Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Beware of the Antibiotic Cipro

Dancers': Beware of the Antibiotic Cipro
by Michele Rasmussen

I am writing this article based on my own personal experience. I am hoping to bring awareness of the side effects of the antibiotic Cipro or Ciprofloxin. I understand that Levoquin and Avelox have the same side effects.

I will preface this article with the knowledge that I have been dancing regularly, 4-5 times a week for 3 years and that dancing is not a new activity for me.

On April 16th, 2010 I started taking Cipro for a bladder infection. On April 17th, 2010 we taught a 4 1/2 hour dance workshop, something we do every other weekend. On April 18th, 2010 I could barely walk. Upon getting out of bed, my feet felt as though I were walking on razor blades and the joints, muscles and tendon in my legs were in excruciating pain. As the day progressed, the pain remained and I was puzzled as to how the workshop could possibly be responsible for my inability to walk. I continued taking Cipro.

On April 19th, 2010 I awoke with the same pain, plus additional hip pain. I just kept thinking that something was really odd and that this leg pain could not possibly be from dancing. That evening I started getting sharp, stabbing pains in my left leg. I began to wonder if I could possibly have a blood clot, so I went to the internet to look up the side effects of Cipro. While I was pleased to realize I didn't have a blood clot, I was appalled that my muscle, joint and tendon pain was a side effect of Cipro. I stopped taking the drug immediately and contacted my doctor and two pharmacists.

My doctor was shocked and claims he has never seen this side effect and offers no management, treatment or prognosis. The pharmacists are more aware but have a "it might get better, it might not " attitude. After hours of research I have found that Cipro has landed many in wheelchairs and walking with canes. It can hit your body while taking it or months later. For some it seems that the side effects reverse themselves as soon as the medication is out of their bodies, for others the suffering lingers for years. You can develop symptoms months after you stop taking the drug. If you have or have had unexplained muscle, joint and tendon pain, or ruptured tendons or been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis and have taken Cipro, be sure to alert your Dr. and never take it again.

I believe that the percentage of incidences that the drug companies report are way understated. It occurred to me, after this episode, that one year ago I suffered from a popped tendon in my right foot. It took 7 months for that injury to heal. I confirmed the dates and sure enough, I was on Cipro when the injury occurred. I never put 2 and 2 together to make the correlation of the injury as a side effect to the antibiotic. I now know differently and have reported my side effects to the drug manufacturer and the FDA.

23 comments:

  1. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118505281495154

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  2. I belong to a growing group of injured individuals who have been promoting advocacy/awareness regarding the toxicity of Fluoroquinolones.... please check out the site, perhaps join the Yahoo group FQToxicity, friend Fluoroquinolones (and the other personal pages) on Facebook. There is even another petition that has been written regarding the CNS damage by FQ's that you should sign. I dance too.... with all my joints, tendons, cartilage damaged.... and much more!! My FQ poisons were Levaquin and Avelox 2003, taken for a sinus infection. FQ's deplete valuable minerals from our bodies, causing mass destruction.... and damage to our DNA. I would advise you to supplement.... VIT D, MAGNESIUM, calcium, potassium and take a multi. Depletion of these are what leads to irreversible damage to the bones (loss of calcium, magnesium being leached out).... vital life-sustaining minerals!! FQ's also cause muscle-wasting (cell death) with the dead cells going into the bloodstream and overloading the kidneys. Bottom line --we have been poisoned.

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  3. I took cipro as well and ended up with nerve damage in my abdomen. However I never connected the abdomenal problems until a year later when I took Avelox (also a fluoroquinolone antibiotic) and all hell broke loose. It's 5 years later and I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands, legs and feet. I can't exercise anymore. I also suffered short term memory loss. My life is severely limited. The three antibiotics most prescribed in this class: Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox are poison! It's playing Russian Roulette with your life! As the doc for a different antibiotic. These are deadly! And there are thousands of us damaged by them.
    Sally

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    1. Hello dear Sally, I also took Avalox in Oct 2010 and am still suffering severe side effects now, six months later. Since then, I have had tinnitus, sleeping problems, anxiety, memory problems, lack of balance and coordination, and other peripheral neuropathy symptoms like dropping things I am holding in my hands bec i lose grip. Taking this drug led to the most horrific experience I ever had in my life - so much worse than the sickness I took it for (u tract infection). Pls would you tell me what your neuropathy symptoms are, in case they are similar to mine? My email: christine_ernst_7@hotmail.com

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  4. Yes, I have been to the site. The number of people effected is astounding and the number of people that I have told, and they now are able to correlate their own symptoms to Cipro poisoning is staggering!
    Please tell me that you are able to dance again???? Right now, day 11 after symptoms began, I am having trouble walking and couldn't dance if I tried!
    I am taking the Magnesium, Vitamin D and Calcium, but will be sure to add the Potassium.
    This is such a senseless attack on human life.

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  5. I did a Med Watch and the FDA sent me an unsigned chain letter. It said we recorded your event? The FDA depends on the Drug Manufacturer for funding. What a conflict of interest!!! The FDA uses the Drug Manufacturer data to approve drugs? The FDA does not test them. Its the Manufacturers responsibility to prove its safe. I wonder who's best interest they are looking after($) when the data is submitted.

    Look at some of the other drugs they have approved in the past that have killed and injured thousands every year. Protect your family and friends by spreading the word.

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  6. It has been 4 yr. since I was given Avelox.... I experienced many adverse side affects...but the worse is the severe pain in my tendons and muscles.....crippling pain in legs that remains with me 24/7 to this day...Walking is so difficult that I am afraid I am headed for a wheelchair....I am pretty much homebound... because trying to walk or do anything....it feels like my tendons and muscles are being ripped from my bones and the pain becomes unbearable.... These poisonous fluoroquinolone antibiotics need to be taken off the market... not worth the risk of the many very serious adverse side effects!

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  7. ^ anonymous... if you don't mind me asking, did you get an immediate reaction from the avelox 4 years ago? or did the symptoms one day just worsen months after taking them? & also, how old are you? just trying to get a feel for everyone's experience. & also, did you try any therapies such as prolotherapy, glutathione iv's, or hydrogen peroxide therapy? thanks so much!

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  8. I didn't try any of those therapies, and the pain stared on my third day of taking Cipro.

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  9. I as well refuse to take Cipro again. I have bladder infections quite often and every time i took Cipro it made me feel worse than the infection itself. i felt shivery and weak and my muscles were killing. NO MORE. I told the pharmacist they are toxic to me and i won't take them again. She said '"Ya they have alot of side effects".That's an understatement! Anyways now Ive switched to Macrobid antibiotics and i hope they have less side effects.

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  10. I truly is amazing to see the number of individuals that are affected.....

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  11. I went to the Dr. for a symptoms of a bladder infection and it turns out I do have one. The urine sample however is sent out for further cultures. I was prescribed Cipro which I have never taken before. I am very apprehensive taking it because of the possible minor (understatement) to major side effects I could experience through out my day. I almost rather fight the infection on my own. Does anyone know a drug with less side effects out there. Does penicillin work?
    Thanks!

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  12. Yes, there are other options, Bactrim being one them. There is a whole list of Sulfa drugs that work just fine for UTI's. Gentamicin,(which made my mother deaf), tobramycin and amikacin.
    Good luck and if I were you, I would try something else first and use the Cipro as it is intended as "not a first drug of choice."
    You could also check with someone from a health food store and be sure to drink lots of water.
    I use D-Mannose with CranActin and I haven't had a UTI in years.
    Good luck and I praise you for being SMART!!!!

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  13. Thank you for this information! I have had reoccurring UTI's for a long time now. I was put on Bactrim at a high dose (800mg) recommended my my doctor. One dose and two hours later I was feeling pins and needles through out my body and felt as though lightening bolts were shooting out of my skin and eyes. I was also supposed to take 1000mg of Cipro and metrinazole (sp??), this drug they give to alcoholics and thankfully my pharmacist told me to not touch a drop of alcohol while taking it, my Doctor failed to relay this info. To say the least I never took the cipro or the other drug in conjunction with the Bactrim. After one miserable dose with lasting effect for three days my UTI was gone. I flushed everything else down the toilet. I was 127lb, 5'5'. I can only imagine what all of these drugs would have done to my system. I am going to be smart and not go with the Cipro at this time. I will try an alternative and check my local health food store. Thank you for your help!
    Greatly appreciated!
    Be well :)
    Lindsey, Boston, MA

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  14. I took Cipro and wondered why I was constantly crippled in pain and these last two weeks Ive had terrible hip pain which has affected my walking. I have been trying to fathom for the last 2 years what the hell was wrong with me as Ive gone from being a fit athletic active person to wondering why Ive gone stiff as a board and I seize up after sitting and couldnt run for a bus to save my life. Now after reading various sites I'm convinced its been the Cipro thats done this to me. No way will I take that drug again.

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  15. Yup! That is the culprit! Join the ranks of many that haven't a clue why their bodies just stopped working and is now in chronic pain!

    Did you say that it has been two years? it has been 20 months for me!

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  16. I am convinced that I have cipro toxicity. I was in school for learning nutrition and the stress and kids lead to a UTI that I wasn't able to treat effectively which turned into a Kidney infection. I went to the hospital for the kidney infection and the Dr. prescribed cipo 1000mg per day in divided doses. I didn't have that many symptoms in the beginning just a few muscle aches and my Achilles tendon hurt a bit. I used Arnica on my aches in my tendon which went away HOWEVER after finishing the prescription I would have odd pains in my abdomen and sides that would last for a few moments then go away all day. This proceeded and then turned into gastrointestinal problems such as pain in area around my stomach like a cramping of sorts, abdominal pain as well as changes in my bowel movements. I have never had any issues with digestion ever prior to cipro and I eat very well as I am a Holistic Nutritionist. I can't believe the toxicity of this drug and how they are still prescribing it to people. If I don't take the vitamins I am taking my symptoms come back with a vengeance. I got a juicer for xmas and I have been doing lots of juicing but when I went back to work this week I stopped juicing and again I am starting to get more symptoms. I just hope this isn't forever and I can detoxify this crap out of me. I wish you all well in your journey towards healing. Namaste.

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  17. Namaste, I totally understand! It is the most horrible thing that I have ever encountered! It was even worse than the leukemia that I have since been diagnosed with. It has been nearly two years for me, and I must say that I am pleased to say that I am at about 80% of where I was before I took the Cipro, but I still have bad days from it.
    It is totally unbelievable!
    My best to you,
    Michele

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    1. what did you do Michele to get almost 80% better????

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    2. Do be too disheartened, but I got Leukemia and underwent Chemotherapry.

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  18. I was taking 500mg twince a day for a prostrate infection. I play basketball 2-3 times a week. The next day after playing basketball I awoke to my knees feeling as if they were encased in concrete and I could hardly walk. I thought maybe it was the new shoes I had bought and over the next few days it subsided enough that I decided to play again and again it happened. Then I read the warnings on the cipro. Now as I am lying in bed my legs are in pain/discomfort from the knees down. I played a little basketball last night(2 1/2 weeks after the initial reaction) and once agsin I have knee stiffness and lower leg pain. I read that there are 2 drugs to take to reverse the affects: Xyrem and Liorsal. Has anyone tried these?

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  19. Hi Doug,
    I can totally relate to the knee pain!Mine felt the same way....I have never heard of any reversal drugs whatsoever. Every doctor that I saw shrugged their shoulders and even told me that they did not have a clue what to do, and that they did not even know IF I would recover. If you take either of these drugs, please keep us posted, as far as the outcome....I will be doing so research on my own to see what I can find out.
    A reversal of symptoms would be awesome...I suffered for two years and others for much longer!

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  20. Shortly after taking Cipro the first time I was diagnosed with blood in my urine. I had had a painful adverse side effect and was taken off the drug immediately. I never connected the dots. In 2009 I took Cipro again and I have never recovered. Pain in my legs and arms, macular deg. both eyes, difficulty breathing at times.

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