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Ciprofloxacin poisoning?

Posted , 76 users are following.

mike_7
mike_7

Hi All - I was prescribed a course of Cipro and Diclofenac (NSAID - apparently not a good idea)

and after day one I had to call my GP as I had anxiety, stomach problems and shaking - of course they said can't be the Cipro keep taking it. After 5 days I couldn't go on, so agreed I would stop - then after a couple of weeks the pain hit - severe muscle cramps, pain in joints, leg pain, headaches, neck pain, and worst of all severe anxiety, some of this has cleared up but 5 months later I'm still suffering.

I noticed there haven't been any posts on here for a while - is there anything happening in the uk to make people, Doctors etc more aware of this poison, are there any known legal actions against the makers by someone in the uk?

It seems Cipro is prescribed as a first line drug for relatively minor problems when something else would be better - to be honest I would rather have put up with the original symtoms than go through this. The worrying thing is how long will it go on for - it is very difficult to function at work when you feel this way

regards

Mike

7 likes, 266 replies

266 Replies

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  • aviatara
    aviatara mike_7

    Posted

    Hi Mike

    Yes there are some of us on this site who are experiencing the same symptoms and we are all in the same boat. I was prescribed it and have the same things you say you have and have just spent a fortune seeing a urologist privately to try and sort out that i still have the problem and that something needs to be done about these drugs. You might get some more replies and if you send me your email it is easier to pass on the info i have got so far. I have joined the group on fbook and it seems that in America they are trying so hard to do something. We are trying to do something in the UK but it is hard as we all feel so ill and are fighting to get these symptoms recognised as being from taking this medication. I keep being told that i have anxiety as part of my overall health problems and feel like i am being ignored and would like to hit the consultant that i saw for his lack of empathy and telling me that what was happening to me was not the case. We want this discussed on a tv programme and if you look through the recents posts you wll read about this and on the flox toxicity group. my email is _____

    best wishes and hope we can get this issue raised. please go to the yellow card site to report your symptoms and take it to the doctor who prescribed it to you

    kindest regards

    Judy

    Patient Moderator Comment: I have removed an e-mail address from this reply as it is the policy of patient.info to not publish these within the forums. If any user would like this removed information then please contact the author using the Private Messaging system requesting such. Thank you.

    • simoneysimoney
      simoneysimoney aviatara

      Posted

      Hi All!  I have ended up here as I was prescribed Cipro 250g x 2 for 10 days last week for UTI & stopped them after the 3rd pill.  I called my Dr, said I felt pretty sick & his reply was "you had these in March".  I repeated that this time they made me feel Ill & he put me on a different AB.  I have only found out the immense problems Citro causes to otherwise healthy people & really hope I don't get serious symptoms in future.  Although I've been having strange unexplained symptoms for a while, including heart issues.

      I also wonder whether I've had these meds in the past with it being a popular med for doctors to prescribe.  My Dr also said that I'd built up a sensitivity to the drug.  I should have asked what he meant.

    • Ploddingon
      Ploddingon simoneysimoney

      Posted

      Hi simoneysimoney

      The good thing is, that you stopped the Cipro as soon as you realised you were having an adverse reaction.

      Everyone has a different threshold and tolerance to the Fluoroquinolones and the drug is cumulative. It is common for people to have taken them in the past and not been aware of any ADR but the next dose seems to tip the balance; others react after the first tablet. Ask your GP to check through all your medical history and find out what antibiotics you have taken previously.

      As you have had a reaction to Cipro, you are now 'sensitive' to all of the antibiotics in the Fluoroquinolone group and must never take another. You need to have this clearly added to your medical notes. Many who have had an ADR to FQs, also become sensitive and unable to tolerate other types of medications.

      It sounds like you have done some research on the FQs and you will probably have discovered that they were not designed to be given as a first-line defence against bacterial infections, which could be cleared with other, less toxic antibiotics. They are only supposed to be used when all others have failed or in pandemics etc. Sadly, many in the health profession are ignorant of the problems that these drugs cause and this needs to change!

      There are a couple of closed groups which can be accessed through Facebook (Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Group and Fluoroquinolone Toxicity 24/7 Live Chat Group), which are great for up to date information and support; I would recommend that you join them.

      If you are in the UK, please report your adverse reactions to the MHRA under the Yellow Card Scheme and ask your doctor to do the same. You should also report what has happend to the dispensing pharmacy, who will then report directly to the drug company.

      I was affected by Levofloxacin (another FQ) a year ago and as my Achilles tendons and all the others in my legs, ankles and feet were affected, I was unable to walk and was bedridden for 5 months. I am still having ongoing problems but the pain is less....

      I hope things improve for you and please feel free to private message me, if you want.

      Best wishes

      plodding on

    • simoneysimoney
      simoneysimoney Ploddingon

      Posted

      Thanks for the info.  It's good to speak with someone knowledgeable.  Very good advice to check previous medical records, firmly refuse any type of FQ's from now on and tell the pharmacy.  In fact just taking back some control of my health.  Just before your reply I read everyone's comments and am s glad I did as this really shouldn't be happening.  There is a documentary called Certain Adverse Events on the net.  Also very informative if you've not seen it already.  All the best in your recovery wink
    • aviatara
      aviatara simoneysimoney

      Posted

      Hi Simon  thanks for your post and it is good that plodding on has given you the information. I like so many others have been so badly affected by this and have changed my GP who said the last thing he was going to do was give me anymore antibiotics as this time as have had a reaction where i know have boils which is the toxic efffect coming out hopefully. I have done my report re the yellow card and you can print out a pdf copy and give it to your gp  and i am going to wear a bracelet to say about being allergic to these type of antibiotics and was already allergic to penicillin and septrin which was the type of ab they gave me after starting to get the toxic effects of cipro etc. This caused such a terrible reaction after taking just one tablet and ended up in an ambulance going into anaphalactic shock and it was so frightening. Drink lots of water and just rest if that is possible as this seems to have helped a bit. It is so hard for those of us who have serious health problems.

      hope you start to feel better soon and will check out the documentary

      best wishes

      Judy

    • mark78196
      mark78196 simoneysimoney

      Posted

      Hi there.

      How is your recovery going?

      I stopped taking Cipro after three tablets, but two days later having headaches and aching limbs.

      I'm looking for a positive story!

    • madge07350
      madge07350 mark78196

      Posted

      Recovery is very individual. There are many stories of recovery on a website called Floxiehope. Also much advice on what supplements have helped some people and scientific artichokes about these antibiotics
  • janet-jim
    janet-jim mike_7

    Posted

    Hello All:   My husband is suffering from  many of the symptoms I see described on this site.  He was perscribed the cipro in September 2013 when the docs thought he had an intestinal infection.  He took the Cipro for about 5 days.  Turns out he has "psuedo-cysts" in his pancreas.  That said, is the best solution to continue to drink LOTS of water & hope to piss it out of him?  He's quite miserable & the USA docs are not offering any good solutions.  Thanks for any suggestions anyone may have.  Is self-medication really the wave of the future?? - janet
  • cameron07087
    cameron07087 mike_7

    Posted

    Hi all, I too was floxed.  Please go to Facebook and find the group (it's private) "Oils for Flox Recovery."  They are doing some great things for those affected by these horrible drugs.  Essential oils are being used to, in many cases, completely reverse the litany of symptoms.
    • Ploddingon
      Ploddingon muhammed06785

      Posted

      Hi again Muhammed

      There are many people peddling 'cures' for Fluroquinolone poisoning (I am not referring to the post above by Cameron or saying he is doing this). You are probably already aware that people will try to take advantage of desperate people, who are suffering and looking for help, where accepted medicine cannot seem to offer anything.

      i have heard of Floxed people being very badly harmed by oils....please be careful.

      plodding on

       

    • terri69940
      terri69940 Ploddingon

      Posted

      I have friends on facebook groups that also have been harmed by the oils. I have not tried any of them but have had extremely desperate moments that I would have tried anything - please be careful. Research and educate yourself on everything you want to try. Remember your body is trying to repair itself and some things can interfere.
  • tim91877
    tim91877 mike_7

    Posted

    I am also in the UK and recently floxed last April, after 10 days of pills I had pins and needles in hands and feet, depersonalisation, body temp fluctuations, floaters in vision, racing heart beat, pain in Achilles. I stopped the meds, all passed within a few days and I thought I was home free, about a month later brain fog and tinnitus started, then massive fatigue and dizziness, now fog gone, tinnitus and mild dizziness remains but popping of all joints has started, pain in feet, shoulders are the worst for popping and pain, sit bone bursitis! Yes cipro can also cause bursitis, body wide muscle aches, I'm hoping for a recovery and looking into homeocipro, a prescription only homeopathic cure for cipro toxicity, it's relatively unheard of.

    Any updates from people on here? I could do with some good news because 3 months in I only seem to be getting worse, especially for anybody with popping did it progress or get better?

    The UK patient leaflet for this drug is appalling, if I had been in the USA I would of seen the black box prominent warning for Achilles rupture and would not of taken it, I am a keen cyclist and would not want to risk it, as it was I had a scan through the warnings and mostly the same old stuff and no mention of permanent anything, the fda in the US has just added possibility for permanent peripheral neuropathy, the drug has been around 30 Years, this is not new, why is it only being added now?

    • Ploddingon
      Ploddingon tim91877

      Posted

      Hi Tim

      Sorry you are having a rough time and I wish I could reassure you that all will be fine.....the best I can say is that it could be.....

      I am 15 months out from FQ poisoning (Levofloxacin) and all the tendons in both lower legs - Achilles, ankles and feet were affected. I couldn't walk for nearly 5 months and on that front I have improved. However, I still can't be on my feet for very long and all the tendons still hurt, sometimes badly. I am getting more peripheral neuropathy in my feet and I still can't flex my feet or point my toes. I suffer from insomnia and have had the odd panic attack, when I never used to suffer from either; generally my health took a nose-dive with the Levo and I have not felt anywhere near my former self, since taking it. I seem to suffer from all kinds of weird things now.

      I talked to the MHRA about our appalling labelling but got nowhere really. They did ask for suggestions and I gave them but I am still disheartened when I get my meds (I take a few) and the patient info leaflets are often about 5 years out of date!

      I wish I could sound more positive but really I wish that this problem was more well known. There is absolutely no understanding about this in the UK and I despair about what we can do. 

      Plodding on 

    • tim91877
      tim91877 Ploddingon

      Posted

      I have read as many recovery stories as I could find and I think you will heal, 2 years comes up alot for an intermediate reaction which I think you have and hope I do to, though unlike you I'm too early in this to tell, when did your symptoms peak?

      Peace and healing to you

    • jen34314
      jen34314 tim91877

      Posted

      Was on 6 pills of Cipro mid May 2014.  Prior to that, I could walk 5-7 miles without any discomfort.  On the 3rd pill, the mobility issues started.  On 6th pill, doc said "get off."  

      On most weeks, I cannot walk even a block without muscles below the hips feel like they are ripping.  In fact, merely walking a few steps usually causes intense pain and subsequent muscle spasms.  Mind you, I'm relatively young and was previously active.

      Update:  My pain & ease of mobility waxes and wanes.  Some weeks my mobility is relatively good, others not at all.  Just as soon as I seem to be "on the mend" I'm set back.  A relatively good day = one where I can walk 1/2 mile with minor discomfort.  However, most days I have to "duck foot" it from resting spot to task then back to resting spot.  

      What helps?  Rest.  Topical magnesium oil.  Epsom salt soaks.  More rest...with legs elevated.  Hydration.  Danskos.  Family and friends that are understanding.  Laughing about it.  Having adopted a couple active kittens.  Ha.  Seriously.  Watching their antics allows resting to be more enjoyable.   Avoiding: caffeine, bending, pushing, pulling, driving, etc.

      If it weren't for my Danskos, I'd be out of a job.  They allow me to "fake" my mobility.  They propel me forward and allow some driving (the footbed is rigid).

      Today, I had an MRI of each of my ankles where the Achilles inserts.  If the MRI results don't show rupture, etc., I may be cleared for Physical Therapy.  

      Also, am having a myriad of blood tests (including all vitamins, minerals, inflammation, etc.) to determine if low or high and supplement where low.  A couple years ago I had same workup and will be able to compare pre to post Cipro "poisoning" and will report back if there are new lows and if supplementation seemed to help.

      Last, I started cold laser therapy on my feet & ankles.  I learned about it on Dr. Russell Shierling's (spelling?) website.  I had been doing that for a couple weeks (two times per week).  Not by him, but someone in my area.  I felt I had an improvement, due to increased mobility, but now I back to being immobile.  So, I cannot yet report how effective it is.      

    • billa58896
      billa58896 tim91877

      Posted

      Tim where would your get homeocipro treatment/prescription?  I've been to a very experienced rheumatologist and he doesn't believe people can get multiple tendinopathy pain from cipro. I had a scan done which even though I was having pain at the insertion of my achilles to my heel showed up nothing. No inflammation,  no tear, no rupture. Even though I was limping around the the end of the day. Therefore can only put this down to it damages or interferes with pain signals around the body.

      I was advised by a lady in italy to get a doctor to carry out glutathione by IV. It cured her husband within 12 months. Where would u find someone to do that in the uk? Reading other sites people who have had that done have ended up feeling worse and makes rhere symptoms greater. I would be careful about putting more chemcials in your body with no firm evidence it works.

      I hppe your family are also understanding as mine still find it hard to believe.

    • kyle38590
      kyle38590 tim91877

      Posted

      Yes, the depersonalization! I saw it commented on once as a "strong disinclination to live"! Not worth it, folks!
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