Where did you read that those antibiotics leaves your system after only 20 hours?

So probably a bit longer for Levaquin.

Doc

There is a pharmacological concept called "delayed drug toxicity".

It is complex, but exists for many drug entities. For example, the tendon ruptures from fluoroquinolones can happen up to a year or more after stopping the drug. It took over a DECADE to figure this one out.

Drugs that damage cells/DNA or that set off an autoimmune cascade, are actually exhibiting delayed toxicity.

You can Google "delayed drug toxicity" for more information.
Suffice it to say, delayed toxicity typically appears post marketing and does not show up in many drug studies that the FDA initially requires. Several fluoroquinolones have been taken off the market for this reason. There were at one time many more than we have available now.

Here is an explanation of delayed allergic reactions that occur long after the suspected trigger drug is supposedly gone from tissues: serum sickness is possible with some antibiotics:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000820.htm

Steroids exhibit also a trait, after being taken, they can trigger bone necrosis which typically attacks the hip, which can fester for months/years leading to destruction of the joint. This is a delayed toxic event also.

My concern is that patients are self diagnosing that their PN is the direct result of taking Cipro or Levaquin long after they've taken it without any diagnostic test to prove this. If the PN didn't happen while they were taking these drugs it seems less reasonable to suspect that it was the cause if the PN happened weeks or months later.

PN is not an insidious condition happening inside us without knowing it. If the nerves are damaged then we should feel it very soon while taking it. Like heart damage with Vioxx or osteoporosis with Femara - these things are happening to our bodies while we are on these drugs but don't feel the effects (unless you break a hip or have a heart attack) and they have to be diagnosed with medical tests.

Other drug side effects are outward and would be felt while taking the drug - like flushing with niacin, or a rash or swelling of the tongue or hives, etc.. So, too, with PN. The symptoms would be more likely to be felt while on the drug, IMO.

Aspirin can cause tinnitus (it does with me). So, can I conclude that I took an aspirin 10 years ago and if I now have tinnitus that it is the cause?

In reading blogs of people who had many bad side effects from these drugs most started soon after taking and while on the drugs.

I think we need to proceed with caution when trying to make a direct connection to PN and drugs unless we have these symptoms while on them or shortly thereafter - not weeks, months or years later.

I think your a little off on your judgment. I am 32 years old, Healthy and fit. I actually had burning type pain while taking the medication. My bone head doctor told me to continue taking the meds because both of us didn't read the label that is on Levanquins warning sheet that reads if you experience any burning, tingling, or pain sensations to stop taking the meds immediately to prevent any irreversible nerve damage. I hear what you are saying but I don''t think you can compare Niacin, and Aspirin to a heavy antibiotic like Levaquin. Levaquin (fluoroquinolones) drugs actually cross your Brain Barrier.

If only it were simple. My doctors have spoken with me about all of this and they keep trying to find a better medication for next time I need it. Damage can happen later for sure. Not just with Levaquine, so many drugs have terrible effects later. I have read so much about it and spoken with doctors and pharmacists. Not rare at all.

It is important to me to learn from things that happened and do all I can to correct the damage and not repeat. VERY hard since so many meds cause these problems.

I hope you find the help and healing you are seeking. You are a very determined and educated person and that is so important. To be proactive. Good luck.

Thank you. I have been studying for three years about POTS, since getting it. Autonomic Neuropathy and PN. That is how I got better and keep improving.

With my CFS, that was also important. It is up to us to do the work. I have good doctors, but many doctors know nothing about POTS or CFS.

I think you made my point. Your symptoms started while you were on the drug. All drugs have side effects and you can probably find every conceivable side effect and find at least one person who has experienced it with every conceivable drug. Making the direct correlation weeks or months later is a heavy lift, IMO.

That would be nice if it was the case most of the time. It is well known though. Sadly, the damage can take a while to show up.