aortic aneurysm occurs when a weak spot in the aortic wall begins to bulge. It can occur at any spot in the aorta. When this occurs, the aorta becomes at risk of bursting, which is often fatal.

The Mayo Clinic also reports that “Having an aneurysm increases the risk of an aortic dissection- a tear in the lining of the aorta…” An aortic dissection results when the large blood vessel of the aorta tears. When this occurs, there is a large amount of blood that surges in through the tear causing the middle and inner layers of the aorta to dissect. This event is often deadly.

Both of these life-threatening and fatal conditions are associated with Levaquin. According to a recent study published by JAMA Internal Medicine, patients who were prescribed a fluoroquinolone suffered a two-fold increase of hospitalization due to an aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm.

According to the researchers of the study, “Not only is [the] tendon composed of collagen, collagen is also a major extracellular matrix component of the aortic wall. As fluoroquinolones may induce degradation of collagen causing tendinopathy, this raises the concern that fluoroquinolones may cause or aggravate aortic aneurysm and dissection by a similar mechanism.”

What the study discovered was that Levaquin side effects and other fluoroquinolones may cause the breakdown of tissue which leads to these major aortic complications. There is a proposed link that researchers discovered between fluoroquinolones, like Levaquin, and other collagen related disorders; this includes effects on connective tissue.

It is important to note that while the study found that aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm as Levaquin side effects are highly uncommon, but researchers did find that there is “significant concern” with increased use of the drug and other fluoroquinolones.