Darius Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Hi All, Just wanted to warn as many people as I can about a commonly prescribed antibiotic called Ciprofloxacin, more commonly known as CIPRO. I was prescribed this medication for a UTI. This antibiotic is also prescribed for things like nasal infections, prostatitis and other bacterial infections. It is not a traditional antibiotic - it works by altering DNA in bacteria, and it interacts with the body more like a drug used in chemotherapy. There is a large movement in the USA developing to have the FDA either ban this drug or have it used only for life and death situations. There are currently two "Black box" warnings related to this drug, one warns about tendon tears, the other warns about peripheral nerve damage. Many do not get side effects, but there are countless sites on the internet describing horrible side effects experienced by thousands and thousands of people. The scary thing is that in many cases the side effects do not kick in until several weeks after the person stops taking the drug. As a result people do not correlate their declining health to a medication they took months ago. For me it has caused terrible side effects for 2 months now, ringing in my ears, numbing in my feet, face and arms, has caused havoc with my digestion etc. If you are prescribed this antibiotic please do you research. If you have taken this antibiotic in the past and currently have symptoms you cannot explain and havent connected to this medication - think of the possibility that this has caused your issue. This will get you started: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Popular+antibiotics+implicated+nerve+damage+says+study+with+links/10141220/story.html http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Common+antibiotic+linked+kidney+damage+study+finds/8470993/story.html http://mthfrliving.com/health-conditions/fluoroquinolones-floxed/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I rarely ever take antibiotics, but it's a good warning nonetheless. Hope you feel better soon, man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JiffyPB Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 The reason we even go to these drugs (even back to older ones that were basically no longer prescribed years ago because they were considered toxic) is due to rampantly increasing antibiotic resistance and lack of new ones being made by the pharmaceutical companies. Some kid can literally go to a playground, get a cut and die of bacterial infection again but since there aren't enough dead bodies nobody really cares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffraff Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Ive taken one antibiotic in 24 years. For four days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLocke Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 All drugs have side effects. Tinnitus and neuropathy won't kill you, but an untreated infection will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 16 minutes ago, JohnLocke said: All drugs have side effects. Tinnitus and neuropathy won't kill you, but an untreated infection will. Agree, but in light of the potentially life altering side effects caused by Cipro , if I knew what i know now, I would have opted for a more traditional antibiotic that will give you some stomach upset/diarrhea for a few days! The other issue is that some doctors hand these things out like candy - when there is no life threatening condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwen Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 13 minutes ago, JohnLocke said: All drugs have side effects. Tinnitus and neuropathy won't kill you, but an untreated infection will. Exactly. As someone who ends up on antibiotics (sometimes two courses) every spring when allergy season kicks in for horrendous sinus infections, I can totally relate to the 'untreated' infection scenario. I am not attempting to minimize the aftereffects the OP is having to live with as having to deal with medical issues/side effects that affect your life in every way is not something that should be dismissed. I read the links, have done my own research and my impression (I work in the medical field) is that this particular antibiotic should only ever be used as a 'last case scenario' remedy, not as a 'go to' or 'first choice', ever. The OP has not said what Cipro was prescribed for nor the severity of the infection. It is unfortunate that even though all drugs have side effects, some have absolutely horrible ones and though not everyone taking a certain drug will have to deal with them, the suffering is very real for those who do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLocke Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 17 minutes ago, Darius71 said: The other issue is that some doctors hand these things out like candy - when there is no life threatening condition. agreed. overprescription of antibiotics is a big problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalky Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 36 minutes ago, Cerridwen said: Exactly. As someone who ends up on antibiotics (sometimes two courses) every spring when allergy season kicks in for horrendous sinus infections, I can totally relate to the 'untreated' infection scenario. I am not attempting to minimize the aftereffects the OP is having to live with as having to deal with medical issues/side effects that affect your life in every way is not something that should be dismissed. I read the links, have done my own research and my impression (I work in the medical field) is that this particular antibiotic should only ever be used as a 'last case scenario' remedy, not as a 'go to' or 'first choice', ever. The OP has not said what Cipro was prescribed for nor the severity of the infection. It is unfortunate that even though all drugs have side effects, some have absolutely horrible ones and though not everyone taking a certain drug will have to deal with them, the suffering is very real for those who do. I have also suffered from a lifetime of sinus and ear issues and infections, but I have been lucky enough to be able to avoid antibiotics for most of my adult life through glucocorticoids. Not ideal, but better than the alternative. I also use sinus rinses, and when cottonwood releases it's hellish spawn I use allergy meds daily. Cipro is a nasty one, there are alternatives and people should definitely talk to their doctor about them. My wife just went through a round of Cipro for a long ignored Kidney infection, and she was nauseous and had no appetite for weeks. You should look into glucocorticoids, eg. Flonase, if you feel the symptoms coming on. I also line my nostrils with polysporin the minute I feel that sinus pain twinge or tingly teeth. It's already starting this year. I refuse to let it stop me from doing stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppleJack Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Sometimes the medication that is used to save our lives or prevent serious health concerns is actually not that great for us. I was on Warfarin then Xalreto for 3 months the most notorious warning for both was that they could cause FATAL internal bleeding but I had to take them cause of blood clots. I have had 2 UTI in 6 months and I had a breast infection (and the blood clots). I turned out to be allerigic to one of the antibotics Teva-Cephalexin and the second one (which I don't recall the name off) reacted badly with the blood thinner I was on at the time- so I couldn't use that. I just recentally finished treatment for another UTI and my doctor told me that they can only really give me two types of oral antibotics the rest would be shots and I would have to go to the hospital every day to get them. It turns out the one I am allerigic to is in the pencilinin family and so they are being cauious with any type of pencilin. I do see your point though its very scary when your medication side effects can potientally be fatal. I would talk to your doctor about other options. I had did just that, because the second oral antibotic they could treat me with is super expensive. We opted for the cheaper one but if it doesn't work or the UTI comes back I'll have to probably go for the shots because he said the super expensive one might not even work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwen Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 48 minutes ago, Chalky said: I have also suffered from a lifetime of sinus and ear issues and infections, but I have been lucky enough to be able to avoid antibiotics for most of my adult life through glucocorticoids. Not ideal, but better than the alternative. I also use sinus rinses, and when cottonwood releases it's hellish spawn I use allergy meds daily. Cipro is a nasty one, there are alternatives and people should definitely talk to their doctor about them. My wife just went through a round of Cipro for a long ignored Kidney infection, and she was nauseous and had no appetite for weeks. You should look into glucocorticoids, eg. Flonase, if you feel the symptoms coming on. I also line my nostrils with polysporin the minute I feel that sinus pain twinge or tingly teeth. It's already starting this year. I refuse to let it stop me from doing stuff. Ahhh, a fellow sinus sufferer! *extends sympathies* If only we didn't have to have sinus cavities but then we would all look rather silly having to pack our skulls around in our arms if we didn't! Yep, my neti pot and I are very good friends and I use Avamys ( corticosteroid) regularly beginning the minute the snow is off the grass. Cottonwood time is definitely hell season.... I have a huge one just behind my house and it only survives because it's on city property. That sucker would be coming down if it were on mine! Living close to a creek and two rivers doesn't help either and it often looks like it's snowed with the amount of fluff we end up with. I've tried the Polysporin thing as well. Second round of antibiotics currently underway as I've been sick since I got the original cold back in the first week of January. Allergy season has hit way early here in the North....and then a sinus infection that was never completely cleared up from back in February. Perfect storm, unfortunately. Cipro should only be a last ditch prescription when it comes to antibiotics due to all the terrible side effects that have been noted with it's use.......and like every antibiotic, should always be accompanied by Super Acidophilus probiotics so the intestinal flora are not wiped out. THAT always results in rather nasty side effects.Thankfully my own doctor has chosen to stick with the more traditional antibiotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 9 minutes ago, Cerridwen said: Cipro should only be a last ditch prescription when it comes to antibiotics.......and should always be accompanied by Super Acidophilus probiotics so the intestinal flora are not wiped out. THAT always results in rather nasty side effects.Thankfully my own doctor has chosen to stick with the more traditional antibiotics. Thanks Cerridwen for your insight. This is exactly (what you state above) I have learned from all of my readings about CIPRO. I was prescribed cipro for a questionable UTI/Prostate infection. I say questionable because the doctor had no proof it was an infection as opposed to an inflammation. My side effects are horrible, and I just hope they subside with time. To make matters worse I truly believe i didnt have an infection to begin with. My whole point of starting this discussion was that if I can help 1 person make an informed choice, and potentially avoid weeks/months of discomfort, I think it will be beneficial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaches5 Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 3 hours ago, Darius71 said: Hi All, Just wanted to warn as many people as I can about a commonly prescribed antibiotic called Ciprofloxacin, more commonly known as CIPRO. I was prescribed this medication for a UTI. This antibiotic is also prescribed for things like nasal infections, prostatitis and other bacterial infections. It is not a traditional antibiotic - it works by altering DNA in bacteria, and it interacts with the body more like a drug used in chemotherapy. There is a large movement in the USA developing to have the FDA either ban this drug or have it used only for life and death situations. There are currently two "Black box" warnings related to this drug, one warns about tendon tears, the other warns about peripheral nerve damage. Many do not get side effects, but there are countless sites on the internet describing horrible side effects experienced by thousands and thousands of people. The scary thing is that in many cases the side effects do not kick in until several weeks after the person stops taking the drug. As a result people do not correlate their declining health to a medication they took months ago. For me it has caused terrible side effects for 2 months now, ringing in my ears, numbing in my feet, face and arms, has caused havoc with my digestion etc. If you are prescribed this antibiotic please do you research. If you have taken this antibiotic in the past and currently have symptoms you cannot explain and havent connected to this medication - think of the possibility that this has caused your issue. This will get you started: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Popular+antibiotics+implicated+nerve+damage+says+study+with+links/10141220/story.html http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Common+antibiotic+linked+kidney+damage+study+finds/8470993/story.html http://mthfrliving.com/health-conditions/fluoroquinolones-floxed/ You're going to see this kind of stuff more and more as the amount of effective antibiotics are running out. Pretty soon the only ones left are going to the ones that have horrible side effects even worse than these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwen Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 31 minutes ago, Darius71 said: Thanks Cerridwen for your insight. This is exactly (what you state above) I have learned from all of my readings about CIPRO. I was prescribed cipro for a questionable UTI/Prostate infection. I say questionable because the doctor had no proof it was an infection as opposed to an inflammation. My side effects are horrible, and I just hope they subside with time. To make matters worse I truly believe i didnt have an infection to begin with. My whole point of starting this discussion was that if I can help 1 person make an informed choice, and potentially avoid weeks/months of discomfort, I think it will be beneficial. I hope the side effects dissipate soon for you. Nobody should have to deal with this as a result of taking medication that may have been 'overkill'. Thank you for raising the awareness of Cipro and it's side effects. Hopefully others are reading this and will question if it's the right choice for them when it comes to a doctor wanting to prescribe it for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLocke Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 Also should add... People please finish your antibiotics / take the whole course even after you get better... Let's not contribute to resistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Balboa Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 We give Cipro out like candy at the hospital I work at. Both in oral and IV form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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