are all my symptoms side effects of ciprofloxacin? any experience?

Hi emma. Are you in the uk?

Hi yes I'm in the UK. Staffordshire.

I'm in Wolverhampton. 30 year old male. I have two kids as well, 3 and 5. I took 5 tablets if ciprofloxacin for suspected epidimitis. Which it wasn't after I've been back and since had an ultrasound.

For some reason it hit me pretty hard as well. I stopped taking after 2.5 days as I had nausea and headache s. For me I started getting pins abd needles in my hands and feet which spread to my knees within a few days. Naturally I was concerned so I went back to gp. He assured me it would subside within a few days. It didn'. It oprogressively got worse and I ended up with pain in all my small joints. Wrists, ankles, elbows, knees etc.i was very concerned as I run around 40miles a week and also cycle to work in Birmingham 3 days a week so I was petrified this would end my involvement in sport and the clubs I'm in.

3months have passed now. I've been to see a sports therapist, had reflexology and even been referred to a rheumatologis. II've had loads of blood tests done and doesn't showanything. Pain is cobsiderably better now thab 3 months ago and I hhaven't got puns and needles anymore. I have aching around my achilles heel and ankle, however I haven't stopped doing any sport apart from running. I swim and cycle still but the wirry did taje its toll and I genuinely felt like my body was shutting down initially.

I haven't been taking any supplements as I didn't take tablets before and I won't put anymore down my neck. The greatest challenge u have us getting any to believe the tablets can cause this. Genuinely even I can't believe it sometimes.

It will get better with time. Keep your chin up and if u want anymore advice just pm me if I can help.

P.s. I've spoken to two guys who were hit in Oxford, one is an elite cyclist for a team, he's 2 years out and tge majority of his problems are fixed and he's back racing, another guy is 5 years out and hes heale. Neither of tgese guys could walk after there reactiin. So things do get better.

Try to stay off the web though as reading the hhorror stories will scare u to death like they did with me.

Emma the only thing I'll advise at this stage is to avoid any nsaids, I.e. ibroprofen or steroid injections. These may well be pescribed for tendinitus bybyour gp, but are known to make your symptoms worse as they react with the ciprofloxacin still in your system.

Apart from that eat loads of fruit, vegetables, gentle exercise, will boost your immune system which will help in fighting off the potential damage the drug can do. Limit alcohol intake and eats lots of veggies with magnesium in such ss broccoli etc.

Oh and try not to get obsessed by all of it.

Chris

Hi, thanks so much for the reply its good to hear I'm not alone in this. I'm 25 and my children are 2 and 4. Don't have any family nearby so it's been a huge struggle the past few days. I can't believe that tablets can do this to someone and that they are allowed to be prescribed.

So rather than going through the doctors for lots of tests do you think I need to just wait it out til I get better? Have you heard anything about magnesium helping?

Sorry posted without seeing the last message. Thanks so much for the advice Chris

Its a difficult one emma. Many websites/forums will suggest taking magnesium supplements amongst other supplements as well. I'm just very wary of taking pills fullstop. In fact I even questionned these antibiotics st the very start and I was assured tendon reactions are extremely rare. I wad even advised by s hospital cobsultant thag these were s safe drug to take.

I've never had any joint problems in my life and straight after these tablets I get all sorts going on with my joints. Very scary and it sent me into a bit if a panic. Even my wife can't believe its still causing aching etc.

I found s lot of reassurance by visiting website floxiehope. I personally haven't taken suplements but have tried epsom salt baths and eat tonnes of veg now and whilst I didnt drink much alcohol before have cut most of this out since it happened.

It seems anyone affected in this way seems to follow the same pattern. I've very rarely hsd any medixation in the past and to have a gp pretty much not believing what you're saying is hard. Blood tests have all come back normal.

Have u been diagnosed with tendinitus or are these just symptoms you're having and self diagnosed??

Symptoms can and do seem to progress withinbyhe first few monyhs but seem tk ease litle by little. Rveryone is different.

Hope yhis gelps

Chris

I wouldn't discourage going back to your gp if concerned. Whilst its common for nothing to show up in bloods again everyone is different. So it could react with your system differently. I found tge first two months s real struggle. All I wanted was reassurance things would be ok but no one can give you this. So its just s case of gettinv on with it and hoping for the best. I'm sure in time you'll be ok. Not everyone has reactions to these drugs we must just be the unlucky few.

Stay positive all will fix. Keep things as normal as possible. I haven't missed anytime off work regardless of how I've felt.