Ciprofloxacin poisoning?

Hi Mike

I'm so glad your back because this is the only conversation I've had where someone has understood. I have spoken to people "employed to help" but either they did not believe or did not understand or did not want to discuss it. I wonder if its the case of "don't rock the boat" .

I checked on the cipro mail story author and found her articles very revealing, I'll cover that in the future.

But now can I ask you, was your treatment discussed with you and the doctor, were you given a choice of penicillin or otherwise. Was it the case of "no decision about me without me", because this is the critical time, deciding to gamble with powerful drugs.

When you phoned to say you where stopping after one day, did you get a reasonable explanation. Then after five days when you stopped completley, did you see the medic, did he explain, apologise, or suggest what to do.

I know you said you would rather put up with the original problem but now how do you feel about it overall.

In my case he said " we hit it hard" and I thought I was getting penicillin he gave no warning, no discussion. When my wife spotted "tendons" in the tiny print, he said "it should be OK". When I saw him 2 months later he appeared shocked and from what I recollect he said "I'm so sorry"

Could these serious problems have been stopped at an early stage, ie information and discussion. Surely anyone damaged should be given prime attention just as an accident victim would get in A&E.

In 12 months I've only seen one doctor. The 10 minutes with him was abysmal and I'm now housebound, should we just put up and shut up.

I should not forget that the majority benefit. I would probalbly be praising cipro if it had cured me.

John

My father has been 'floxed' (as the Americans have appropriately labelled this) some 18 months ago following a prescription of Ciprofloxacin for a urine infection. Within days he suffered tendonitis in his ankles and has since had, what he describes as 'brain fog', which is so bad that he is totally dependent on my mother, who has to supervise all of his daily activities as he is now totally unsafe. He has undergone tests for brain tumours and dementia including CT and MRI brain and many many many blood tests. However, all have proved negative and Cipro has been the only common denominator in all of his ailments. before Cipro he was an active, level headed, logical thinking man. So, after seeing my father experiencing the side effects of Cipro, I have been on a mission and on many many sites trying to find something which will help him. So far, unfortunately I have come to a dead end and have read heart-breaking accounts of how peoples lives have been totally ruined by this drug. and it would appear that the only advice out there is on detoxing etc etc which appears to work for some but not others. For my poor Dad is is too late, the damage is done but I have joined many groups who are fighting fervently to get this recognised and eventually the banning of this poison. I though you guys might like a couple of links which I have come across on my searches plus a petition by a reputable company which you may like to sign. Small steps I know but it might help to prevent this from happening to your children or someone very close to you. And spread the word to all you know about how Cipro is ruining lives. I wish you well with your personal recoveries. Deborah

Hi John/Amnesiac101

To Amnesiac101 - thanks for your comments, when I was actually taking the Cipro back in February the stomach pains were one of the reasons I stopped taking them after 6 days, that and the Anxiety they triggered. I still have various pains in the stomach but I don't really know whether thats due to the Cipro or the pregabalin I'm now on to try and alleviate the other problems Cipro has caused, such as severe muscle pain in most of the body etc - stomach pain and wind/feeling bloated are side effects of pregabalin as well so it's hard to know.

John, likewise, whilst it would be better if neither of us were suffering with this, it is good to talk with people who understand what you are going through, there are few enough of them about when you need them.

The Doc did discuss with me the treatment, but didn't offer any alternatives to the Cipro (I've learned that it is very commonly prescribed for our kind of problem in the uk). Unfortunatley, I just went with what was given and I didn't even read the side effects insert until after the event - and in any case you don't know what will happen, In my case after I stopped taking them I was actually ok for about 2 weeks then the problems started.

On the first day of taking them, I had really bad anxiety attack and uncontrollable shaking - it was all really a bit strange and as mentioned above, bad stomach pains. I rang my GP surgery, but couldn't talk to my usual Doc but the one I spoke to dismissed what was happening and said just keep taking them, I also rang NHS direct or whatever it is called these days and they said the same. So I kept on for 6 days, after which point I made my own mind up I was stopping and rang the Doc to say so.

I haven't been back to see the original Doc that prescribed the Cipro, as fortunately the original symtoms were cleared by the 6 days on Cipro - so you could say it was a success from that point of view.

I don't really know the answer, it seems to me, there needs to be some sort of awareness campaign so that people prescribing these things are at least aware that people may suffer these side effects and own up when they occur and are recognised as such.

Anyway, another long post from me, better go and do some work!!

All the best

Mike

Mike

I agree wholeheartedley with you that an awareness campaign AH should be implemeted to try JB reduce the number of people suffering. Education EC is the key to many things. If the medics are aware of the potential effects, correct dosage and conducts an honest two way discussion. Then in the EJ event of a patient suffering abysmally, he/she would not hold it against the medic. If the problem iiJ is flagged up the medic could consult the standby procedure such as advice on rest, supplements and other matters, surely this is better then leaving people damaged high and dry. A is zero, bee is one, see is two etc.

You wrote that you suffered with bad headaches, so do I. Mine have lasted 1year 4 months, virtually every day affecting concentration and memory. A few days ago I was listening to the radio. Doctors were discussing " chemo brain" (check on computer) which sounds pretty much the same as cipro's "cranial pressure".

Speak to you soon

John

Hi John

Yes the headaches are still there, had them for about 4 months, they are not like normal headaches but they feel like pressure in the head, difficult to describe, I guess like there is a band round your head and it's being tightened. I also get really bad pressure pains across the front of my head and face, especially just after I wake up, it feels like bad sinus pain.

That Chemo brain thing is interesting, in a similar vien, if you look up fluoride poisoning which is effectively what the Cipro does to you, I belive, it also causes those sorts of symptoms, I definitely feel like I don't concentrate or work as well as I did before all this happened.

We've been doing some decorating, but I find apart from all the muscle aches, it's really hard to grip things like screwdrivers or paint brushes because I guess it's the tendons in the thumb joint become really painful, my partner has ended up doing most of the work which I find hard when you are used to doing this stuff.

I've decided to try taking extra Iodine now as that is supposed to help, so I got some powdered Kelp from the health food store and started on that Saturday, to early to say if it does anything but it's a natural product and as long as you don't go mad it should be ok.

Take care

Mike

Hi all,

I have removed the email address and links to petitions in this discussion as we do not publish these. If users wish to exchange this type of information or chat outside of the forums then please use the private message service.

Regards,

Alan

Emis Moderator

Hi Deborah

Thanks for your post and certainly agree about spreading the word, since the system does not allow email addresses and links, would you be kind enough to send me a private message with the information, that would be much appreciated.

Like you, I've done huge amounts of research and emailed various organisations, but often without reply. Most Doctor's won't even acknowledge that Cipro could be the cause despite being perfectly healthy before taking it and having multiple problems subsequently.

Best wishes to you and your Father and hoping things improve

All the best

Mike