Ciprofloxacin Toxicity

[Fr0g2]

I took ciprofloxacin for an unrelated systemic infection and am now experiencing severe side effects still after 9 months from taking it. I know it is a really common antibiotic many of you here use as a "just in case" medication, but I highly recommend not using it. I took it and i regret it everyday. Please do some research before you start long regiments of this antibiotic and research the serious potential dangers. It is not as safe as many are led to believe. I haven't posted in a while because my CPPS symptoms are relatively under control, but I felt obligated to bring it up.

[ChgoGuy]

What were the side effects of you don't mind me asking?

[Fr0g2]

A detached retina in my right eye, small vessel disease, and white matter lesions (demyelination) in my brain are the worst. But also joint and muscle problems. I'm 23
Here is a full list if you develop a toxicity like I did:
https://www.rxlist.com/Cipro-drug.htm#side_effects

[Fr0g2]

"Fluoroquinolones, including Cipro XR, have been associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions from different body systems that can occur together in the same patient. Commonly seen adverse reactions include tendinitis, tendon rupture, arthralgia, myalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system effects (hallucinations, anxiety, depression, insomnia, severe headaches, and confusion). These reactions can occur within hours to weeks after starting Cipro XR. Patients of any age or without pre-existing risk factors have experienced these adverse reactions [see Tendinitis and Tendon Rupture, Peripheral Neuropathy, Central Nervous System Effects].

Discontinue Cipro XR immediately at the first signs or symptoms of any serious adverse reaction. In addition, avoid the use of fluoroquinolones, including Cipro XR, in patients who have experienced any of these serious adverse reactions associated with fluoroquinolones."

[ChgoGuy]

I was aware of most of the side effects, however I was just wondering which you experienced. Believe it or not, I was given a fluoroquinolone antibiotic the onset of this. When I read the side effects, I asked the urologist if he thought I was nuts to take it? He was stunned by my reaction. I made him do a switch. Shortly after he fired me as a patient.

[stanfelder]

I was prescribed it, took one pill, and felt like I was tripping on acid. The neurological effects were scary after taking only one pill. However, I still wish I had the benefit of being able to complete a course of abx so I could have peace of mind that bacteria isn't what's to blame here. And there are times I still consider trying to take it again. But then again, I'm petrified of it.....

[Amonges]

Stan, forget about the infection stuff, concentrate on PT and relaxation techniques. The thoughts of hidden infection will drive you mad. The PT stuff will help you, learn as much as you can and remember even if you flareup, know it will get better afterwards.

[ChgoGuy]

What worries me is that over the years I have taken a wide variety of antibiotics for other infections, including Cipro, without a care. Now that I actually read the side effects, I can't help but wonder how many of the problems I have can be attributed to past antibiotic use?! Its as if that $#!+ should only be used if your dying of something. Are the risks even worth it when you think about it? And what about these people who take them long term? I'm seeing more people with neurogical problems like I've never seen before. Sure there are other factors to consider, but are antibiotics as safe as the want us to think? And although I haven't torn any tendons that I know of, I've had a few tendon related issues over the past few years, but nothing I can point at antibiotics because I can't prove it. And Levofloxacin IMHO is worse!!

[Amonges]

You know thinking back 2 years and 3 months ago, my symptoms started with urinary pain and burning. And then I started to take cranberry juice and stuff and it went away. About two weeks after that the burning and symptoms came back. I went to the doctor and he gave me Cipro. Now here is the ephipany that I had, I took one pill and about 15 mins later I started to feel abdomen pain and testicle pain along with tendon pain in my right leg. Thank god, the tendon pain went away which lasted for three days. The doctor told me it takes 48 hours for the Cipro to leave the body. The symptoms that stayed were the abdomen pain and testicle pain and the other symptoms. I really believe that Cipro was the cause of my abdomen pain and testicle pain!!! That one stupid pill really messed me up. I stopped taking it completely because I knew something was wrong with the medication. Thank god I had a journal to remember this stuff. So I say to anybody suffering stay away from Cipro, that shit causes way too many side effects.

[ChgoGuy]

Let me add something to the conversation. What about the neuropathy that many of the Antibiotics cause? When I start feeling the burning sensations that come along with these drugs, I wonder if having CPPS in anyway, complicates the feelings in pelvic nerves? Whether you were given antibiotics for this early on, and in some cases, some people for longer periods of time, could there be a link to antibiotics at any point in our lives? I used to take them quite frequently over the years for strep throat or sinus infections. I'm not saying they caused CPPS, but is there any link between people with previous antibiotic use, and those with CPPS as far as the sensitivity of nerves? Could our nerves be more sensitive, because of underlying neuropathy issues related to any past antibiotic use?

[webslave]

That's one of the great unknowns of CPPS.

[MrDavid]

I have never used antibiotics in my life till I used it to treat my testicle pain.