| Key to ratings for cipro: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
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| 1 | UTI | Previously posted many side effects | Could the person who just posted about having relief from the foot/heel/muscle pain after 6 months please contact me and let me know if you took anything or changed your diet to help? I have been left with sporadic severe muscle pain (especially in my back/shoulders), that can last a day or two and then suddenly disappear, and continuous foot/heel pain, especially when I stand up having been sitting a while. They just feel stiff and painful most of the time, but loosen up a bit after walking for a while. I took Cipro for 3 days (500mg twice a day) from 21st October, so it's been 3 and a half months, and I am still in pain.....though having said that it is a LOT better than it was. I no longer have shooting pains in my arms/legs/feet....but I do still have buzzing sensations and some numbness in my fingers at night. This had previously gone away, but came back again. | F | 35 | 3 days | 2/3/2010 | 1 | Strep throat | Ankle swelling, lumps on arms, very painful persistent muscle pains (mainly in arms, legs and neck), panic attacks, random bruising feelings, lumps on my knuckles and toes, ear ringing and pain. | I was given 14 500mg tablets of this crap about 10 months ago and I'm still feeling the effects. I took this for strep throat as I have allergy to penicillin, I took 8 of these tablets and stopped taking them when I suspected something was wrong with them. I woke up with a slight pain in each of my ankles, I figured I had tweaked them playing squash. I went to work that day and by the end of the day they had ballooned. It got to the point that I had shooting pains down both legs and was dragging myself along the floor to go to the toilet! It simply got worse, arms pains in my wrists, hurt to turn them in and out, my calves felt like they were falling off the bone, I had strong bruising feelings where I had not taken a knock. I took a month of work! I had sooo many blood tests and visits to various doctors all of who were clueless as to what was wrong with me. I had steroid shots which had no effect, I've tried kinesiology and acupuncture as well as having an ultrasound which showed swollen tendons all over my body and reduced blood flow. I stopped drinking milk as I read it can irritate arthritis and it seemed to help a little. I am still having problems with my wrists and legs although I can tiptoe for the first time in 10 months!!! Brilliant (sarcastic). It is a joke that this is being prescribed with no warning whatsoever. I'm trying to get in touch with the BBC as they are very good at getting this sort of knowledge out and about in the UK. | M | 28 | 6 days | 2/3/2010 | 4 | UTI | diarrhea, headache and nausea after 6 days. | Also, the doctor didn't tell me not to take my calcium with this until I happened to read the pharmacy drug information when the diarrhea started. Have started spacing out the calcium and cipro now and have also added a pro-biotic to help counter the diarrhea. | F | 49 | 7 days | 2/1/2010 | 1 | UTI | Pain in hands and bottom of feet, extreme muscle aches and pains, difficulty walking, heel pain. | I am posting this 6 months after my initial time taking this medication. I am doing so much better now. Almost all muscle symptoms have gone. I remember going to this site and thinking why doesn't anyone post how long it takes to get better? Well, for me it was 6 months. Hang in there, you will get better, it just takes a long time! I found ice packs to be very helpful in relieving the heel pain. | F | 38 | 2 days | 2/1/2010 | 3 | UTI | Cipro along with Phenazo (pyridium) worked well when I had a severe bladder infection where I was practically dripping blood. I have had a hysterectomy a few years ago so I have not menstruated for years. | Cipro is a very harsh medication and was initially used to combat the Anthrax infection which killed people many years ago.For severe infections it works but the side effects and allergies to this medication are very high and most people are not able to tolerate it. Now I visit a naturopathic doctor and for UTI's I take UVA URSI which is a natural supplement consisting of the uva ursi leaf and it works great for UTI's and bladder problems. It can be purchased from the health food store. It has tannin in it and can be used ONLY MAXIMUM 5 TIMES PER YEAR. I mark down the date I start taking it and it can be taken for only 7 days - 2 capsules per day. One in the morning and one in the evening. At the onset of a UTI I take 2 right away and this has helped me immensely. Along with the uva ursi you must also take spring horsetail silica - also two per day. When the UTI has cleared up then if you are prone to frequent UTI's you should take the spring horsetail silica - one per day to keep the bladder healthy as this makes the bugs slippery in the bladder so they don't adhere and cause a UTI. Also the silica is great for skin, hair and nails. | M | 49 | 5 days | 1/31/2010 | 1 | Kidney Infection | Caused such severe depressive spiral that I was forced to leave school for the semester. DO NOT TAKE | F | 24 | 1/31/2010 | 1 | Epididymitis | Central Nervous System excitation, Chronic Insomnia, Fatigue, Brain Fog, Eye Pain, Eye Photosensitivity, Plantar Fasciitis, Knee Pain, Dry Mouth. I took this drug one year ago, many symptoms have gone away but a few still persist to this day. | This stuff is evil poison. I was a perfectly healthy young man before taking this drug. I have had all sorts of medical tests to rule out other possible causes. This class of antibiotics are very dangerous and should only be used in cases of life threatening infections. I just hope to fully recover someday. | M | 25 | 14 days | 1/31/2010 | 2 | acute colitis | It started with 18 days of diarrhea, headaches and now I am had overnight occurrence of popping joints throughout my body that will not stop. Please help if you know what to do. My doctors don't seem to be worried, I am. | I took this drug in combination with Flagyl. | F | 53 | 1/29/2010 | 1 | UTI | Red raised scaling rash on my eyelids, swollen eyes, migraine for 3 days, joint pains in my fingers and wrists, loss of strength in my uppper arms, felt like I was getting the flu, cloudy mind | I have had UTIs in the past and have been prescribed an antibiotic that worked perfectly fine with no side effects. I went to see a Nurse Practioner b/c my doctor was unavailable and she decided to try Cipro even though she noted the other antibiotic worked well. I started with the rash and swelling on my eyes after two pills and finally stopped the pills after 4 of them. Then the migraine started and lasted for 3 days. I was out of work for those days because I was in such pain and couldn't focus. Now that the migraine is gone, my eyelids are heavy and droopy, the rash is still there only not as severe and my head is in a fog even though I got 8+ hours of sleep last night! I would never recommend anyone take this medication! | F | 46 | 2 days | 1/28/2010 | 1 | Sinus infection | Joint and muscle pain legs and arms. Nightmares. Severe leg spasms. Hot flashes. | Had taken Cipro in past for sinus infections with no problem. This time did not realize it was the medication. Took it on two more occasions before it dawned on me it may be the Cipro. Stopped taking it. It took 1 1/2 years to be pain free. Still have some pain and swelling in right foot, hot flashes. Stick to a strict diet of only organic meat and dairy. Have been taking a low dose of neurontin - not sure if that does anything. If I'm not careful with diet, as at holidays, pain returns. | F | 69 | 1/27/2010 | 1 | epididymis | tingling in hands and feet, sleeplessness, stomach ache, breathing problems. | please dont take this medication if you feel anything similar to this just stop it and call your doctor immediately | M | 34 | 5 days | 1/25/2010 | 1 | possible kidney infection | panic attacks, anxiety, depression, feelings of death | DO NOT EVER TAKE A FLUROQUINOLONE EVER......THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST TOXIC DRUGS KNOWN TO MANKIND........THEY WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE, MAYBE FOREVER!!!!!!!! DO NOT TAKE THEM......MOST OF THE FLUOROQUINOLONE DRUGS ARE BANNED DUE TO THEIR TOXICITY.CIPRO IS ONE OF THEM THAT THEY KEPT AND STILL DISH OUT LIKE SWEETS......PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THEM OTHERWISE YOU WILL END UP LIKE ME.... | M | 35 | 7 days | 1/24/2010 | 2 | possible uti | ear ringing, headache, aches in knee/back/hip, start of a fever, starting to feel like developing a flu | 250mg twice a day. (only took two pills before I stopped) Took first pill at night and had (ear ringing/strange feeling)-that went away by the 2nd day. Had a slight headache after taking it might have been from stress though. When I woke up my body ached some and it seemed to affect my right knee, back ..felt like I could pull a muscle or strain it easily. (Basically it mostly affected areas where I've put strain on in the past and are more prone to wear out from overworking them)..however I haven't been overworking them it was the result of cipro. Then took my 2nd pill in the morning. Started to feel flu like symptoms by the end of the day and took my temperature (developing a fever). I called the pharmacist and recommended not to take anymore and to talk to my doctor. She said most people do not have these reactions. I don't know if that's true. But I recommend to pay attention to the warning. There are some common reactions like nausea headache etc that are suppose to be more common. But there is a list of things that warns you if you have them to stop taking it. And flu like/fever is definitely one of those. As of now my body aches, feels like the flu and slight fever. I am going to avoid doing physical activity until I start to feel like my body is recovering. And am just laying around in bed, not lifting heavy objects etc bc when you have this reaction (achy muscles/straining) its easy to pull something. | F | 29 | 1 days | 1/21/2010 | 5 | Sinus Infection | Mild Euphoria, Mild Restlessness | Within 1 day of treatment, the mucus turned white/clear/brown and all other symptoms disappeared, it's also made me downright friendly, probably drug induced psychosis but in a good way. Friends say I'm never this nice. They want me to stay on it hahah. Really, I suppose I'm atypical maybe but this stuff worked amazingly for me, I'm halfway through treatment and symptoms have all disappeared down to my normal levels of sneezing and blowing my nose all the time because this place is full of allergens. As an added benefit, if I had any other bacteria floating about in me I'm sure its quite dead too. Floxin type drugs are not to be used constantly though, so as to not make resistant bacteria. | M | 23 | 5 days | 1/20/2010 | 1 | uti | many | dont take it! | M | 37 | 3 days | 1/20/2010 | 1 | urinary tract infection | anxiousness then hands got beat RED and extreme itching......a few hours later the soles of my feet got beet RED and extreme itching. | This was after taking only ONE pill. I had taken Cipro in the past a never had any problem. I went on the internet to discover that recently the drug was being newly manufactured in India but the name of the mfg was the same as before. | F | 70 | 1/20/2010 | 4 | diverticulitis | nausea, fatigue, insomnia, etc. | Was taking it with Flagyl which can produce some nasty side effects as well. | F | 49 | 10 days | 1/19/2010 | 1 | diverticulitis | Pounding headache; severe back pain, numbness in hands, leg cramps, diarrhea, intestinal pain, unbelievable total body hot flashes like doomsday was here. | F | 64 | 7 days | 1/19/2010 | 4 | UTI | Uphoria, listlessness and then significant fatigue. This is my fourth day of taking Cipro. I went to Target to shop and felt really tired and this is after resting for the last couple of days. It was hard to lift the big laundry detergent bottle. | I think this is a great antibiotic and has cleared my infection. I think it may be too strong for a simple UTI and I wonder why it was prescribed to me. I guess because I may be allergic to Sulfa drugs. I think it should be saved for Anthrax. Other than the fatigue, I have had no other bad side effects though. I find the fatigue rather odd. | F | 43 | 5 days | 1/18/2010 | 1 | I had problem with my voice | i lost my erection after taking it for 3 days.i took it for another 2 days before i realized it was the cipro have been taking. i could not make love to my wife for 3 good days and it was really annoying. i was depressed,lost concentration and can't think straight. guys should please watch out for this medicine. | i am still having problem sleeping 11 days after stopping cipro. i don't know if that's part of the side effect too. i sleep 2 to 3 hours every night and remain awake for the rest of the night. | M | 37 | 5 days | 1/17/2010 | 1 | Kidney infection | Yes, The Cipro appears to be clearing up my Kidney Infection. With it came many side effects. The first day I took it I got very sharp pains in my lower abdomen that were so bad I curled up in a ball on the floor for a half hour. I have never felt pain that bad before. When the pain subsided I got up and walked to the kitchen and instantly got light headed. Instead of getting a drink, I ended up heading for the couch. On my way there I literally felt drunk... I couldn't walk straight and everything was starting to go black. Just as I got to the couch my lower lip got extremely tingly and I blacked out. Days 2, 3, and 4 I had pain in my hands, arms, legs, feet, and hips. I had chest pain and was short of breath. My mind was in a fog. I couldn't think, couldn't concentrate. Headache. I felt depressed. Day 5 I had that sharp pain in my lower abdomen again.. This time I was curled up on the couch for an hour before it got better. I literally thought I was dying. | I've been doing some research online for home remedies. I came across one that said to take a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar 3 times a day. They claim that it's good for getting rid of Bladder and Kidney infections. So I started this yesterday...Not only could this be helping my infection, But all my side effects seem to have up and disappeared. LOL... But it did burn going down the first 2 times :) So be ready! | F | 29 | 10 days | 1/16/2010 | 5 | proctitis, post-resection | Muscle soreness | Without Cipro, I am basically disabled. I get painful rashes only Nystatin will take care of, and the anus and rectum are inflamed enough that I have to "go" every 20 minutes. Combined with the rash and constriction due to inflammation, I am in pain and unable to work most of the day. The choice is simple: Cipro, or Naproxen Sodium + Clortrimazole/Nystatin + Lanacaine + Immodium. People need to read up on anything they are taking - every person is different, and your doctor has no way of knowing how it will affect you. Yet. | M | 35 | 24 months | 1/14/2010 | 1 | Inflamed Cervix | Nausea... so bad...bloated 24/7... dizzy, faint feeling, weak, no energy, tired all the time. I don't feel like doing anything. I can not believe that other people have this feeling of 'doom' like I am going to die - I am so sorry to say I am happy to read that it is not me... I felt convinced that I am dying - now I can tell myself it is the drug!!! | I usually NEVER have bad side effects from meds... can't even think of one time in my life... this drug is the worst!!! A constant feeling of nausea to the point of gagging - dizzy all the time - an uneasy feeling - have to keep lying down, HEADACHE, put it to you this way - I feel like I am about 95. I just had my last 500 mg pill this morning - now I am scared because everyone is saying their side effects linger so long! | M | 37 | 7 days | 1/13/2010 | 1 | infection | Large red rash on face, depression, nausea, watery diarrhea | M | 32 | 2 weeks | 1/12/2010 | 1 | kidney/intestinal infection | Bad headache, severe lightheaded and dizziness. | I was prescribed 250 mg twice a day. I developed the above symptoms after only taking the second pill. Stopped taking the pills and notified my doctor. | F | 64 | 1 days | 1/12/2010 | 1 | uti | anaphylaxsis(severe allergic reaction) which required me to call 911, paramedics saved my life, spent all night in the ER | i have severe anxiety and depression since taking cipro | F | 50 | 2 days | 1/11/2010 | 5 | UTI | None. I took it last june with none either. Works better than macrodantin; which I used previously. | I was shocked and scared when I read the other stories. Im usually very sensitive to medications but this one is great! | F | 50 | 5 days | 1/10/2010 | 4 | UTI | Tiredness, slight insomnia. | I have been having recurrent UTI's for the past few months (or it could possibly be the same UTI that refuses to go away). Until now my doctor had just been prescribing me light weight anti-biotics like Amxoacilin, but since it didn't seem to be helping he prescribed me this instead. I just finished the dose and I feel fine. My abdominal and lower back pain is gone and I'm going in for another check up soon. | F | 21 | 3 days | 1/10/2010 | 1 | Diverticulitis | soar in every joint especially legs and lower back. | It should carry a warning label on the prescription bottle from the pharmacy - had taken Cipro before and never had this reaction | F | 42 | 8 days | 1/9/2010 | 2 | Staph Infection | Dizziness, nausea, insomnia, alternating cold and hot, anergia, strange shaking, weird, swollen, allergic left outer ear which is red, hot, swollen, itchy, extremely puffy and flaky, brain fog, swollen tongue, flu-like symptoms, aggravation of irritable bowel syndrome-like problems, headaches, stuffy nose. | I had taken cipro in the past with minimal side effects but this time...WOW...what a doozy. I haven't taken it in a long time and will probably never take it again. Not quite sure what they have changed in their formulation but something is definitely different. It took a long time to clear up the staph and I got a whole host of terrible side effects in exchange. I am working on detoxifying but whatever is in this poison is not easily eliminated. | F | 48 | 5 days | 1/8/2010 | 5 | Bladder Infection | None | It helped so much- my infection was very severe. If I DID get any side effects, they were better than having pain and peeing blood. | F | 16 | 3 days | 1/7/2010 | 1 | sinus infection | stiff joints, severe knee, heel, elbow and lower back pain. | I was given Cipro for a sinus infection, I had surgery to remove a obstruction that had blocked my left sinus, they tried everything bractrim, serveral other antiboitics to clear up the severe infection I had. Last resort was Cipro,and unforturnately I had to have serveral doses of it three weeks at a time as the infection was reacurring. I have to say it did finely clear up the infection but I'm paying for it now, feel like I went from the frying pan into the fire sometimes. I think the damage to my body is done. I've been in pain for a very long time. Would not recomend taking Cipro to anyone. I've had severe pain in my left knee for over a year and a half, the orthopedic surgeon has givin me cortizone shots and it helps with the pain. | F | 51 | 6 months | 1/7/2010 | 1 | possible bacterial pleurisy | carpal tunnel feelings in both arms, knee pain, thigh muscle pain, tingling in feet, sweaty palms, anxiety, lack of appetite, slight nauseated feeling in head, stiff neck, low back pain, stiff shoulders, ringing in ears, high-pitched beeping sound in right ear, feeling of never getting better/never recovering | My doctor blew me off and told me to take Tylenol for the pain and said it will go away. Funny - I've been off of it for 4 days and have had NO releif. I am so afraid that I'll never get better. | F | 33 | 2.5 days | 1/7/2010 | 1 | Cipro is TOXIC | Crippled & unable to work all thanks to CIPRO. | Cipro is an absolute POISON and Bayer should be ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR POISONING PEOPLE FOR PROFIT. There are other ways of making money BAYER!!! | M | 34 | 666 days | 1/7/2010 | 1 | UTI | After only a couple of doses of 500 mg tablet I thought I was dying Chill to the bones followed by sweating so severe. I developed a headache so bad it felt like my brain had swelled. I had light sensitivity and blurred vision. I could not read or watch tv and hurt even when I just opened my eyes. Also has heart palpitations. Finally called my Dr. and said no way was I going to take another dose of this stuff. She then prescribed bactrim which I just started taking. After reading allthe reviews, I believe this drug should be taken off the market by Bayer! | M | 48 | 3 days | 1/6/2010 | 1 | uti | I am a very healthy, active 51 yr old. My GYN prescribed Cipro for a uti infection. After taking Cipro for a few days I woke up in the middle of the night with very stiff, sore, muscles in both legs. The following day the pain began in both arms, and now there is tingling in both hands and feet. The pain has been constant for about 10 days. Frequent urination. I took 9 / 14 prescribed pills. 500mg. | F | 51 | 7 days | 1/4/2010 | 1 | kidney infection | paranoia,body aches, anxiety, attacks of fear and distress | If you get this message before you take Ciprofloxacin then bin them immediately. I only took them for 2 days and that was 2 months ago and have only just started feeling normal, you will think that you are dying and that the world is coming to an end. What a nasty,nasty evil poison. | F | 39 | 2 days | 1/3/2010 | 2 | Suspected Intestinal Infection | Watery diarrhea. Fatigue. Abdominal pressure. | I took 500 mg twice daily concurrently with Flagyl 500 mg, three times daily. These did not help me with my problem. The side effects were bothersome, but I would endure them again if they would cure me. | M | 54 | 7 days | 12/31/2009 | 2 | Strep Throat | Yeast Infection | I am deathly allergic to Bactrim and have a sensitivity to penicillins, so I was put on Cipro to clear up my strep throat. I developed a yeast infection- the first and only one I have ever had in my entire life- and stopped taking my meds. I only had a 10 day dose, and had gotten through 7 days before I figured it all out. Will not take this drug again, and will look at the entire quinolone class of drugs before taking any more, in order to prevent another reaction. | F | 29 | 7 days | 12/30/2009 | 1 | colon infection | tendinitos, joint pains, muscular aches, incredibly horrible back aches, just gets worse is not gettng better after 6 wks | POISON DO NOT TAKE THIS AWFUL DRUG | F | 52 | 3 days | 12/30/2009 | 3 | UTI/kidney infection | brain fog, horrible headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, extreme tiredness, extreme depression and feelings of hopelessness | I'm a kidney transplant patient and have taken cipro on and off for years. I've probably had it 4 times this year alone, and this is the 2nd time with horrible side effects...so bad that I thought my kidney was rejecting. It is only because of the holidays and hospital beds being full that I'm not hospitalized. A friend researched side effects and told me about the tendonitis associated with Cipro and transplant patients. I then started researching and found this site. These symptoms are right on. I don't know why I'm impacted differently now. I was supposed to be on it for 4 mo, but quit last night after seeing this site (12 days). Already my headache is better, and I'm hoping to see the other side effects disappear as well. When I first started this, I spent 3 days in California. I was in such a fog I barely remember the trip. It seems more like a dream than an actual event. I might try it again, as it does eliminate the infecion, but would definitely stop at the first sign of symptoms. Levaquin has also worked for me, but insurance doesn't want to pay for that anymore. Not sure how the public option will impact our choices of antibiotics, or we'll all be paranoid schizophrenics from being on these meds :-) Also read Cipro was shipped en masse to the Gulf War and our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. If it has anywhere near these side effects, I imagine it is creating all sorts of havoc with paranoid soldiers with guns. Scary thought. | F | 57 | 12 days | 12/28/2009 | 1 | nearly a year and a half later after taking 4 500mg tablets, have acute achilles tendonitis of both ankles. | M | 61 | 4 days | 12/28/2009 | 3 | Bladder Infection/ UTI | Extreme dizziness/vertigo, nausea, stomach/abdominal pain, knee pain, severe back pain, anxiousness, nervous/jittery feeling, chills then hot flashes, feelings of being "out of it," migraines | I was prescribed 500 mg/every 12 hours for 7 days. I took the entire prescription, but will NEVER take this again- the only reason I finished the entire course was because I was afraid of what other antibiotic I would get prescribed. I started getting syptoms day 1 about 6 hours after I took the first dose. The dizziness was horrible and would come in waves. The whole room would spin for about 20 seconds every few hours. I would get nauseous and this, coupled wit the dizziness, made it difficult to work and to pretty much do anything else because I never knew when another dizzy spell would hit me. I felt "out of it" and was having terrible back aches and migraines. I'm a normal, healthy 28 yr old and have never had any of these issues before so I know they were related to taking the Cipro. I would never take this again. I took my last does this morning and still don't feel back to myself. I'm hoping as it gradually leaves my body I will begin to feel like myself again. I felt like the Cipro was poisoning me... I would recommend any other antibiotic before this one again......The only reason I gave it a "3" rating is because it cleared up my UTI. | F | 28 | 7 days | 12/26/2009 | 1 | Possible UTI | Severe tingling in arms and hands, burning in mouth, loss of appetite, severe diarrhea, discomfort and pain around abdomen, insomnia, severe anxiety, sick feeling at night, yeast infection, skin rashes, food sensitivites, machine gun type sounds in right ear similar to ringing. | I took this drug for 3.5 days. I know all of the symptoms I have listed sound crazy but I am honestly describing the horrible experience I had. The symptoms were severe and lasted for several months. I am still having some problems due to this. I would not advise anyone to take this. It should be taken off the market. Doctors are unaware of these side effects. I went to the Emergency Room twice due to the symptoms. No Doctor believed me. It has been one year since I took this drug and I am still having some issues. I am now seeing a Naturopath to try and recover. | F | 48 | 3.5 days | 12/24/2009 | 1 | Prostate Infection | Severe rash on legs, torso and arms. Muscle aches and pains in my shoulders that spread to my arms. Muscle tightening, soreness and cramping in my arms. Itchy rash all over my body. | I took this for 4 days before any side effects started. Rash and pains continue after I'm off the drug. Taking allergy meds to clear up side effects. | M | 38 | 4 days | 12/24/2009 | 1 | first sinusitis, then UTI | joint pain throughout my body; shoulders, knuckles swollen, toe joints, hips, weakened both ankles, prone to falling. | I had been going to the gym 4 times a week and was strong. I started having joint pain everywhere and did not know about this being a side effect. Went to doctor who ran blood tests and were negative for whatever they looked for. Months to clear the joint pain. Couldn't go to gym. Painful when sitting, laying down to sleep. Cleared up after 6 months of no activity. Did not know Cipro was the cause until I started a new course. One day later: shoulder pain, day two, hip pain . Thanks Doc. | F | 50 | 2 weeks | 12/18/2009 | 2 | UTI | nausea, fatigue, excruciating headache, soreness, loss of appetite, dry mouth | I took this a couple of years ago and it took care of my UTI. However, I had trouble with other medicine. So this time I told the doc I only wanted Cipro. The first night I took it I got a headache and it perpetually worsened. The third day I stopped taking it all together because I woke up feeling like death. This is just my experience. Drugs affect people differently. | F | 27 | 2 days | 12/17/2009 | 1 | possible bacterial infection | Every joint in my body hurt,could not climb stairs, raise up from a chair. could not sleep for the pain and still have the pain. None of the DR`know about the dire effects. Needs a black box warning. Medical societies need to be informed also. My husband is a retired Dr and he was shocked at what happened to me. Ps...didn`t have any bacterial infection after all. | DO NOT Take under ANY circumstances not even DEATH | F | 73 | 6 days | 12/16/2009 | 4 | Dental Infection | Im actually on it right now and Im really spaced out, Im nauseated, im sort of disoriented, and my joints all hurt. Its not bad enough to get me to stop taking it but it isnt exactly pleasant. | I much prefer Avelox but Cipro is also working fairly well. I just dont exactly like the side effects. Don't take it with Aspirin either, your stomach will burn so bad it makes you wish you were dead. | M | 25 | 5 days | 12/14/2009 | 1 | UTI | My wife took this for 2 days and only took 4 250mg pills total. She wrote a suicide note last night and woke me up and told me she was going to die today. Now she has been up for over 46 hours and hasn't slept she's like a zombie and can't hold a conversation. The emergency room thought she was just crazy. This is a nightmare. We have 2 small little girls and she barely knows they exist. I don't know what to do. Please Pray for her. | I'm her husband | F | 25 | 2 days | 12/14/2009 | 1 | UTI | Leg pain - severe enough to prevent me from sleeping. Started on my last day of a 5 day treatment (500 mg twice a day). | It seems ok during the day when I am standing but as soon as I sit down or especially lie down to sleep it starts and is unrelenting. Saturday night I was up all night, last night I slept from 11-3. I called the pharmacist and he wasn't much help, I will call my doctor this morning. I have taken Cipro before without side effects. It has been 5 days since I took my last dose. I took an ibuprofen this morning and it seems to be easing up some so I will try to go back to bed. | F | 65 | 5 days | 12/14/2009 | 1 | UTI | Intitial- Heart palpatations, chest pain, painful burning, felt like my skin was being ripped off, panic attacks, insomnia, bad dreams, joint pain, body pain, swollen eye, bad abdominal pains, gall bladder and appendix pain, diarehea, ringing in ears, head pressure, felt like I was going to puke if I was in sun, Turned into- traveling burning sensations, cold sensitivity, headaches, could hardly walk, everything hurt, eye kept swelling, ab pains, pain, pain, pain. Three months later- horrible body pains, diagnosed with rotator cuff tendonitis, achilles tendonitis, planter fasciitis. have tendonitis in thighs, arms, painful burning in skin, food sensitivities, bouts of insomnia, feels like I can't get blood to my arms and feet, finger tips hurt, headaches, weird rash. Do NOT take this. I can barely walk some days. I am in pain and cry all the time because of the pain. | http://www.fqresearch.org/ http://medicationsense.com/fluoroquinolone.html I had reoccuring UTI's and took this drug several times in two years. this last time, I took one and was severely poisoned. I was an otherwise active and healthy professional women. I ran 2 miles and did yoga almost everyday. This has been the most frightening experience of my life. Do NOT take this. Eat organic. It is also given to farm animals despite regulation. Take D-mannose, Cranberry Supplements for UTIs. Go to naturopath instead. Do not poison yourself. | F | 35 | 1 days | 12/12/2009 | 1 | UTI/Kidney Infection | Dizziness, drowsiness, back pain, flu like symptoms, paranoia, depression, joint paint, headaches, chest pain, stomach cramps, gas, stomach aches, nauseau, severe decrease in appetite | I was diagnosed with a UTI/Bladder infection that had rapidly spread to the kidneys and had gotten pretty severe. My doctor gave me this. I've been taking it for about three days, and when i don't take it immediately after waking up, my symptoms of the UTI come back even worse than before, leading me to believe this medicine is doing nothing. I can't eat, I keep having terrible nightmares, my emotions are terrible, and I'm paranoid beyond belief. I thought it was something wrong with me and I was getting sicker, but come to find out after reading so many reviews, this medicine is the chief cause of it. I'm constantly tired on it, insecure, completely paranoid, horribly depressed, with mood swings that make me feel like some sort of caricature of bipolar disorder. What's even worse is that I had to reschedule a MAJOR exam because after I take this, I don't even fell well enough to walk and can barely manage to read or write a coherent sentence for almost two hours! After reading these reviews, and realizing that some people have these permanently, I'm going back to my doctor and demanding a new prescription, and reporting this drug to the FDA. It's horrifying to think that these sorts of symptoms are common, and yet doctors still so readily prescribe it! | F | 22 | 3 days | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Bacteria - suspected food poisoning | My journey with Cipro began 9/25 - was on the med for 25 days- 10 days off then 15 more days. Diarrhea on top of diarrhea, tingling in hands, no energy, weak feeling, depression. I have been off of the medication a little over two weeks and still fighting the diarrhea - not as bad and taking probiotics to help. Since being off - feelings in hands are still tingling, and now red itchy bumps on my legs and wrists. At first I thought they were flea bites but now more like a rash. At this point seeing a gastroenterologist and a colonoscopy is scheduled to see the damage! this is a wicked drug that worked before with little to no problems but 25 days has wrecked my body and a slow recovery. | I will not take this drug again and ask for an alternative. | M | 43 | 25 days | 12/10/2009 | 1 | Turned out to be nothing | Debilitating tendonitis, ringing in ears, light sensitivity, insomnia, panic, vision problems, full-body pains from the depths of hell. Three months later, still disabled and my life destroyed because of this crap that I foolishly put in my body. | All you new victims of these terrible drugs need to join us at WWW.FAVC.INFO. We are a community of quin victims in various stages of healing who are here to help you. Sadly, you are NOT alone in this nightmare. Welcome to the club nobody wants to belong to. | M | 45 | 7 days | 12/9/2009 | 1 | possible prostate infection | WEIRD SCARY THOUGHTS, DEEEEP DEPRESION, MOOD SWINGS, HORRIBLE HORRIBLE ANXIETY ATTACKS, DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP, I FREAKIN QUIT MY JOB BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS, ( THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD THEY ALLOWED ME TO COME BACK AND HAVE LEAVE TIME ), I USED TO WIEGH 182 NOW IM DOWN TO 163 (IVE HAD NUMEROUSE EXAMS AND THEY ARE ALL CHECKING OUT FINE PRAISE GOD!). SORE KNEES, ( BENT DOWN ONCE AND HAD TO REALLY MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET UP ). BUT THE WORSTE WAS THE MENTAL SIDE, ONLY GOD CAN KEEP YOU THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS, I PRAISE GOD! FOR KEEPING ME IN ALL THIS, | its been about 2 months since ive taken this stuff. before then i was having urinating issues ( stop and go ) . so the doctor prosscribed me this horrible drug. they gave me 28 pills. and i was to take 2 a day and come back to see him after i finished..well it goes with out saying i could not go through with the advise...about 3 pills into the bottle i started having wierd moments of constant negative thoughts, these morbid thoughts lead to a depression i cant describe!!!, nights without sleep!!, then the anxiety attacks started!!!!, i took this med for about 2 weeks of and on ( i missed a day here and there, but i ended up taking 20 out of the 28 pills ) its been about a month 1/2 since i took the last cipro pill, ( its been about 1 month since i took the last xanax, which i was using to help get sleep, but was making me feel horrible as well, and its been about 3 weeks since i took the last ativant pill which they put me on because i told them i couldnt handle the xanax. ) and it made me feel horrible as well. These last few weeks have been a road of horror that i wouldnt wish on anyone, Praise GOD that im feeling better than i was then. PRAYING TO THE LORD FOR TOTAL RECOVERY AND HEALING FROM ALL THIS, i must say it feels like a blessing just to find this page, because even though i feel better than i did, i was just wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS THIS MESS ALL ABOUT?!!!....MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL OF YALL OUT THERE GOD BLESS YALL | M | 32 | 2 weeks | 12/9/2009 | 1 | UTI | Depression, thoughts of suicide. | Wow, now that I see the other comments I'm amazed anyone is prescribing this drug. Of course, if anyone is, I'm not surprised my doctor is. She's pretty much in big pharm's back pocket. | F | 44 | 3 days | 12/8/2009 | 1 | post-surgery infection prevention | severe back pain, knee pain, mild ankle pain, headache | I'm an extremely healthy young guy and prior to taking Cipro I had never experienced back pain or knee pain. My back would hurt when I laid down at night to sleep. It seemed to intensify as I relaxed, and tensing up seemed to slightly ease the pain. When I woke up in the morning, I felt fine though and it didn't hurt standing up during the day really. Luckily after I stopped taking the drug the back pain got 90% better. Knee pain kicks in primarily in the mornings when I'm driving to work and has also improved (but not gone away) since I stopped taking the drug. However, I have had a headache now for at least 5 days! I've never had a headache for this long. I can't think what else it could be related to. Ibuprofen helps, and luckily the headache isn't too intense, but the fact that it's not going away is scaring me. Will be seeing a rheumatologist and possibly a headache specialist soon. | M | 24 | 7 days | 12/7/2009 | 1 | suspected kidney infection | nausea,headaches,dizziness,paranoia,EXTREME anxiety of the EXTREMEST kind,panic attacks, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, heart racing, etc... the list goes on | It is now 2 weeks since I took my last CIPRO. I have taken them 4 times before over the last 3 years thanks to my GP who refuses even now to admit that there are any serious side effects.I am in England in the UK and not the USA like many posters here. Unless you have taken CIPRO then you can never,never understand what they do to you and your body and mind. I have been to hell and come face to face with the DEVIL himself thanks to my GP and the pharmaceutical companies and Government policies. If you read this before taking a pill then please stop right now and throw them away because any infection is far better than what you will go through. If I had to make a choice right now between a CIPRO and an injection of heroin off the streets then I would opt for the heroin without any doubt or faltering in making the correct choice. These drugs are worse than any street drug that a scumbag drug dealer peddles in dark alleyways. I am taking each day at a time now and thanks to God have now stopped having the horrible negative thoughts that have overwhelmed my life for the last 14 days. I still cant go upstairs without getting out of breath or having aching bones, but thanks to a good friend have started a de-tox and i pray to the good Lord that in time i may be normal again. DO NOT TAKE CIPRO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES..PLEASE DONT.I CANT REALLY SAY ANY MORE | M | 31 | 3 days | 12/5/2009 | 1 | Possible UTI | Pains in legs, feet, fingers, toes, wrist...can barely walk. I feel like I am burning up every night, a "hot" feeling. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE! | I am so scared, I took for a suspected UTI, 2 pills a day for 7 days. The pain and fear is so bad I've already contemplated suicide. I'm 25 ears old, how can this happen! I've had to withdraw from school,when the semester was almost over, and was suppose to be job hunting. Now I don't know if I will ever be able to resume college or work again since reading others horror stories. This pain may really not go away for weeks, months, years even?! It's been over a week since discontinuing. I never even wanted to take this to begin with, because I had a urinalysis come back NEGATIVE after taking a different antibiotic.A urologist said it was possible I still had an infection, which sounded like BS to me. I checked with my regular physician who said it was indeed possible to have a negative result but still have an infection. I had no symptoms of infection other than kidney pain. My family urged me to take this, and now I'm am filled with guilt for not following my gut instinct on this, like this is my own damn fault. I discontinued what should have been a 10 day treatment after 7 days, and went to the ER. Still not properly diagnosed | F | 25 | 7 days | 12/4/2009 | 3 | UTI/Kidney Infection | Continued pain in my right kidney, shooting pain in my left arm, pain in my toes, overall pain in my stomach, left kidney, weight loss, depression, anxiety, morbid thoughts, lethargy, sleep disturbance | I had a UTI that lead to a kidney infection. My doctor prescribed a 7 day course of Ciprofloxacin which I dutifully took. It cleared my kidney infection, however, I still continued to have pain the right kidney. I tried to go back to work, experienced acute pain. Since then I have started to have all the pain noted as side effects and it continues. It wasn't until I stumbled across this last night that I actually began to think that it is the Cipro. I have now been off work for nearly two months. I am a shadow of my former self. I don't have energy to do anything. I'm a single mum and struggle to care for my two young children. God knows what I would have done if I hadn't had a loving family around me. I go to bed at 8pm every night, and wake up every morning feeling worse. I'm probably going to lose my job, which I loved, because I just can't work. I had a ultrasound scan yesterday that came back as clear which has made me feel like I am going mad and all this is in my head. If this is true, I cannot believe that we can be prescribed a drug that can cause more harm that the original illness for which it was intended. Please email me with comments. I've been prescribed a further 5 weeks course of this product and I stopped taking it last night when I read all your comments. Whoever started this thread, I thank you so much. | F | 40 | 42 days | 12/3/2009 | 1 | UTI | Do Not Take This Drug!! Within only 2-3 hours after taking it, I developed severe tendonitis and my doctor took me off of it immediately. The pharmacist told me the drug is about to be recalled because of this. Ask for something else!!! Do not take it! This is pure poison! | There are far better drugs for treating UTI's than this awful thing. You are far better off with the infection than using this drug. Avoid it avoid it! | M | 44 | 1 days | 12/3/2009 | 1 | dr said | sun sensitivity, rash, diarrhoea, depression | felt like i was poisoned | F | 19 | 8 days | 12/2/2009 | 3 | Prostatsis | Muscle Aches,light headache. | I've taken Cipro before without much trouble but the latest use has not been as trouble free. I am very achy and a bit lethargic. Also seem to have a slight headache.Within an hour of taking this I feel my groin muscles start to contract.Having taken Levaquin awhile back with bad results this family of drugs while useful in clearing infection clearly has issues.I would seek other remedies given the new black box warnings.The pharmacist who filled this prescription for me told me to expect to "feel this in your bones and to avoid excercise". It is clearing my prostatis. | M | 52 | 15 days | 11/30/2009 | 1 | UTI | I'm commenting for my father who took this. Before the infection, he was mentally sharp. Now very demented. Not sure if this was the direct cause, but I doubt the infection did this. | Many drugs (artificial chemicals) have severe adverse effects, some permanant. I personally prefer Eastern holistic medical approaches over the more profit oriented Western approach (which often leaves hapless victims in it's wake). The system is stacked, so it's best to be very wary. | M | 76 | 10 days | 11/29/2009 | 1 | UTI | I took Cipro 2 months ago for a possible UTI. I immediately became very ill with abdominal pain, exhaustion, body aches, pain in my extremities. When I went to the doctor she suggested I probably did not drink enough water so when my urinary problems returned 2 months later the doctor recommended Cipro. After the 3rd day the same symptoms appeared even though I was drinking enough to drown myself. I stopped after 3 1/2 days but I still have the aforementioned symptoms and backaches as well. I will never take this drug again and after reading some of these accounts i am afraid I may have long term effects. P.S. I didn't even have a UTI. | F | 61 | 4 days | 11/29/2009 | 4 | acutre attack of diverticulitus | I finished the course of cipro over two weeks ago but I have had lingering pain in my left side and abdomen as well as some joint pain in ankles and wrist. | Not sure if these are side effects of cipro or of losing almost 20 pounds in about a month from 1000 calories a day. | M | 47 | 10 days | 11/28/2009 | 1 | UTI | Cipro ruined my life. I don't wake up until 3pm most days now because I have no life to wake up to. I dread every day. I can barely walk, barely bathe myself, barely even type this message right now. | Two months ago I was healthy, active and independent. I don't know if I'll ever be that person again, thanks to six days on Cipro. The biggest mistake of my entire life. How can these things be allowed to happen? Where is our protection? I don't fit any of the "risk" factors for developing side effects: I'm nowhere near 65, never had a transplant, no steroid use...but here I lay crippled and wondering what the hell is going to come of my life now. Those poisonous pills have attacked just about every part of my body--and severely so. No longer able to care or provide for myself, I struggle every day with thoughts of suicide. I am now a 30-year-old trapped inside a 200-year-old body and every day I want out. This was not the way my life was supposed to end up. IT'S NOT WORTH IT, PEOPLE. TAKE SOMETHING ELSE. I hope this message finds you before, not after, you've ingested your doctor-prescribed poison pills. If you've already taken them, drop to your knees while you still can and pray to God that you're one of the lucky ones. And never take another quin drug as long as you live or else you're truly asking for trouble--repeat exposure to quin drugs seems to be a big factor in becoming floxed. Also, I'd advise NEVER to take a quin drug unless you know FOR CERTAIN that you indeed have a bacterial infection. If not, the poison will turn on you and attack your own tendons, muscles and tissues. That is my warning to you. One f*cked up life is enough! | M | 30 | 6 days | 11/28/2009 | 1 | suspected kidney infection | nausea, chest pain, difficulty breathing, couldnt walk, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, self harm thoughts, thought i was dying | I cannot believe this is an antibiotic!! I have been taking for 3 days 250mg twicw daily and have been to hell and back. I took it a year ago and had similar thoughts but never connected it to cipro. until I have just been to the same dark and scary place again. DO NOT TAKE IT BECAUSE IT WILL MESS YOU UP | M | 37 | 3 days | 11/28/2009 | 1 | UTI | Nausea (very bad) couldnt eat, tingling and numbness on face hands & feet, Anxiety, severe back pain near ribs, IBS, headaches, neck pain (like cramps) lip numbness, confusion and fatigue. | TERRIBLE! Have been taking for 2 and half days, stopped because I felt it was the Cipro making feel so sick, I went to ER last night and Dr, gave me different medication to treat UTI. I couldnt take the back pain & heaches and thought maybe it was my kidneys. All of a sudden I have Anxiety and all the symptoms I described above. I did a search on cipro and found this site and now Im scared. how long will I have these problems. Nausea isnt as bad as its been last few days ( I ate twice today) had Diahrhea, headache still all day and pain still there. This is day 2 of not taking it. For the past few days I've been feeling like I'm deathly ill. No energy and very depressed. Today, I recall taking Cipro a few years ago and after one day I felt so sick & I went back to Dr for different meds, totally forgot. NEVER AGAIN!!! | F | 36 | 2 days | 11/26/2009 | 1 | infection | F | 45 | 11/26/2009 | 2 | BLADDER INFECTION | SHOULDER STIFFNESS & PAIN, ANXIETY, EXTRA HEART BEATING AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. NEVER HAD THAT IN MY LIFE, ALWAYS LOW, SUDDENLY WENT UP AND FLUCTUATING RANDOMLY. | F | 60 | 4 days | 11/25/2009 | 1 | Suspected bladder infection | See my previous post | Continuing my previous post: The doctor who put me on cipro REFUSED TO SPEAK TO ME, and the message relayed to me was to speak to my GP and that side-effects are VERY RARE!! My only option was self help. I embarked on a detox diet, eating fresh fruit and veg, taking probiotics, drinking nettle tea, and avoiding flouridated toothpaste, drinking lots of water, and taking a biochemic tissue salt (Mag.Phos.) which is anti-spasmodic. I got myself a small wooden foot roller to help stretch the tendons in my heels. It's now been excatly one month since the side effects started and I can tell you that the pain, cold clamminess and buzzing in my feet has almost gone. The leg weakness has mostly gone. I no longer have the sweaty face and hands. I do still have pains and numbness in my arms and hands, which occurs every other day or so, depending on what I've been doing. My feet ache after standing/walking for more than 15 mins, but that's nothing compared to the pain I had before. Good luck to all of you who have had horrible side-effects from this drug, or from interactions with other drugs. My only advice is to try detoxing your system. And people who have taken this drug and had no side-effects should count themselves very lucky. There is no need for them to belittle the terrible effects it has had on other people less tolerant to flouride poisoning! | M | 34 | 3 days | 11/25/2009 | 1 | Suspected bladder infection | Side effects in the order they appeared after taking Cipro for 3 days (500mg twice a day): Aches and pains in my arms, sudden very sharp pains in heels, freezing yet clammy feet, buzzing feeling in feet, weak ankles, shooting pains in feet ankles and calf muscles, cold sweats at night, waking up in the night with numbness in fingers, sharp pin prick pains in chest and jaw, tightness in chest, very thick sticky sweat on face and hands, pain in heels and arches of feet when standing (later diagnosed by GP as plantar fasciitis), freezing hands, prominent veins appearing in arms,hands and legs...... | I had already taken Amoxycillin for 7 days, Keflex for 6 days with only temporary relief from what seemed to be a bladder infection. I ended up in hospital with excruciating lower abdominal pain. All tests were negative for bacterial infection, but they still put on cipro. They'd also given me morphine and a muscle relaxant intravenously, followed by the cipro 4 hours later, along with a cocktail of pain killers, (dihydrocodeine, tramadol, some sort of ant-sickness tablet) and they wanted to give me ibuprofen, but I happened to refuse that one on the grounds that I'm asthmatic. I didn't read the leaflet accompanying the cipro tablets until day 3 of treatment, which mentions not to take it with muscle relaxants, ibuprofen and many other drugs!! I do not know if Cipro alone caused my side effects, or the cocktail of drugs they pumped me with, but the most upsetting thing for me is that there was no sign of bacteria (or anything else for that matter) in my urine or blood samples, so I don't understand why they treated me with such a toxic drug. I was sent home with a 10 day supply of Cipro, but stopped taking it the following day when the foot pain started. My GP said I should stop reading about side effects and that she'd NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING SIDE-EFFECTS to this drug. I went back a couple of days later in worse pain, and at this point the GP said "Well, the PEOPLE WHO I HAVE SEEN WHO HAVE HAD SIDE EFFECTS TO THIS DRUG have gone one to recover, eventually" | M | 34 | 3 days | 11/25/2009 | 2 | Kidney infection/UTI | Extreme fatigue, dizzy, lightheaded, feeling of being somewhat off balance, feeling like ears are stopped up, nausea, weird dreams, not sleeping well, joint/muscle aches. | I have taken this drug before and not had any problems. My symptoms I was having relating to the kidney infection seem to be better, but this time around the extreme tiredness is just awful. Today is the 7th day I have been taking 500 mg. every 12 hrs. and I am now having other symptoms which are worse than before I went to the Dr. I started worrying about it after really pushing myself yesterday to get through the days work and then this morning, I went back to bed after feeling totally wiped out after being up only a couple of hours. Also, having weird dreams and just feel blah and "weird". This had me thinking maybe I was misdiagnosed and had something else going on, then I decided to research the side effects a little further. I found this site and from reading the other posts on here, it seems I am having pretty much the same type of symptoms as others have stated. So this time around, the Cipro seems to work as far as clearing up the infection but the side effects from this med are worse than the symptoms I was having from the infection. Assuming it is in fact side effects from the med that is causing all this for me. I will call my doctor and see what she says. | F | 46 | 7 days | 11/24/2009 | 1 | Prostatits | Autoimmune vascular neuropathy. Tendon destruction. | It's been at least a year since I've last taken Cipro. Like the product insert says, severe, irreversible neuropathy is among the possible side effects. Just imagine burning, temperature-induced pain in all of your extremities. The research I've read on Fluoroquinolone toxicity, describes an autoimmune, Raynaud's-like, vascular condition that chokes off blood to peripheral nerves-- hence irreversible nerve damage and occasionally, severe pain. Damage to tendons may follow a similar pathogenesis. My self-experimentation with vasodilatory substances, including Niacin (flushing type), Ginkgo, and topical Rogaine, have effectively brought this disease-- yes, this is a disease despite what doctors may imply-- to tolerable levels. It is still extremely inconvenient, however, as it is not my only underlying health condition! The lack of post-market research into fluoroquinolone side effects means that there is little your doctor can do to recognize or treat this condition. Steroids have been proposed as a treatment to many-- but with existing tendon damage this is kind of a bad idea. For the legal sake of this excellent website, I am not a doctor, and these statements have not been evaluated by any governmental medical body. | M | 31 | 3 days | 11/24/2009 | 1 | uti | severe headaches and back pain a week or 2 after taking cipro. VERY severe and PAINFUL backaches and crippling joint pain began a MONTH AFTER taking cipro! i'm allergic to sulpha and macrodantin, so this was recommended instead. | DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!! | F | 40 | 8 days | 11/24/2009 | 1 | Bacterial Infection- food poisoning | Wake up with headaches in the morning, lack of energy & stamina decreased libido, tingling hands, diarrhea on top of diarrhea, gas | Began taking the medication to help clear up suspected bacterial infection from bad food. No energy, lethargic and I am someone who works out 90 minutes a day 5 days a week - has been a struggle to go and work-out for 30 minutes. Worse part is my libido has been affected - bit of impotence and this was never an issue in my life, anxiety makes it worse now. If there is an alternative use it. Began taking probiotics to help restore my system and frankly this has been a nightmare! If anyone can relate to the libido issue please let me know! | M | 43 | 15 days | 11/23/2009 | 1 | diverticulitis | nausea (WORSE than caused by the infection),unquenchable thirst,no energy, flat affect, ear pain, loss of balance, chemical taste in mouth...just after 10 doses of 500mg | Have used Levaquin in the past to treat this infection WITHOUT these side effects. | F | 58 | 5 days | 11/21/2009 | 1 | Urinary Tract Infection | Deep, unrelentless ache in leg tendons from heel to thigh that cannot be alleviated by anything. It disappeared for several months but has returned. I am extremely tired during an episode and wakeful during the night | F | 68 | 12 days | 11/21/2009 | 3 | UTI | OMG. the first round nothing then i got another UTI within a month and i started really feeling awful. Nasea, light headedness, super thirsty but not relieved by drinking water. So tired and just a weird "out of it feeling", shakiness and finally metallic taste in mouth. I decided to stop taking it completely and detox. I also feel like i have dead energy meaning flat feeling. hard to describe but not good. | F | 40 | 7 days | 11/20/2009 | 1 | Kidney infection from large stone | To the person who posted on 11/18/2009. I am happy you did not have any side effects from Cipro. You are a very lucky person and should really count your blessings. My life has been a living hell from this drug. I took it for a kidney infection in 9/08 it worked great for me. My infection returned again in 10/08 so my doctor prescriped it again and thats when my nightmare began. It has been over a year and things are better but I have nerve damage in my shoulder and in constant pain. My ears ring all day long. I only sleep 3 hours a night. Why would all the people posting make this up. I have nothing to gain from this because I can't do anything about it legally because it has a black box warning on it. So Bayer is protected and I am not. | Taking this drug is like playing Russian Roulette. | F | 49 | 7 days | 11/19/2009 | 1 | Bacterial infection | Numbness, dizziness, blurry vision sensitivity to light, rash | Do not take it, it's not safe. | F | 46 | 7 days | 11/19/2009 | 4 | UTI | I'm on day 3. 2 hours after taking the first dose I noticed a big difference. 24 hours later the burning sensation when urinating was almost completely gone and the urge to urinate all the time was significantly better. The only side effects I've noticed are: dry mouth, being tired throughout the day and wanting to go to bed by 7pm, and minor cramps (take with food). Regardless of these side effects, I'd certainly use Cipro again if needed and recommend it to others. | I read this site the first night I began the medicine and freaked out and called my OB/GYN (I had gotten the Cipro from a Urgent Care). I asked my doctor about the side effects and what they normally recommend, and they said they use Cipro all the time and that they've never heard of any of the side effects mentioned on this site (not to say those who posted them are making things up). Anyway, I haven't had any negative side effects, and would recommend it as a med that knocks out a UTI quickly. | F | 26 | 3 days | 11/18/2009 | 1 | UTI | Hell. | I second the comment about the FDA. CIRPO does destroy lives and it happens way more often then people think. PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE FDA. You can also do it online at medwatch https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm. JUST DO IT. I know 4 people including myself who have had their lives seriously altered bu this drug. They claim it is rare - no way! | M | 43 | 3 days | 11/15/2009 | 5 | severe mycobacterial hand infection | I have been on a odessey for the last 15 months fighting a double hand infection after accidentally impailing myself with a screwdriver. 8 weeks of IV (5x/day -amicacin; immipenin); two surgeries and the current daily dose of 1500 mg of cipro since 8/09 along with 1000 mg biaxin an 1600 mg bactrim. I will be getting off these drugs 12/13 and am counting the days. Don't like to talk about almost losing my life to microbes but am grateful for an outstanding ID doctor and these meds. I don't let myself thing too much about the (thank god) minor side effects. Its scary to think about our future where these medicines will become ineffective due to overuse. I had no choice to poison my body for so long but can tell you I would never take cipro for a sore throat or other minor ailment where there are alternatives. I had strong joint pain early on that has become less of an issue. I try to exercise everyday as it really helps. Insomnia has been a problem since day one and need 1/2 a | M | 51 | 14 months | 11/14/2009 | 1 | Mistake | CIPRO DESTROYS LIVES! | If you or someone you love has had DEBILITATING side effects while taking Cipro or months AFTER taking Cipro, please do the world a favor and report it to the FDA: 1-800-FDA-1088. This poisonous drug must be stopped before it ruins one more life. WE MUST STAND UP TO THESE DRUG COMPANIES AND THE FDA AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S NOT OKAY TO CRIPPLE US! These are serious poisons and are being given out like Halloween candy...it's the most unconscionable thing ever. There are literally THOUSANDS of victims out there of all ages (floxy's) who were perfectly healthy, active individuals before they took Cipro. Now they form internet groups trying to console one another and figure out WTF has been done to their bodies and lives. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, PEOPLE! Report your horror stories to the FDA, eventually they can no longer turn a deaf ear to the havoc this drug is causing. This poison must be pulled off the market before it floxes one more unsuspecting individual, and it's long overdue for Bayer to have its ASS SUED OFF. I'll be there in a wheelchair if I must! I'm madder than a wet hornet and I'm ready to fight! It's time to take ACTION, people. 800-FDA-1088 | M | 30 | 5 days | 11/14/2009 | 1 | uti | muscle and tendon problems for 8 months and counting | M | 29 | 5 days | 11/14/2009 | 1 | Sore throat | The worst back pain ever, shortness of breath and just genuinly felt like I was slowly dying. I am so so scared and just cant stop crying reading these reviews. | It's awful. Really really awful. | F | 26 | 2 days | 11/13/2009 | 1 | Epididymitus orchitus | See sumission 5/11/09 | I have now had blood test results and they show white blood cell and liver function abnormality...now awaiting appointment with specialist.Has anyone else had abnormal blood test result after taking Cipro...Worried sick now | M | 48 | 14 days | 11/11/2009 | 1 | post surgery infection | HORRID EVIL DRUG! Prickly, burning cell popping sensations, brain zaps, joint pains, sick flu feeling, head fullness, cognitive and memory problems, anxiety, insomnia, dry eyes, thirst, inner sensations of trembling.....etc. | health.groups.yahoo.com/group/fqtoxicity/ GO HERE FOR HELP AND INFO! | F | 51 | 7 days | 11/11/2009 | 3 | uti | back pain. am also taking pills for acid reflux. not given indication not to take them. read all these comments. really worried. will report back after a 10 hour flight i have to take this afternoon. | F | 63 | 4 days | 11/10/2009 | 1 | UTI | Tinnitus(ear-ringing),Hyperacusis,Insomnia,Tendon & muscle pain,feelings of death & doom,hallucinations,it goes on & on & on..... | Its been over 2 years since I took the evil poison Cipro , feel free to contact me if you need direction & help explaining whats going on , its the nightmare that keeps continuing..... | M | 47 | 10 days | 11/9/2009 | 3 | kidney infection | too sick to separate from illness | cleard infection in 24 hours | F | 51 | 10 days | 11/8/2009 | 1 | Infection | UPDATE: I posted on 10/27 when I was only experiencing pain in my achilles tendons. Well it's been two weeks now since my side effects started, and things have gotten MUCH worse. Keep in mind I had NO side effects until 10 days after quitting Cipro. This drug has attacked not only my achilles tendons but also my ankles, calves, elbows, shoulders and has basically crippled my hands and wrists. I now get severe arthritic pain in every one of my fingers and my thumbs lock up. I have never been in so much pain or been so incapacitated in my life. I'M ONLY 30 AND FIT NONE OF THE "RISK FACTORS" FOR THESE CRIPPLING SIDE EFFECTS! Every day gets worse than the day before. What an absolute F*CKING nightmare! I have been reduced to a cripple. MY BODY IS RUINED! | If anyone has any tips for dealing with this or experience with these tendon/joint side effects I'm experiencing, PLEASE email me. I can barely walk or use my hands, even laying down makes it feel like I'm going to dislocate my shoulders. Every little move I make injures me! I don't know what to do. I'm taking calcium and magnesium supplements as well as glucosamine and MSM, drinking lots of water, vitamin C, probiotics, fish oil...NOTHING is stopping this from wreaking havoc on my body more and more each day. I have literally aged 100 years in two f*cking weeks. When is this going to stop!? IS THERE ANY HOPE? | M | 30 | 6 days | 11/7/2009 | 1 | prostatitis | Took one pill in July -Joints are still sore. | Here is some feedback on the side effects of Cipro. My joints continue to improve though my dosage was smaller then others I read about.I always stayed on my feet with very mild walking. Also walk down stairs backwards so it doesn't stretch the achilles tendon out. I have made bone broth which gives your body protein to rebuild tendons. Ice massage works well too. Stay away from aspirin and Ibuprofin as they restrict blood flow to the joints. Brocchli is a natural anti-inflammatory. I also stretch to keep things limber. Any questions please e-mail me. | M | 46 | 1 days | 11/6/2009 | 1 | Epididimititus | Took full prescribed course(14 days 2 x 500mg a day)After day 4 went back to GP to query Aching ankles,leg,arm,& back muscles,Shooting Headaches,Nausea,Night sweats,and general lack of energy... | On second visit to GP after explaining previous side effects was instucted to continue with course and was prescribed with Pain Killers...Three weeks later and side effects still persist,have had blood test and results show slightly raised white blood cell count,I am hoping this is due to CIPRO as I am really worried it is something more serious!!!Have to get second lot of blood tests tomorrow then if count is the same GP will be referring me to a specialist.I have shown some ofthe comments to my GP an he was unaware of the risks(Am well sickened we dont have the same black box warning in UK) If anyone has any advice please email me | M | 48 | 14 days | 11/5/2009 | 1 | ear infection | numbness in legs and arms, headaches, dizzyness, shakiness, sweaty palms, knee pain, thigh pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, insomnia, fatigue, blurred vision, throbbing veins, diarrhea | I'm still trying to decide if i'm goign to go back to the doctor. From what I'm reading, its probably no use. The first day i felt side effects was the day after finished taking the drug. It felt like i was having a stroke, half of my body was numb. From there my arms and legs were constantly numb and i couldn't sleep and i was constantly alternating between headaches and dizzyness. After reading boards like this, i started taking a probiotic and a omega-3 pill. The probiotic was to help rebuild the positive cells i'm sure Cipro killed and has helped with the diarrhea. The omega-3 oil has helped reduce the numbness. I don't know what's going to help stop the shaking or dizzyness/blurred vision/sweaty palms i'm still dealing with. If you have a clue on how to get this awful drug completely out of my system, please email me. BTW, its been about a month since i stopped taking the drug and I've just been able to get back into my gym routine. I was perfectly healthy before the ear infection and worked out about 4-5 times a week on average. | M | 24 | 10 days | 11/5/2009 | 1 | possible uti | See comments | This is a request to anyone who has made progress in recovering from these quinolones. LET US KNOW ABOUT IT!!! We sure could use the hope that maybe we, too, will get better. So if you have overcome a neuropathy or a muscle/joint pain issue, (even to a degree) dont just leave the board. Tell us. Thanks | M | 58 | 10 days | 11/4/2009 | 1 | UTI | 6 months out and I still have foot, ankle and knee pain and some neuropathy in my feet. I had 4 months of utter hell following 5 250mg doses of this drug. Damage to my vision and several tendons/joint is long term. | You would be well advised not to take this drug unless you hve no other choice (e.g., you will die or have lifelong problems due to the infection). Beware of other similar antibiotics. The Dr. refered to Levaquin as a more mild anitbiotic. It will do the same things to you. If you took this and had no problems, a warning for you: everyone has a limit to how much lifetime exposure to flouroquinolines they can take before these horrible events start to occur. Once they occur, there is no going back. Injurys to soft tissues like tendons are very stubborn and even worse, the drug changes your body's ability to heal the damage it created. IT IS NOT A SAFE DRUG. | M | 42 | 3 days | 11/3/2009 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |