Cipro side effects

My wife recently suffered nausea, muscle/joint pain, upset stomach, anxiety, insomnia and other symptoms after taking 250mg x 2 daily for 6 days of Cipro poison (thanks Bayer/FDA, burn in hell). She was always an athletic individual, and at 35 she is applying for disability now since she cannot work anymore (we hope it is temporary).

We all are suffering from it - let's find a remedy!
1. People must sue FDA/Bayer/Doctors who prescribe it. We live in Mass, javaman888@yahoo.com
2. Detoxify - I found a good advice from a sufferer, here is an excerpt:
"...I am glad to report that I am much, much better. I have taken what
most would consider very drastic approaches in my lifestyle. I eat a
pretty strict macrobiotic diet, with lots of grains, veggies, sea
veggies, soy products, and some fish. All organic. I took wheat
grass every morning for 2 months, to detox my liver, and also a few
herbs and some supplements. The diet thing has been a huge
challenge, but when I go off even a little, I start to feel a lot
worse. I also walk every day and do some yoga and swimming. I feel
like crap when I don't exercise. I stopped all medications,
including advil and tylenol, in Feb. I have used homeopathic
medicine to counter some of the ADR's, with some success. I took
Ignatia for anxiety, and that actually helped. Some of the others
not so much..."

Was prescribed 500 mg., twice daily, for what my doctor thought may be a urinary infection as i was experiencing lower abdomen, right ovary discomfort along with slight discomfort in my right kidney.........Cipro was prescribed to me only after yeast creams didn't work for over a week so it was thought i didn't have a yeast infection, but possibly a urine or bladder infection although my urine was clear and no buring sensation when urinating........A a few hours after my 1st 500mg. dose the discomfort in my lower abdomen, ovary, and kidney seem to decrease, but i had developed a right temple headace, some stiffness on right side of the back of my neck......After about 7 hours the discomfort was returning so i took my second dosage as it was suggested that i take this drug 3 hours before taking my usual thyroid,bloodpressure,cholestrol meds.....After my second dosage a few hours later i developed another headache, some stiffness in my lower back, my ears were popping when i swallowed, ache on back of my neck, a flash of studdering, a passing itch, eyes were buring, and a burning on my arms; also a pain under my left breast and burning on the bottom of my feet and vagina; also a slight pressure in my right eye and right jaw.......Since I can't locate as much information as needed on this drug i've decided that my dosage was either too much or i'm allergic to it, period........ For right now i've decided to just stop taking ciprofloxacin since it is the weekend and my doctor's not available and contact her office on monday and go from there..........In the meanwhile if the original discomfort continues i may use the ordinary over-the-counter urinary tract pills until i can get a doctor's appointment and will probably contact my pharmacist and seek her opinion...............

Was prescribed 500 mg., twice daily, for what my doctor thought may be a urinary infection as i was experiencing lower abdomen, right ovary discomfort along with slight discomfort in my right kidney.........Cipro was prescribed to me only after yeast creams didn't work for over a week so it was thought i didn't have a yeast infection, but possibly a urine or bladder infection although my urine was clear and no buring sensation when urinating........A a few hours after my 1st 500mg. dose the discomfort in my lower abdomen, ovary, and kidney seem to decrease, but i had developed a right temple headace, some stiffness on right side of the back of my neck......After about 7 hours the discomfort was returning so i took my second dosage as it was suggested that i take this drug 3 hours before taking my usual thyroid,bloodpressure,cholestrol meds.....After my second dosage a few hours later i developed another headache, some stiffness in my lower back, my ears were popping when i swallowed, ache on back of my neck, a flash of studdering, a passing itch, eyes were buring, and a burning on my arms; also a pain under my left breast and burning on the bottom of my feet and vagina; also a slight pressure in my right eye and right jaw.......Since I can't locate as much information as needed on this drug i've decided that my dosage was either too much or i'm allergic to it or having reactions.........I've decided to just stop taking ciprofloxacin since it is saturday and my doctor's not available and contact her office on monday and go from there..................

My husband was prescribed Cipro back in April 2009 for Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome. He was on a low dose for 3-5 days. In November 2009 he developed tendonitis in his right hand. His tendonitis has become more severe and also is starting to affect his left hand. It wasn't until his father tore his achilles tendon in half from walking up stairs that we figured out each injury was related to Cipro. I'm wondering if anyone knows how long the symptoms/side effects will last. Is his tendonitis damage permanent? How long does Cipro stay in your systems after taking it? My husband has been to a hand specialist who gave him a cortisone shot. It did not work. He was also fitted with a wrist splint and will do therapy in 6 weeks if the pain still persists. Any insight from anyone is appreciated. Thank you....

I was just recently given Cipro 500mg for a sinus infection. I had tried Zithromax and Augmentin and after 5 weeks, still have sinus congestion and fluid in my ears. I started taken the Cipro Monday and that evening I began to get anxious and had muscle twitches in my thighs and calves. I do also take meds for anxiety and have panic attacks but this was different! It was just my legs and I didn'f feel anxious. Not only did I have legs twitches, I became nauseous and had stomach cramps. My Dr said she has never heard about these symptoms with Antibiotics before but the more research I do online, I realize that this is VERY COMMON! I did not take the Cipro this morning and do not have stomach cramps, the nausea is better and my legs have twitched a few times but nothing like they were. I am going to skip it again tonight and see if I can sleep any better!

I am unfortunate enough to have been prescribed Ciprofloxacin four times before my eighteenth birthday. It wasn't until the last (and final) time I took the drug that I've realized all of the medical horrors it has put me through.

As a sixteen year old, Cipro caused intense gastronomical pain, tremors, involuntary muscle movements, muscle twitching, neuropathy, nightmares, insomnia, and anxiety. After three emergency room visits, a whole flush of medical tests, and examinations by numerous doctors, it is absolutely astonishing that not ONE medical professional (including the doctor who prescribed to me the drug) even suspected an antibiotic to be the culprit. Antibiotics, to many, are innocuous. The medical community insisted that it was "stress". All symptoms cleared up within seven months, fortunately.

As an eighteen year old, five 500mg doses left me unable to walk, with severe bilateral achilles tendinitis. Slowly, every single joint/muscle in my body became affected. Popping, cracking, discomfort, inability to stand for long periods of times.... and this is just the beginning. SIX MONTHS later, I am unable to run, jump, or stand for long. Doctors are no help, anti-inflamitories cause tendinitis flare-ups, and physical therapy helps only minimally. I have had a torn calf muscle, bilateral achilles tendinitis, muscle pain, and joints that crack/pop together in unison with even the slightest movement.

As a young adult who never should have been even been prescribed this drug, much less be subjected to this hell, I am determined to do all I can to minimize the number of young lives that are unnecessarily ruined by this drug. If you've shared a similar experience, please do the same.

I took Cipro in 2006 for a typhoid infection.I have had the symptoms up to now December 2009.From extreme Thirst, twitching nerves, tremors when i don't drink water, Foggy headedness, candida, speech impairment, memory loss short term, blurred vision etc.

I took cipro for a uti and 3 weeks later developed tendinitis in my shoulders, feet, and elbows and am pretty much crippled. Its been a month already since I got it and none of my joints have gotten better and ive been taking anti infalmmatories and herbal remedies and resting all the time. Im 19 years old and all my joints crack and i feel like im 80 years old. do not take it may work well but has terrible side effects that makes it not worth it to take unless you really need to and is a matter of life or death. ive gotten terrible depression from this as im a normally athletic swimmer and feel the need to exercise to be sane. I never had tendinitis problems before. its ruined my life.

Was prescribed Cipro for a diverticulitis infection. Took the first dose right before bed and had immediate vertigo (could tell when I turned over in bed that my balance was off), slept and woke up remembering unusual vivid dreams. Had vertigo bad enough to call out sick. The vertigo continued so I called my doctor had asked to be switched and was given Levaquin. Didn't like the known side-effects of that either. Legs felt like tree stumps but that went away. Took Levaquin 2x without anything overt happening and infections cleared up. Recently had the same infection, once again prescribed. Skin started to have a burning, tingling sensation about 3-4 hours after taking. Woke up with hives on right arms and swollen tingling/burning lips with rather slight tingling/burning sensations off and on on face and body. I am allergic to penicillin, developing an allergy mid-way through a dose (having taken in before without any problems) where I broke out in itchy bumps all over my body, including the undersides of my hands and feet. This happened when I was around 9 or 10 years old. So even if a med is safe once you can still develop symptoms later. I have a call into my doctor, have no idea what they will prescribe next. I get bronchitis a lot and they usually given me the 3 days dosage of antibiotic, which *never* works and they they put me on a 10 days. Not as powerful but that might work. This bought of diver doesn't seem as bad as the past and already my gut feels better. I hate these meds but what can you do when you have a nasty bacterial infection that could kill you?

Took it in August this year.

Developed raging anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, muscle twitches, weakness, nausea, lost myself, my job and almost my husband.

I'm on Benzos now.

Thanks Cipro and your makers, you took my life from me

I was prescribed Cipro for a UTI infection 2x3days the first day I felt really bad! I was tired and had stomach pain along with nausea. The second day I also had stomach pain with headache and tiredness, my mind was foggy as well as my vision was blurred. I took it even though our clinic is against all medication for this exact reason bad reactions and death. I did some research this morning and have STOPPED the Cipro. I will start a 21 day detox to get this out of my system. I will help fight to get this product off the market! My niece is turning 10 years old and she has also been prescribed this medicine she has had many medical problems. It feels great knowing I may finally be able to help her. I know god has forced the infection upon me to help others. Please!! do the research before you take any medicine only you can make the decision. WE ONLY HAVE ONE BODY TAKE CARE OF IT!!! NO ONE ELSE CAN DO IT FOR US!!!

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 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.

I was prescribed Cipro XL for a bladder infection. After the first day on the medication, I developed heart palpitations that were so severe, they kept me awake all night. I felt like my heart was going to burst through my chest. It was the worst experience of my life. I stopped taking the Cipro and the palpitations subsided. I will never take this antibiotic again.

What is so incredibly sad is that its just not cipro there are many more in the family which is a Fluoroquinolones ( cipro, avelox, levaquin etc.) And then there are the Antiprotozoals ( flagyl, tindamax etc.) Antimalarial ( lariam, etc.) Please read read read before you take!!! get on your computer and do your research and ask yourself.... Do I want these side effects? Is there something else I can take? .....And remember for whatever reason Doctors have been told that these are the best drugs.....PLEASE question you have the right to know......I cannot express this enough.

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 it for a nasty kidney infection, but I swear it made me more sick than the infection ever could. I was lethargic and nauseated off my rocker, fevering, and trembling. I remember while I was recovering from the medication as I lay waiting for its 1 1/2 half life to expire, my room mate said it felt like we had a vibrating couch I was trembling so much. That all passed, but what has stayed with me for two years is a damaged, unpredictable, undesirable digestive tract. I get stomach aches and nausea a lot, and my bowel usually cramps and hurts. It stripped me of all the good flora I had in my tract and though mom gave me acidophiles bacteria (sp?) which has helped a ton, my tract has never ever been the same. People say I just developed IBS over the years, and if a doctor does give me a minute of their time, they just say that or it's stress or it's 'normal' as one doc tried to pass it off as. They just won't listen. Before Cipro my tract was strong and resilient, I took Cipro, then after Cipro it's so sensitive and unpredictable and painful. Thank goodness I found ginger, but this shouldn't have happened in the first place. I hope one day a doctor listens to me so I can find out what the Cipro caused, whether it's Colitis, Chrones, IBS... Ect... I don't even know what is wrong with me but I do know Cipro caused it. No one will believe the Cipro is what caused it... Now I am so anxious about it, which only exaggerates it. I get stressed and I can feel my gut start to spasm. Please someone help me... Please...

I am finding that I have very bad mood swings taking this med. I have pain in my left hip joint and swelling in my ankles and hands

I have taken cipro before with no obvious problems and am now starting on it again for 2 weeks (1pill a day). This drug is one of a few that people who are allergic to penicillin and sulfa drugs can take to kill bacteria that penicillin normally does. This is considered a 'last resort' drug for us also. I've had a sinus infection as a complication from a dental surgery that refuses to go away for long enough for my mouth to heal - since July 10 (it is now 19Dec). I was prescribed Avelox for the first time yesterday which led me to this website while trying to find pricing info. $168 for 12 pills? at a Walmart? absurd. So I had the doc switched to cipro. They want me to try this 'type' of drug since the others haven't been able to completely eliminate the infection. I will keep in mind everyone here's side effects but I definitely have plans to do a heavy duty DETOX the minute my mouth is healed and I am off the drugs whether I have problems or not. I concur with the constipation though, all antibiotics seem to give me that problem while taking them. Another good reason to do a detox.

I took Cipro for a UTI and from the first pill I took I felt like I was going to die. My head hurt so bad that I thought it was going to explode. I thought maybe it was just fighting the infection so I kept taking it. The more I took the more I felt sick my tendons in my legs hurt so bad and my neck and shoulders hurt like nothing I ever felt before. On day three I phoned the pharmacist and he told me that side effects from cipro never happen and that if I was really concerned go to the doctor and get a new antibiotic which I did. I was so mad when I went online and read the side effects of this terrible drug.
I stopped taking the Cipro and felt much better within a day but it took weeks for my muscles to feel better.
I will never take this drug again nor will I let my kids. I tell everyone I know to ask for a different antibiotic if given this one.

I had a Prostate Infection that Bactrim and Doxycyline would not cure. So the doctor said the only thing that would cure i is Cipro or Levaquin. I was on it for a month. I tuffed it out and I had to take Tramadol to kill the leg pain. One day I accidentally took an extra Cipro pill and within a half hour, I had a hard time walking. I actually could feel my achilles heel pulling when I walked like it had shrunk. I've been off it two months now and I don't feel any better. I am tired and aching all the time. I have no strength. My back and knees hurt everyday to where I can't function without taking some kind of pain medicine. How long does this last? I talked to a lawyer who is doing the Cipro lawsuits and he said unless I had a ruptured tendon or can get a doctor to say I have chronic tendinitis, I have no case. I have never felt so bad in my life.

DRUG: CIPRO FOR UTI. NOV 08. FEMALE AGE 52.

STARTED ON CIPRO FOR UTI ON 11/15/08. I TOLD MY DOCTOR THAT CIPRO IS A EVIL ANTIBIOTIC. I STOPPED TAKING CIPRO ON 11/18/08 WHEN I WOKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE PAIN IN MY JOINTS AND THE RIPPING AND BURNING IN MY CALFS. I FINALLY GOT OUT OF BED AND COULD HARDLY WALK. I DISCOVERED THAT MY TOES, FINGERS, ELBOWS, BOTH KNEES WERE SEVERELY SWOLLEN. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED ALMOST ALL OF THE SIDE EFFECTS AS LISTED IN THE "PACKAGE INSERT" THAT CAME WITH CIPRO.

BEGINNING MY FIRST DOSE ON SAT. AFTERNOON (11/15) I THOUGHT I HAD THE FLU ALONG WITH THE UTI AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS CAUSING MY FEVERS OF 102.9 WHICH I KEEP DOWN THRU IBUPROFIN. THE BLOATED STOMACH AND TENDERNESS WAS EXPLAINED FROM MY FRIEND WHO WORKS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AS PROBABLY CAUSED FROM THE INGREDIENTS IN THE ANTIBIOTIC THAT DESTROY OUR OWN BODIES "NATURAL ENYSEMS"
I ALSO WAS CONSTIPATED FOR 4 DAYS. (I HAVE BEEN DAILY ALL MY LIFE). EXTREME FATIGUE KEPT ME EITHER ON THE COUCH OR IN BED, I NEVER SLEPT SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. I LOSSED ALL MY APPETITE, WAS DIZZY, AND VERY SICK OF BEING SICK. I ALSO HAD PERIODS WHERE I WOULD JUST START CRYING (ONE TIME I REMEMBER OVER THE DOG AND NOT WALKING IT) EMOTIONALLY, I WOULD BEST DESCRIBE MYSELF AS HAVING SEVERE MOOD SWINGS. ALSO HAD HEART PALPITATIONS. , SHORTNESS OF BREATH, ODD TASTE IN MOUTH WAS ANOTHER "EXPERIENCE" WHILE ON MY JOY RIDE WITH CIPRO.

TODAY IS SATURDAY, 1 WEEK LATER - ANTIBIOTIC FREE FOR 4 DAYS. I STILL HAVE EXTREME SWOLLEN JOINTS AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE AROUND ALTHOUGHT ITS BETTER. TODAY I CAME DOWN IN THE BASEMENT TO LAUNDRY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE LAST SATURDAY. (I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY HOUSEHOLD CHORES ALL THIS TIME). RIGHT NOW, MY HIPS AND BUTT ARE SORE FROM SITTING - MAYBE BECAUSE LAST Night I WENT TO BED AT 7:00 pm AND WOKE UP AGAIN AT 6:00 AM OR IS IT BECAUSE OF THE SWOLLEN JOINTS SIDE EFFECT. I DO FEEL BETTER AND AM HOPEFUL THAT ALL OF MY ACHES AND PAINS WILL GO AWAY. I STILL AM NOT 100%, I STILL AM EXPERIENCING PERIODS OF WANTING TO PUKE, AND HEADACHES COME AND GO.

I WILL NEVER TAKE CIPRO AGAIN. WHAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE IS TO TAKE THE COMPANY DOWN THAT PRODUCES THIS DRUG. THIS DRUG SEEMS TO ATTACK A INDIVIDUALS "WEAK SPOTS" AND MAGNIFY THE SYMPTOMS. I AM PRAYING THAT ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS ARE TEMPORARY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WEBSITE AND BLESS EACH ONE US WHO HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF THE EVIL ANTIBIOTIC "CIPRO".

My dog was prescribed Cepro on 10/8/2008
500 mg 2 capsules am
1 capsule pm

Stopped giving him the drug after he started to vomit three days later
Symptoms:
Vomiting, heavy breath, exhaustion.

13 Oct --
Refuses to eat.
Sudden drop in quantity of urine.
Refuses to drink.
Bloating of stomach.
A bit of seizures.
Death.

I was prescribed Cipro for 2 surgeries I had last week. When I picked it up from the pharmacy, the pharmacist told me to drink a lot of water as much as possible because it has a dehydrating effect and he told me it makes you more sensitive to the sun so if I have to be outdoors, to limit my time and apply sunscreen with a high spf as often as possible. I didn't go outdoors because of that, but Cipro made me very thirsty, but I expected it and drank plenty of fluids. Other than than, I did not have any problems. I never got constipated, it didn't bother my stomach but I always eat something when taking medications because I can't take them on an empty stomach. I didn't have any allergy problems, diarrhea, breathing problems or anything else. In fact, I liked this antibiotic much better than any other one I've ever been on.

I took Cipro three weeks ago for a UTI. Within days I felt bloated and my bladder felt numb. Doctor attributed it to my UTI. But after seeing a urologist she wondered if it wasn't the Cipro. I've had two ultrasounds, a CT Scan and an XRay. I am bloated, constipated, look 2-3 months pregnant, back ache, hip bones feel so much pressure. I am miserable. I get out of breath easy. Until this, I was a VERY healthy person. I had never had a UTI and I wish I would have known about this drug. Now they want me to see a Gastroenterologist to see what it wrong with me. I am SO ticked off that nothing has been done about this drug yet after reading the horror stories on the net about it.

I took cipro 500 mg just this past thurs Sept 25/2008 only 3 pills. One thurs lunchtime, one that evening and then another fri lunchtime. By Friday morning I was starting to experience a sore throat and flu like pains.When it came to that evening my throat had red really red blisters and swollen glands. I didn't take that pill friday night. I stayed up all that night and at 4 am realized my sore throat and swelling had subsided. I called my pharmacy Sat. morning and told them what I had experienced. They said I did the right thing. I then had to contact my doctor to get another RX for my kidney infection. I have since had pain that hasn't went away. I have had a ultrasound on sept 9 and bloodwork on Oct 1 and a CT scan. All tests were ok. I was told just now on the phone to finish the new antibiotic and then 48 hrs later get another urine culture. I had to be given pain relief patches from the doctor.

i was prescribed cipro on may 9th, 2008. It is now September 27th 2008. i have not had a really good day between these dates. have been hospitalized. lost lots of body fluids. pain, weakness, depression, emotional problems,no appetite, no energy, agitated constantly, lost 15 lbs.,so far. have seen specialists because i have diminished eye sight and hearing loss. no patience with family. i haven't moved my bowels on my own since first dose. have to take laxatives every week to empty my bowels. i live with full body pain and stiffness every single day, all day. lost interest in my life. i am forgetting the happy, active strong, energetic positive 48 yr old woman I used to be. i know it's the cipro that's killing me. i think my dr. believes me. the other dr.s think i should either that's where I discovered what was hurting me so badly]. I looked up cipro on the computer after i saw a warning about taking cipro and found the truth of why i was so sick. accidentally found out. no symptoms, no pain. Most doctors don't want to believe me. I've told several drs., nurses, and anybody who would listen. I'd tell you more but I can't remember right now. cipro stole my memory too. May God be with us. Betty M.

After going to the ER for abdominal pain, I was given a CT scan and told
I have Diverticulitis, my colon was inflamed and I had an infection.
They gave me Ciprofloxcin 500mg twice a day for 5 days. My body has never tolerated drugs very well and I'm allergic to most antibiotics, but the doctor insisted if I didn't take it, I would end up in the hospital with the possibility of having surgery to remove part of my colon. So I made myself tough it out. Fortunately, I didn't get any side effects that I couldn't handle, so I did the full 5 days. Unfortunately, after two days off the Cipro, I'm feeling ill. I'm nauseas, after eating or drinking, lightheaded and out of breadth, when I stand up, and have a burning sensation after urinating that lingers till I want to scream. My muscles ache and I feel depressed. I am a 58 year old woman, very active and I don't do well with being ill. I have another Dr. appointment later today to see if I may still have an infection.
I WILL NOT TAKE ANYMORE CIPRO!

For the first time in 10 years I chose to go to a medical doctor instead of my usual Homeopath to receive treatment for a UTI. 2-3 weeks after taking Cipro My knee would suddenly give out while I was walking (no pain, yet). A week or so later the tendon behind my knee starting hurting. Another week the front of my knee hurt. Another week and it’s as if my muscles & tendons in my calfs completely froze. I could not walk. Excruciating pain at even resting feet on floor...could not bear any weight or pressure. Also swelling, strange crawling sensations, pinching pains, dull ache in leg bones, stabbing pains, tearing sensations in calfs...it seems to be a little different every day. Also some insomnia and anxiety, shortness of breath, and a strange sensation that my throat or tongue was swollen so I had to sleep in a raised position because it felt like I was suffocating when I laid down. Now 8 months later...only very slight improvement. I can grocery shop for about 20 minutes before I’m so exhausted and in so much pain that I’m sweating. Cannot lift or carry anything that’s even slightly heavy because it puts too much strain on my legs. When I can walk, I walk funny - kinda like Frankenstein’s monster (straight-legged) and also limp. I never thought at the age of 44 that just grocery shopping would be enough to wipe me out for 2 or more days. And yes...depression too. Who would’nt be? If you have any advice please share it with me.

i took cipro for a UTI over 10 years ago and have had floaters, neuropathy, tingling, and numbness in my hands and feet ever since then. it was not until THIS YEAR that i stumbled upon information on the internet about CIPRO and its side effects. but immediately following my use of the drug i went to a doctor who insisted i had carpal tunnel and i asked then why is it in my feet? then a neurologist who found nothing and patted me on my little college girl head, told me it was "just stress," and prescribed me narcotics to calm me down. i threw the prescription in the garbage on the way out of his office... then was tested for diabetes and briefly thought i might have MS. eventually, after many docs finding nothing and my family thinking i was a total hypochondriac, i just decided to ignore the symptoms. pain in my joints, floaters in my eyes, numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. after years i figured if i wasn't dying from whatever it was and it wasn't getting any worse, then i would just live with it. one day when it was particularly uncomfortable i did an internet search and came up with CIPRO info. there was a class action law suit at one time because right around the time i took CIPRO, it was a new drug and had not been sufficiently clinically tested. there's no recourse for me now, but i feel better having solved the mystery.

i am appalled to see so many people still suffering in 2008 and this drug still being prescribed. i'm sorry you're all going through this. i tell everyone i know not to ever take this drug. i feel lucky to be still functioning. i am very healthy, just have the annoyance of these symptoms that never go away.

My personal experience with Cipro is what they say is a mild case. To me I felt I would die. I've documented everything blow by blow on a new website ****** I was so angry with the medical profession for crippling me, so I took the time and channeled it into the only thing I could. My daily report. 6 weeks and I'm well on the road to recovery. To all of you who say it can't be done, it can. To all of those who say it will recur, perhaps, but I have great faith in the power of natural supplements to heal and support the body in it's repair. If you are suffering and reading this, make sure you visit my site and make your own decisions on what course of action you will take.

The experience has changed me forever, I will no longer have blind faith in the medical profession. We can't fight in the courts, but people have power in numbers. Share your experience, share your pain and help warn others about the toxic substances doctors hand out like candy.

YOU call the shots with YOUR healthcare.

Sadly, I am just another case among many it seems. I am a 26 year old female who was prescribed ciprofloxacin for a UTI at my urgent care center. I have health problems to begin with and did not want any more. You know, I’ve had to take all kinds of meds over the years, including harsh ones, but it was never so bad as to prompt me to write comments on the internet about it. What does that say about Cipro? When I got home from the doctor I read the paper before swallowing the pill, which included the description of side effects. Unfortunately, it did not include the truth about what could happen to you while even taking this drug for a short time. If there had been some kind of warning about the strength and potential risk of taking this drug, I most likely would have steered clear from it since I am sensitive to medications and already suffering. The paper led me to believe false information, listing some common antibiotic side effects, and I ended up starting treatment. Some of the negative effects I experienced while on this medication for only 2 days were: severe muscle/overall body weakness, difficulty breathing, fatigue, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness, mild carpal tunnel pain, slight vision change, stiffness, pain, an overall feeling of terrible heaviness, including of the chest, and possible heart palpitations. It felt like the medication was damaging my body; like it was eating away at my muscles or something. I've never had chemotherapy before, but some how that's how I would imagine it. It felt like it was doing damage to every cell in my body. The worst part is the weakness and altered thinking right now. I hope these symptoms go away completely. I felt better after quitting the drug, but not completely. I am just thankful for my hope in Jesus Christ. Even if things don't improve, I am comforted that He cares for me. I am going to be praying for this terrible situation where doctors are just handing this out for common problems without giving proper warning. May fewer and fewer people have to suffer because of Cipro and this class of drugs. I am also going to report this to the FDA and hopefully to my doctor’s office. I would like to see clear and extensive warnings on this drug, if not for it to be taken off the market. My personal advice to any one who is currently on this medicine and experiencing side effects would be to: drink milk or eat other dairy products to lessen the symptoms. It seemed to temporarily help me.

Cipro is a chemotherapeutic agent that is stored in fat cells and is reabsorbed into the bloodstream when burned and can potentially damage any system it comes in contact with. I took this for two weeks.and had horrible pains and kept having what could best be described as partial seizures and heart palpitations as well as peripheral neuropathies. As the drug recycles every few months back into my blood the symptoms start over and sometimes new ones occur. I am currently experiencing floaters, brain fog, vision problems, burning sensations, panic attacks, partial seizures, dizziness, depersonalization and extreme fatigue even nine months after taking 27 pills over the course of two weeks. Cipro is used to kill anthrax and should not be used on people even though Bayer is making a killing in its sales. You don't have to look far to find thousands of people who have had their lives destroyed by this drug. Remove from the market ASAP.

This is so upsetting to me,i have a son that was born with spina bifida,along with that came bladder issues,he used to walk well only a slight limp,after years on cipro,well really the only thing i knew for sure was photo sensitivity and exaggerated taste and smell,but i was accustomed to this and knew i couldn't use fabric softener etc when he was taking it as it would make him puke,he would tell nurses they smelled and vomit if they had on purfume etc,but now i wonder as the years have gone by,and he has been on this drug so much,he is now completely dependent on a wheel chair i constant pain with his stomach unable to use his feet because of pain...could it have been cipro...we will never know

Nine months after given CIPRO via IV at the Hospital, I am still crippled.

I was a healthy 58 years old working full time. Now my tendons, muscles, ligaments hurt all over my body. I have very limited flexibility.

I am sooooooo aggravated that doctors don't believe you and they want to treat you with prozac.

I am sooooo mad that nothing I can do but suffer.

Lawyers said unless doctor diagnosis Tendinitis nothing they can do and doctors insist it is Fibromyalgia.

I took CIPRO for an inflamed gall bladder for two weeks. Two days after I stopped I started to get pain in my left ankle, both elbows, neck and shoulders. I could hardly sleep at night as the pain would not leave. I never knew that CIPRO did this much damage to your body.
J.Nunez
Violet, LA

I took Cipro many times but in November I took it with a prednisone dose pack, this seems to make the tendon issue worse according to todays report.

I have had severe achiles tendon pain for 7 months now. I can't bend my ankle when I walk. I also had surgery for a torn rotator cuff in December, no injury to my shoulder, it just tore.

I have wide spread tendinitis an now I know why. Is this a temporary situation? I hope!!!
ksquared

I took Cipro and had a persitant leg twitch, and did not think anything at the time. many symptoms came around a month later. all over body twitching, burning skin, muscle pain, tendon pain. maily on left side of body. Also, insomnia, dark circles under eyes, horizontal depressions in fingernails...just to name a few. It has been almost 2 years and I have sense been diagnosed with fibromyalgia by PC, I need to go to a ruemy. I have never had these pains until cipro and I still have all of them most of the time.
I told my mother not to take Cipro or any in the same class. She was prescribed Levaquin and called the nurse and said she did not want anything in the same class as Cepro, and thew nurse said "Oh no it is not, I did hear Cepro was bad". So she took them unaware. She was so sick after first pill. she thought it was severe flu. She could not even move her arms because of terrible shoulder pains.

I was prescribed CIPROFLAXACIN 500 mg 28 tablets twice a day. I developed Achilles tendon on my right leg
while playing volleyball. I am using crutches and off from work with short term disability. This drug did not cure my existing problem
but created new problem. Even when such side effects were known to the Physicians and Pharmacists I was not made aware of this. As a United States of American citizen I am requesting FDA to please ban such drugs
that cause such side effects.

Took Cipro for 7 days for a UTI....three days after ending Cipro UTI returned. Now on Cipro for 10 days and have been having severe abdominal pains under belly button and above bladder. No pain if I lay down. Pain returns in the morning after I pee and have a bowel movement. Feels like gas pockets that move from side to side. If I sit or bend forward feels like a balloon filled with gas that is going to pop.

Anyone else with this type of pain. Have 4 more days of Cipro remaining.

I was prescribed 500 mg, twice a day for 5 days for a UTI. Immediate side effects were insomnia, restlessness and feeling sick to my stomach when taken without food - but I didn't really think twice about it. Approx 2 days after my first dose I woke up, was making coffee and got a sharp, VERY painful feeling in my abdomen. Ran into the bathroom and was shocked to see blood in the toilet, along with what appeared to be mucous. The pain went away and I just didn't feel "good" the rest of the day. Went to the bathroom twice with nothing until it happened once again. I went from thinking I had hemorrhoids, cysts, diverticulitis, etc. and almost went to the emergency room until we read the insert that came with my prescription. All of these were clearly listed in it. I stopped taking immediately and it has not happened since. I feel back to normal.

I am a healthy and active 26 year old who couldn't believe this happened. I am now taking Florastore (a probiotic you can buy behind the counter at any pharmacy) and eating Activia yogurt. Wish I had seen this message board before I began taking Cipro.

Wow, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago. Instead of getting on medication, i decided to watch my diet. I noticed i only had fibromyalgia when my cholesterol was high. I keep my cholesterol down and myself thin and toned and i am healthy with no fibro. However, i recently began to take Cipro, and all of a sudden i feel fibromyalgia coming on again. I decide to look this up online and find out there is a connection!

I was recently prescribed Cipro for a UTI. I've been on it for 6 days now. The first night was crazy. I felt excitable and when I finally did fall asleep I had the most intricate, amazing dream, almost lucid. The next day I felt a boost of energy and was running circles around my husband while doing yard work. The third day was when the pain hit, soreness in my elbows, knees, feet and hands. I attributed it to my previous day of insane energy. Right now I'm feeling quite bloated and I have this dull pain that feels like it's in the marrow of my bones. I have a tingly sensation in my muscles and my mind is a foggy, yet racing haze. Two more days of this and I'm hoping for the best. I didn't even know I had a UTI. I just know I was feeling very lethargic and had horrible pains in my left side and bad back aches, which now leads me to believe I had a kidney infection. Hate to say it, but I think I am experiencing the lesser of two evils. What's worse, raging, possibly life-threatening bacteria, or anti-biotic over kill with severely inconvenient side-effects?

Ciprofloxacin is a highly dangerous drug and should be banned. My son (18) has developed twitching, jerking movements which came on a month or so after stopping it. He took it for 6 weeks and towards end of treatment came out is a terrible rash on his back. No doctors or consultants will accept that that is where the twitching has come from. Thousands of people all over are saying they developed devastating side effects after taking this drug and because the side effects come on some time afterwards doctors will not believe you. The more people highlight the dangers of this drug the more someone will listen.

I was prescribed the Cipro, 250 for UTI....within 24 hours was having a headache which did go away within 3 days, cleared the UTI...made sure I took the Cipro with meals. Within 1 week of being off of the Cipro started having extreme stomach issues....burning, irritation.... took approx 2 more weeks taking Heartburn MD supplements with meals to "heal up" the stomach lining from the Cipro. Took Amoxicillin for past UTI's now the docs don't want to give Amox only Cipro. Was told by the doc that the UTI's have managed to build a resistance to the Amoxicillin.....I could understand that if you took Amoxicillin regularly. Hmmmm!

I was prescribed Cipro for a UTI on 1/25/08. I took 500 mg for 7 days. About day four I began to experience intermittent "little pains" in my hands and feet. I thought it could be a side effect of Cipro but no big deal and would subside when I finished the prescription. Boy was I wrong. It has been two months and every week that goes by I feel worse. I have pain and mild cramping in my arms, hands, legs and feet on and off all day. The muscles in my neck and the back of my head tighten up and I get very lightheaded. When I get up in the morning I am extremely stiff and do not feel like myself most of the time. I have read many comments by others who have used this drug on several websites and I am quite worried at this point. Can I expect these symptoms to gradually subside or am I on the road to becoming an invalid? Sorry to sound dramatic but this is very upsetting. Has anyone found anything to help with these sort of symptoms or does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

I was given Cipro 500mg twice daily for a UTI. After 4 days on the medication I developed severe joint and tendon pain. Every joint in my body was in pain! I have called the doctor and they had me stop taking the medication. I continue to have pain in my joints. By the end of the day, my knees are killing me! Will this ever go away. I am seeing the doctor tomorrow, I am so upset over this, I am in my mid-30's and am feeling like I am 80! I am a grade 1 teacher and have 3 young kids at home, I hope things will get better!

My name is Eric , and 7 months ago I took Cipro for a minor UTI , since then I have had ear-ringing , headaches , tendon/joint pains , stomach problems and various other problems too numerous to mention . Understand I was a very healthy 47 yr. old male who was never in the hospital or doctors office . These drugs are very powerful and full spectrum , effecting every cell in your body , If your doctor wants to put you any Fluoroquinolone drug , refuse at all cost !! The pain and suffering I am still going thru is not worth it !! Go to FQresearch.Org. to see the damage these antibiotics cause .

For all of you suffering on this board I strongly suggest you log unto www.fqresearch.org where you will find over 4000 medical journal entries, case reports, etc., that detail the horrendous damage these drugs are capable of. You will also find a link there for a support forum hosted by yahoo that everyone here is invited to join.

We have been fighting with the FDA since 1999 to get "Black Box" warnings as well as "Dear Doctor" letters sent. Had this been done I doubt that most of you would be suffering like this. This class is a drug of LAST RESORT, and it is not approved as a first line agent for ANY disease state.

It is both shocking and appalling that we see people coming on this site promoting the use of these drugs and chasing you for suffering a reaction. I can assure you this is not "in your head" by any means. These severe adverse reactions have been documented since 1982 within ALL of the leading medical journals. They are THE most toxic and dangerous antibiotic in clinical use today.

But the FDA refuses to provide adequate warnings within the package inserts and Public Citizen has had to SUE them in Federal Court to even have them review their petitions seeking, once again, "Black Box Warnings and Dear Doctor Letters."

Recently Bayer issued a "Dear Doctor" letter in Europe regarding the severe adrs to Avelox. But we find no such letters being written here in the United States.

Anyhow, just a brief note to let you know that you are no alone, your name is "Legions", and we have been fighting on your behalf since 1999.

Regards,

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
www.fqresearch.org

After being diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, I was given Cipro at the hospital. My heart started racing to the point that it was hard to breath. After a while, this symptom went away. Three days later, after continuing to take Cipro, I started to feel tingling sensations all over my body, and a fiery burning sensation on my right lower back. I also had patches of numb areas all over, and suffered from muscular spasms. I developed horrible agitation episodes and tachycardia. I had rushing thoughts going through my mind and felt like running away. At some point, I felt as if I was about to have a convulsion. The doctors deny that these are side effects of Cipro and think I am suffering from anxiety. I have had anxiety before, but who hasn't? It is too much of a coincidence to have all these symptoms together right while taking Cipro.