Cipro symptoms and conditions

I was prescribed this medicine for a breast abscess. I have a bad reaction to penicillin and levaquin was given to me as an alternative. I took the first pill at 11:00 pm. I woke up about every 30 minutes drenched in sweat until 2:00 and then could not go back to sleep. I took drinks of water when I woke up in order to keep hydrated. I have a lap band, and I noticed that the water wasn’t going down easily which let me know the medicine had made my stomach swell. I finally fell asleep around 3:30 and had evil nightmares until 5am. I was afraid to go back to sleep so I decided I'd just stay awake until time for me to get up for work. I will be calling my doctor's office as soon as they open to let her know this medicine is not for me. After reading your stories, I refuse to take it another day.

I took my 2nd Avelox pill at 10am this morning, by lunch time I felt very jittery and anxious, and had isolated tingling in my left hand and foot. Tonight I had severe abdominal pain and then the subsequent emptying of the bowels (ok, that's gross!). I am a healthy 39-year old woman who has never had any side effects from medication. This was prescribed for a sinus infection. Thank you all for your posts about your experience with this horrible stuff. I feel better knowing that I'm not going crazy. Unfortunately, because this is a once-a-day pill, this stuff is still in my system. For those of you who are posting on this site saying you've had no side effects and this medicine worked great, you probably work for Bayer in their PR department....if not and you really did not have any side effects, this site is for those of us who HAVE had side effects.

Hello I am 40 yrs old and got a lung infection which cause swelling in my lungs so the put me on high doses of prednisone via IV for 21 days in the hospital. The drug saved my life and took it at the same time.

After I got out of hospital i was on 60 mg for 6 weeks the 30mg for 6 weeks then 20mg the 10mg. It has been a living HELL over the last 5 months or so.

I told my DR. i have very bad blurred vision and he said it because the med runs my sugar up but I check my sugar and limit my sugar and it around 100 all the time which is normal soits not sugar. Then he said well them you need to see an eye dr. cuz your eyes are going bad. I begged to differ with him and told him if there was something wrong w my eyes then why is is one day I see fine and the next day all blurred and then back to normal!? it this stupid steroid if you ask me plus on day my right eye is bad and next day my left uggh!

The WORST side effect it the brain fog as yall call it. OMG I feel like im loosing my mind and going crazy. The dr. says hes never heard of such with a wise remark and says you know where your at now right? I know where i am and what I say but I feel like its not really happening. Its like im dreaming it. I feel like Im trapped in my head and I lookout blurry eyes.

Before I was a very confident independent person but now I feel scared all the time i feel hopeless and ive went through 3 girl friends over the summer because of the extreme forward attitude the med gives me. I am not the same person I was. I some time just want to die. I'm extremely tire if i do any exercise at all.

Plus I have all the other typical side effect like the moon face and weight gain. I don't even look the same cuz my eyes have huge bags under them and a double chin I never had.

I feel for all of you because i know what your going through.
I saw one comforting post in here where someone said within 2 weeks of completely getting off the pred. he was his normal self.
I CAN TELL YOU HOW GLAD I WAS TO READ THAT!

Please if you have finished the med and have got back to normal don't forget about this post. Please let us know because we need any hope we can get to keep our chins up and not loose hope and go completely crazy or worse kill ourselves.

I have about 4 more months of this LIVING HELL and I will surely let you all know if it get better. If you have come off of it and are reading this PLEASE let us know if we get back normal at least w the brain fog. I can take all the side effect ok except for the crazy dream zone zombie feeling.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS KINDA HELL ON THE DEVIL HIM SELF!!
Let's pray for each other that the Lord keep out minds strong until we get off the nightmare drug call Prednisone.

side effects:
brain fog, blurred vision, puffy eyes, depression, confusion, dizzy, moon face, buffalo neck hump neck, hopelessness

My Mom started taking Avelox September 28, 2009. She took her first pill at 8:33 P.M. and within 25 minutes could not breathe. Her tongue swelled so much, that it pushed her dentures out of her mouth. Nothing alerts you to this in the side effects. She had no time to call her physician as she died. She had previously taken Cipro and Levoquin, so she had the false security that this drug was safe. It was not. No one should die like this!

I had back surgery in July and caught two infections from the hospital, Staph and pseudonymous. I had a picc-line put in and was put on Cipro oraly and Ancef. I got Steven Johnson syndrome from the Cipro and almost died. I looked like a burn victim and swelled from head to toe that was three weeks ago. They pulled me off the Ancef and Cipro. It took a week of me running 103 + temps and the dr. kept telling me its a virous until the rash showed up and my tongue swelled and private parts and throat started to swell shut before they decided to admit me. Then once all that was done and they figured it out they put me on impernem to kill both infections. They pulled my picc-last week and put me on Doxycycline. I have done my research and know that the two are related I asked my dr. what the chances were of a reaction again he told me less then 1%. Ha! I am seeing an infectious disease dr. by the way. Since I started the Doxycycline last Thursday I have developed hives I called the dr. and was told they are not worried about it because I am not running a 101 temp and I am not swelling, plus they don't even know if the Pseudonymous is cured. What do I do? If I go off the antibiotics I will die and if I stay on them I am probably going to die. My joints hurt all the time now and I am only 31. Do I look for a new dr.? Can someone please help me? This is the only website I have found so far where people have had the same reactions as me. These antibiotics are dangerous they need to be taken off the shelf. Thank you and good luck to everyone who is struggling with this.

I took Levaquin several months ago and have had on going foot pain. I was recently diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome following a Stress Fracure in my heel. I have had muscle aches, all ove pains, bone pain, insomnia, depression, irregular heart beat, headaches. irritability, dizziness,stiffness in my joints, stomach aches. This has all been a terrible ordeal. Do you think it is related to Levaquin. I have also taken Cipro several times for UTI and Diverticulitis. Thanks for listening.

Since July 12, 2009 (Saturday) my life has been altered by a cure for a UTI that caused me to be taken by ambulance to the E.R. with a 105.6 fever. The horrible feeling of waking up shaking from the fever and not being able to stop it was scary. That was quickly followed by an ambulance ride to the local E.R. It was explained to me that the cause of my fever was a UTI that became a kidney infection. The E.R. doctor prescribed Levaquin 500 mgs for 10 days and Lori-tab for the ache very typical of a kidney infection. I am a 42yo woman who owns a motorcycle, swims, dances with a group and loves to wear beautiful heels. My life has changed since that night in the E.R. July 14 (Tuesday) , I was in my doctor's office complaining about bad headaches and feeling achy. I asked if this should be a concern since headaches were part of the warning label. The response was to remain on the antibiotic since the benefit far outweighed the side effects. The rest of the week was full of aches, pains, swelling, and a cloudy mental state. By Friday, the 17th of July I was laying in bed after noticing I no longer had ankles and I hurt all over. Thinking maybe this would pass I rested for an hour and my partner came to check on me. My jaw was tight and felt like it was locking down, every part of my body, every joint was hurting including my head. I called my doctor's office and asked if this was an allergic reaction and should I go to the hospital. The on-call said she was at the E.R. and maybe I should come in to be seen although it would be a long wait time because they were busy. I was seen, they talked about finishing with Cipro and then decided they would give me Bactrim. I asked how long I could expect to feel the effect of the Levaquin, the answer was 3 to 4 days. Since then, I have been in and out of the E.R. with acute and chronic pain. Walking has become almost impossible on some days. All of a sudden I have a back and hip problem. I am getting lumbar epidurals now and have sold the motorcycle. Oh, Dr. Higgins said, "Levaquin is a great drug". This was a E.R. doctor that was angry that I asked if this seemed to be an on-going issue from taking Levaquin. I am desperate to be pain free for even one 24 hour period. A storm of depression and clouds have set in...the thunder is my pain....

I was give Levaquin when I had a Prostate Biopsy and had a reaction to it , Hives, muscle pain oral thrush ,I told the doctor about it so he gave me another anti biotic,CIPRO which made things worse, then I find out they are both from the same family of antibiotics, these doctors don't know what they are giving you and he said all that I should have gotten from them was a little stomach problem, Its two years now and I still have skin
problems, joint pain and pain in my neck amd the doctors say it can't be from the Levaquin, Well how come I was healthy until I took it

I took Cipro for 3 days back in March 2009. After 24 hrs, I was completely disoriented, had HUGE blisters appear on my feet (they are scars now) and lost my memory. Thank God my husband realized something was very wrong and took me to my Dr (the ER had prescribed the meds) He took me off of it, and my symptoms got better.

Since then, I have had pervasive short term memory loss, loss of vision (periods of blindness), and extreme exhaustion, joint pain, and body aches. My doctor is getting ready to send me for an MRI and EEG- this is after full body X-rays and huge amounts of bloodwork.

My life is not what it used to be. I have 3 small children, and I am terrified to be alone with them for fear of forgetting something crucial. My grades have suffered, and I can barely function.

Started Taking Macrobid after for UTI after Bactrim did not help and Cipro made me break out in hives. I've only taken 3 pills and have started getting headaches and waking up with severe neck pain. It's horrible I can hardly turn my head because my neck is so knotted up and stiff. I'm not taking any more because after 3 different antibiotics that have made me feel horrible, I need a break.

I took this poison 5 years ago and I'm still suffering the effects of it. PLEASE send it MEDWATCH reports so that they can get this off the market.
For all of you just starting your journey into hell, only time will help you. Take hot baths, don't over exercise ( you will tear tendons), change doctors tell everyone you know not to take any FLUOROQUINOLONE (LEVAQUIN, CIPRO, ETC.)

I have been prescribed a 20 day course of flagyI. I was prescribed this med for a uterine staph infection caused by an iud...as you can imagine I was ready for any antibiotic that would bring relief. I tried a few antib's (Cipro, Macrobid, Doxycyline) before flagyl while the drs waited for the culture to return from the lab...flagyl brought immediate ( 24 hours) help with the staph but causes metal mouth, a woozy feeling and a strange aching in my feet. In my situation the side effects are worth it...Also the severity of the side effects have been temporary, as the bacteria die off the toxins they leave behind will leave your system and ease the side effects. It is important to replenish your natural bacteria while taking antib with probiotics in yogurt and supplements this helps me with the yeast problems also taking Caprylic Acid and coconut oil have kept yeast under control. Stopping your antib treatment before the course is through can cause a relapse in your symptoms worse than the original illness and can cause antib resistant bacteria...MRSA (bad stuff!!!) I hope this helps you.

I have been taking Doxycycl 100 Mgt twice a day for 9 days. I'm experiencing some nausea..what I didn't expect is the extreme fatigue and dizziness. I tested positive for Lyme disease and definitely want to get over that.

Not sure what to do..is this is a normal side effect of the drug? Should I contact the doctor? Don't know what to do?..
I have had other allergic reactions to Cipro and Biaxin (but I know there are a different class of drug. I seem to do better when I eat and drink a lot of water throughout the day. JFJ 7/25/09

Dear Medications.com:
I cannot thank you enough for this site. Just yesterday I was prescribed Cipro for a nagging UTI which seemed to only partially get better with Doxycycline HYC. After only 3 Cipro pills I am stopping!! And will never take Cipro again. I take responsibility for rushing back to my doctor at the emergency care clinic and asking 'now what' after the Doxycycline was finished--we Americans are so quick to want the next candy pill with more strength! So even though my initial urinalysis showed no dangerous / STD bacteria present, because I was still urinating too frequently my doc suggested Cipro. I trusted him and took the first pill last night--I got a terrible headache, woke up promptly at 3:30 AM and had trouble returning to sleep. Got up this morning, took the 2nd pill and by early afternoon, was so tired and aching I had to lay down for 1.5 hrs..I felt miserable. Then this afternoon, after taking my 3rd pill, that's when I began to feel occasional tingling in my joints, hot pain in my knee capsules, continuing low-grade ache to my head, the feeling that my esophagus was shrinking, etc..... EVERYTHING you guys all have reported.

I got on the internet and thank God I found your site. After 2 hrs of my own research and the testimony of so many people, including tons of once-healthy, athletic persons whose lives have been destroyed irreparably by Cipro, I took my healthcare into my own hands, called my pharmacist and said 'I'm finished touching Cipro...never again will I take it.'.

This drug is more toxic than anything I've ever taken, and the way my body has begun to react in only 24 hrs, it is obvious that the drug co's are playing with fire on this compound. We as people must stand up and take action, and educate our doctors. I am taking some info. into him tomorrow, telling him i will be on a strict cranberry juice and kidney/liver tea detox program for the next few weeks to see if these 'natural' methods might help me rid my system of the bacteria.

In any case, I refuse to use Cipro ever again and hope that many more people will read these pages before ingesting any or too much of this dangerous drug.

d. r.
48-yr old sporty, and very healthy guy who wants to stay that way!

I was given Levaquin for a kidney infection. It seemed to help break my fever but after only one dose, I broke out in rash and later that night had tingling in my legs. My hand felt numb. When I called the oncall doctor she told attributed to anxiety. I told her I was anxious because all of a sudden my hand had gone numb and knowing that was a danger sign I refused to take anymore. Later that night, I could not walk or stand or bear weight on my legs. My shins and Achilles tendons were burning and only because of the internet did I know what was happening to me. Only 1 out of three doctors would agree I was having a drug reaction. For some odd reason, the doctors REFUSE to believe or acknowledge this was caused by Levaquin. No wonder the side effects are "rare" if no doctor will acknowledge the pain their patients are going through....how can the drug companies get any real feedback. Funny thing is only after I sent an email out to my team essentially warning them about this drug did I find out my coworker who had been on medical leave had suffered the same fate of torn achilles tendon and only after 3 months of PT is finally walking without pain. WHAT IS WRONG WITH our world when no one will listen to us. Thank God for the internet. I can walk now and have no pain standing (lasted only 2 and half days) but I am scared about the future as I know the results are lingering. I have been exhausted this whole weekend and wonder if its just me recovering as my PCP had me quit all antibiotics even at the risk of getting my kidney infection back. Well nice to know our stories are the same...and its not in our heads. BTW, my ER doctor told me it was a good drug and very unlikely the cause of my leg pains. They rather believed I had pneumonia or lyme's disease before they would believe it was caused by their beloved drug. All I can think now is I hope one day they are given this drug and it cripples them like it has so many others. Sometimes that is the only way they will acknowledge the truth. It has to happen to them or someone they love.

Well, I had foot surgery. Several days later when I returned to doc my foot was obviously infected. He gave me Cipro AND Levaquin at the same time even though they are in the same family of drug. I went home and ate supper then took my first dose. I had a weird feeling like I was about to pass out and was home alone. I unlocked the front door and waited for EMS to arrive.

They checked me out and I was going to go to ER by car. When I stood up, I turned white and fell back on the sofa. I had a rash on neck/chest and felt like someone was squeezing my chest all the way around my body. They said my blood pressure dropped. They gave me epinephrine in ER. I looked at my daughter and said it is happening again. I thought the top of my head would blow off. I turned white and started vomiting everywhere. Turns out the nurse should have given it in the muscle not by IV.

A few months later, I took my first dose of Avelox (also in same family as Levaquin and Cipro) for a sinus infection. (I think it caused palpitations the one other time I took, but I do that occasionally anyway so I didn't connect it to the antibiotic.) Second time I was out at a restaurant with my sons. I felt like I was about to pass out again. I called an ambulance because they aren't old enough to drive. I told them about my reaction to Levaquin, but to my surprise my blood pressure was sky high. Again it felt like pressure in my chest but no difficulty really breathing. Since I had an "atypical" reaction, I had to stay overnight in the ER and be evaluated for a heart attack! I had an EKG, stress test, and cardiac enzymes drawn all night. What a pain! Then the dufus ER doc told me to continue the antibiotic. My daughter, who is a paramedic, said just nod and smile. Then go home and throw it away. Call your regular doc and ask him to change it. That is exactly what I did.

Now I am petrified every time I have to take antibiotics! I have to talk myself through it.

Second time I took it, I felt weird again.

I took Levaquin on multiple occasions for a severe prostate infection. I took a 15 day supply...then off for 1 week...another 15 day supply...off for two weeks...and then a 30 day supply. I took another 30 day supply when the infection resurfaced about a year later. During the time I was on it I experienced extreme "arthritis like" pain in my ankles, wrists, shoulders, and especially my back. The infection was over 3 years ago and I have not taken Levaguin since. However, the joint pain has never went away. I can barely climb stairs as my right knee feels like it is going to pop out of socket. The bone pain in my neck and between my shoulder blades is horrible. I visited a doctor (I never even considered the Levaguin as a possible antagonist) and was told that I had spinal degeneration and needed physical therapy. Protect yourself and your family from this drug.

I want to know if anyone has experienced severe joint pain while on Doxy. I was prescribed this med on a Monday. I (like an idiot) doubled up on my first dose Monday evening because I know you can do that with other antibiotics to jump start the process. What can I say? I don't like being sick. Well....Tuesday morning, I took my 2nd dose and went to work. Very soon after taking the second dose, I broke out into a very itchy rash all over my back that soon spread to other parts of my body. I called my doctor and was immediately taken off the Doxy and prescribed Augmentin. Later that night, I began aching all over. I woke up in severe pain throughout all of my joints, and was in a terrible mood.....obviously. As the day progressed, the pain continued, but seemed to be moving randomly about my joints. My ankles would hurt for a while, then my arms, the my shoulders, etc. That night, I took a Benadryl (still itching from the rash a little), some ibuprofen, and went to bed. I woke up feeling a lot better. A lot less pain in most of my joints. It was a good day. However, today, Friday, I am still in some pretty bad pain in my hands. Anyone else have a similar experience??????

I began prednisone May 20th for hives from a reaction to an antibiotic. After taking it for a few days I started having ringing in the ears, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and sweating, dry mouth, puffy face and just a strange feeling like my blood pressure is up. I took it for 7 days out of the nine because the nurse told me to stop it after I called in about how I have been feeling. Today is the first day of not taking it but I see hardly no improvements. My husband tells me to drink a lot to flush this medication out of my system. Today I am experiencing some chest discomfort with slight aching. I feel the same as all of you. I wished I knew of this drug beforehand, and I hope to never see this drug again. I just hope it didn't cause much damage. I will be praying for all of you. No one knows any more what can happen after taking such medication. If you are on this call your Dr. to be taken off. This is not good, I have no idea why this is still on the market. Hope you all recover from your symptoms after taking this drug!

Took my second sulfamethoxazole for a UTI yesterday morning and within an hour was racked with fever, horrible aches, and chills. Fortunately, my doctor was wise enough to recognize a "febrile reaction," and took me off the sulfa immediately and prescribed Cipro. A day later, I still have a bit of fever, feel like I was run over by a truck, but am much better.

I took Levaquin for a sinus infection March 26th... 5 doses of 750 mg. I felt slightly better initially but that lasted only a day. I think it was prescribed wrongly, I had a virus and was getting over it... not a bacterial infection. The problems started about a week after the 5 day course ended. I ended up in the ER feeling like I was going to die, some strangeness in my breathing and feeling as if I was having a stroke... like I was going to pass out. They found nothing wrong except an elevated blood pressure and did a d-dimer to see if it could be an embolism (at my insistence, I had no idea this could be from levaquin and thought I was having a stroke. After the ER visit, I just felt like I had the flu, but I didn't... weak, extremely tired with some muscle aches ... two weeks out I had a lot of pain in both legs, like charlie horses that didn't go away... that lasted several days to a week... the weird depersonalization and the anxiety has been intense throughout. Constipation (never ever had it before this drug) started about a month out from taking it. I still feel pain in my legs from time to time and a feeling like there is a tight band across the top of my left foot... like when you tie your shoe too tight and need to loosen the shoe strings, but I am not wearing shoes.

Horrible experience with amoxicillin, which was prescribed for a nasty sinus infection. Major nausea, fatigue, feeling lightheaded and dehydrated. All I wanted to do was to sleep. Missed 2 weeks from work. The nausea was completely debilitating. But curiously, get hungry at the same time was feeling nauseated. When I do get some food, I have to force myself to eat it. Also had major headaches. Got sort of paranoid that something else was seriously wrong with me!
Have been off amoxicillin for a little over a week. Feeling VERY depressed and hopeless. I want so bad to get back to my normal life, but it is like I have no energy or desire to push on. I have to literally FORCE myself out of bed and to work. Very concerned here and do not want to have to start taking an antidepressant. Does anyone know how long these effects will last or what I can do? Doctor gave me an additional prescription for Cipro, but I am afraid to take it because I feel like I am trapped in a vicious cycle and these feelings will only get worse. I am not used to taking meds!!

I have been taking this Leviquin for 4 days. I have had severe cramps in my calves and feet in the middle of the night. So bad that I get up and try to step em' off but to no avail. My muscles hurt so bad in my legs arms and I have been very sick to my stomach. Do these things go away? I am not taking one more of those pills. I would rather have sinus and bronchitis problems than deal with these horrific side effects!! Any feed back?

after taking cipro for a few year for prostrate infection I have developed a
reacurring cyst on my wrist. Has anyone experienced this sort of problem?

I am trying to spread the word on this drug, Avelox! It is poison and needs to be taken off the shelf.
We all need to complain to Bayer and the FDA. Although I am sure the FDA knew about all these side effects when they gave their stamp of approval on this one. It's all a business. They don't care how many people they kill as long as they make a buck!!!!!!!
Please take the time to share your bad experience with the drug with my readers so we can pass the word on this BAD drug.
******