Here is the Floroquinolone FDA Black Box Warning!

FDA BLACK BOX

The Food and Drug Administration imposed the government's most urgent safety warning on Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and many other flouroquinolone antibiotics. The FDA orders a prominent "black box" warning and the development of new literature for patients emphasizing the risks. The most prominent risk is tendon rupture causing long term disability, possibly permanent.

This is an important first step to ensuring these antibiotics are only used when the patient faces a potential fatal outcome, and only after the use of all other antibiotics have been ruled out. This is not due to the probability of risk, but rather severity.

To those who have been affected, prognosis is normally not good. There is no cure. Often repeat exposure through food and water cause a continual never ending cycle of symptoms. Many victims face the fact that their lives have been completely destroyed. Many face loss of job and income, some face breakup of the family. Some have even committed suicide because of the pain inflicted by these drugs.

Unfortunately, physicians currently give these prescriptions out like candy. To emphasize the ignorance of physicians, Cipro is often prescribed post-op for tendon repair surgery. The physician will often prescribe a drug known to cause tendon rupture as a preventive to infection after tendon repair surgery. There is an obvious neglect on the part of the physicians who simply do not known the potential dangers of the drugs they prescribe. So where is the breakdown of information? Unfortunately many physicians mistakenly rely on pharmaceutical drug reps to point out any potential side effects rather than investigating it themselves. Further implicating the physicians, they accept gifts from drug companies and in return will prescribe unnecessary and dangerous substances. Drug Reps, paid on commission, find themselves making more sales by not disclosing the dangers, or make light of potential side effects. Making the problem worse, the drug manufactures trivialize and distort the potential risks.

A pending U.S. Senate bill would require drug companies to report gifts to doctors of more than $25. New York State's legislature plans to hold hearings this year on the relationship between doctors and drug companies. One congressional critic has even compared the drug industry with the tobacco industry, and Senator John McCain has called drug makers the "bad guys."

Antibiotics known as flouroquinolones have been associated with some or all of the following adverse drug reactions:

Tendonitis, Tendon Rupture, Tendon, Ligament, Joint and Muscle Damage

Vision Damage, Hearing Loss, Taste Perversion

Peripheral Neuropathy (Tingling, burning sensation)

Insomnia, Nightmares, Anxiety Attacks, Depersonalization, Cognitive Disorders

Brain, Heart, Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Blood and Endocrine Disorders

Severe Psychotic Reactions, Suicidal Thoughts or Actions

Gastrointestinal Damage

Compounding the problem, there are numerous drugs which should not be taken in combination with this class of antibiotics. There are increased risks of injury when they are taken in combination with corticosteroids (e.g.: Prednisone, Flovent, Nasarel, Azmacort, Advair Disku, Methylprednisolone Dospak, Elocon Cream, Desoximetasone Cream, and Sterapred) and when taken in combinations with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g.: Motrin, Pamprin, Aleve, Advil, and Ibuprofen, among others). Physicians are frequently not aware of these contraindications and prescribe dangerous combinations of drugs which cause severe injuries to their patients. Physicians may also not be able to identify that their patient is suffering an adverse reaction and instruct them to continue to take more of the antibiotic resulting in very serious and perhaps preventable injuries.

Another Dangerous Side Effect Linked to Cipro and Other Floroquinolones

Thanks to a reader for sharing this information: This is yet another reason to avoid taking the antibiotics Cipro, Avelox and Levaquinn. These are very powerful antibiotics that are listed as a "not first drug or choice" yet are prescribed like candy for urinary tract infections, bladder infections, prostatitis and respiratory infections. They are very powerful and have extremely severe side effects associated with them. Often these side effects linger on for many years after ceasing to take the drugs. PLEASE be careful and request an alternative antibiotic if you are prescribed a floroquinolone.

A common class of antibiotics was linked to a higher risk of so-called retinal detachment -- when the light-sensitive tissue in the eye separates from gel that fills the eyeball, in a new Canadian study.

People treated by ophthalmologists for the emergency condition were five times more likely to be taking drugs known as fluoroquinolones, which include ciprofloxacin (marketed under names including Zoxan, Proquin and Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin, Cravit), than those who didn't have retinal detachment.

"We know that these drugs are toxic to connective tissue and cartilage," said Mahyar Etminan, the study's lead author, noting past studies linking fluoroquinolones with damage to Achilles and shoulder tendons.

"We wanted to see whether this damage also may translate in the eye, because there's lots of connective tissue in the eye," Etminan, from the Child and Family Research Institute of British Columbia in Vancouver, told Reuters Health.

Retinal detachment, which starts as the appearance of lines, dots or "floaters" across the eye, can cause permanent blindness in some cases if it's not surgically treated within a few days.

Etminan and his colleagues used data from doctors' treatment records for everyone in British Columbia who saw an ophthalmologist between 2000 and 2007 -- almost one million patients. That included about 4,400 people diagnosed with retinal detachment when they were an average of 61 years old.

Prescription records showed that one out of every 30 patients with retinal detachment was taking a fluoroquinolone at the time, most commonly ciprofloxacin. Most antibiotic users were taking the drugs for respiratory or urinary tract infections.

Among a similar group of patients who visited an ophthalmologist but didn't have retinal detachment, just one in 167 had been recently prescribed the antibiotics.

The researchers couldn't be sure why the drugs were tied to an increased risk of retina problems, but said the most likely explanation is that they damage fibers and connective tissue attaching the retina to the eye's vitreous gel.

There have been "lingering concerns" about the possible effects of fluoroquinolones on the eye for a while, said Dr. Terrence O'Brien, from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

He told Reuters Health the new study suggests an association between fluoroquinolones and retinal detachment, but doesn't prove that everyone on the drugs will be at extra risk.

For example, it may be that people who are already prone to tendon problems -- such as older patients -- will be the ones who could be affected by certain drugs, said O'Brien, who wasn't involved in the new study.

The extra risk due to the antibiotics was small. Etminan and his colleagues calculated that 2,500 people would need to be taking fluoroquinolones for any reason for one to have retinal detachment.

Another class of antibiotics that includes penicillin wasn't tied to more retina problems, the researchers reported Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Non-drug risks for retinal detachment include a past cataract surgery, being nearsighted or having an eye infection.

Retinal detachment is rare, Etminan concluded, "but because the condition is quite serious, I don't think it would hurt to let someone know... if you notice these flashes of light or floaters, be sure you get it checked out."

O'Brien agreed. "This study should alert both patients and physicians to the possibility of retinal detachment, and any patient developing symptoms or signs of retinal detachment while taking a fluoroquinolone would be urged to seek immediate ophthalmic care," he said.

"It's not something where you'd want to wait or defer seeking attention."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/04/common-antibiotics-tied-to-eye-emergencies-study-says/#ixzz1rIVALndr

Cipro Encouraged Me to Have a Garden!

Two years ago I was poisoned by an antibiotic called Cipro. I took the antibiotic for a bladder infection, and with two days of taking Cipro, I was nearly crippled. The pain in the balls of my feet was excruciating and my hips, knees and ankles felt as though they would explode if I bent them. MY skin felt as if it was on fire, and my brain was so fogged that I could not even think.

I immediately sought medical advice, only to be told over and over again, that there was nothing that they could do for me, and they had no idea how long these “side effects” would last’ possibly forever. Two years ago dancing was my profession and my passion. After being poisoned by Cipro, walking was so painful that dancing was out of the question.

A dancing friend of mine, also a chiropractor and kinesiologist, offered me some advice in trying to rid my body of the dangerous floroquinolone, as well as advice on what to take and eat to help my body to repair the damage done by the antibiotic. After several months, I was able to get around better, and learn to dance on my heels. The hardest hit area for me was the balls of my feet. For eighteen months, I wore braces on my ankles and knees and walked and dance very carefully.

Since that time, I have been very mindful of what I eat and have even taken to growing, canning and freezing my own fruits and vegetables. Gusseted poly bags have been a great addition to my freezing practices because they are able to stand up, and stay open all on their own. I also like the Ball canning jars. Having home grown vegetable and fruit all year long is not only a treat, but a very healthy alternative to eating over processed food that is full of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

I also am eating eggs from chickens that belong to a friend; I can hardly believe how yellow the yolks are. Now, if I can only bring myself to raising my own poultry, meat and fish, you could call me a “real” farm girl!

Taking antibiotics ruptured my tendon: The hidden dangers of everyday drugs we assume are harmless

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Taking antibiotics ruptured my tendon: The hidden dangers of everyday drugs we assume are harmless

By JO WATERS

Last updated at 3:43 AM on 7th February 2012

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'The pain was so sharp I felt like I'd been shot or kicked,' said Judy Thomas

When Judy Thomas was prescribed a strong antibiotic to shift her chest infection, she didn’t think twice about it. 

‘It was a few days before Christmas and I was just relieved to get something before the holidays,’ says Judy, 59, a housewife from Ferndown, Dorset.

‘It was a high dose of 500mg of ciprofloxacin twice a day for five days. My GP didn’t mention any possible side-effects.’

Three days later, Judy woke up with an all-pervading tight feeling in the backs of both calves.

‘I could barely walk; I thought the tendon was going to snap,’ she recalls. 

‘Ten days later, when I was standing making tea in the kitchen, something did seem to snap in the back of my left calf. 

'The pain was so sharp I felt like I’d been shot or kicked, and I blacked out for a few seconds. Afterwards, I was in excruciating pain.’

Next day, she went to A&E with her husband, Geoff, 64, and her left leg was put in plaster because doctors suspected a ruptured Achilles tendon. 

‘I was baffled because I hadn’t been doing any exercise and it’s something I thought you only got with running or sport,’ says Judy.

‘It was my sister Sally, a retired nurse, who Googled it later that evening and discovered tendon rupture can be a side-effect of taking ciprofloxacin. 

'Imagine my horror when this was confirmed by my GP the next day.’

It can take six months on average to get back to normal activities after an Achilles tendon rupture, but in some cases much longer. A month after taking ciprofloxican Judy is still incapacitated. 

‘I’ve been left unable to walk properly,’ she says. ‘I can’t bear weight on it and have been confined to the house.

'Now I’m terrified the tendon in my right leg will rupture, too, as the doctor I saw in A&E said it was showing signs of severe damage. 

‘I’ve got pins and needles in my left arm and shoulder, too, which started at the same time. I’m worried this is also connected to the antibiotics, and might be permanent.’ 

One in six of all prescriptions in the UK is for antibiotics, with the drugs given for everything from ear infections to sore throats. 

But what many patients don’t realise is that like all drugs, antibiotics can cause side-effects.

Amoxicillin, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in the UK, can cause rashes and diarrhoea, but also nausea, wheezing, itching and a swollen tongue. 

One in six of all prescriptions in the UK is for antibiotics, with the drugs given for everything from ear infections to sore throats

Another antibiotic, Flucloxacillin, can cause diarrhoea and nausea, and in rarer cases breathing difficulties, jaundice, bruising and abdominal pain. 

And erythromycin, used to treat middle ear and throat infections, cannot only cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and a rash, but less commonly temporary deafness, skin blisters, jaundice and fever.

‘There’s been a perception that antibiotics are a bit like vitamins in that it won’t do the patient any harm to take them, even if it’s not absolutely certain they do have an infection,’ says Dr Kieran Hand, consultant pharmacist at Southampton General Hospital and a spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 

‘We are realising antibiotics are not completely harmless, and prescribing them is not a decision to be taken lightly.’

This is particularly true for a class of powerful broad spectrum antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which include ciprofloxacin (the drug Judy was prescribed), levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin. 

Just under a million prescriptions for these drugs were given out in the UK in 2010 for conditions such as chest infections and urinary tract and gastro-intestinal infections.

Some of the alarming side-effects listed for fluoroquinolines include inflamed or ruptured tendon, chest pain, rapid heart beat, black outs, swelling, hot flushes, sweating, pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas) and tinnitus. 

It’s only the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics that have been linked with tendon problems and other muscolo-skeletal issues.

These may start immediately after taking the drugs, or months later. 

As a result, doctors and patients often fail to make the link with the antibiotics.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the UK’s drug safety watchdog, received reports of 2,269 ‘suspected’ adverse reactions associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including 67 deaths, since January 2000. 

Four years ago, concern about the potential side-effects led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration telling manufacturers to add a ‘black box’ warning to fluoroquinolones. 

This is the most serious warning, short of pulling a drug from the market, and indicates that it carries a significant risk of serious or life-threatening adverse events. 

In the UK, the British National Formulary, a prescribing guide for doctors and pharmacists, added a specific warning about fluoroquinolones in 2009, stating they should be used ‘with caution’ in patients over 60, those taking corticosteroids, and patients with a history of epilepsy or tendon disorders.

But Judy says she had none of these risk factors. 

Nor did Rebecca Robinson, a 44-year-old self-employed hairdresser from Bristol, who was prescribed five courses of ciprofloxacin over a 12-month period after developing cystitis and then a kidney infection in 2006.

Five years later, she is still suffering persistent lower leg pain and other unexplained symptoms, including pain and burning in her lower legs, cervical dystonia (neck spasms), tinnitus and muscle twitching — some of which are recognised side-effects of ciprofloxacin. 

‘The reaction started immediately after the first dose: I felt giddiness, back pain and needed to pass urine frequently,’ she says. 

‘But it felt just like the kidney infection coming back, so I was prescribed more of the drugs. 

‘I’d never felt right since I took those antibiotics but doctors told me there was no connection. 

'After three years of tests and no answers, I went online and discovered there were thousands of other people who had taken ciprofloxacin and had similar side-effects to me.

'I have lost half my customers as I have balance problems and find it difficult to stand for long periods. 

'I’ve never claimed any disability benefits and always worked to support myself, but what happens if I get worse? 

Doctors stress that we must finish a course of antibiotics and don’t mention adverse reactions, so people continue taking the drugs, not realising they are causing them damage.

Philip Howard, consultant pharmacist and a specialist in antibiotics, says although ciprofloxacin has been around for 25 years, it’s only in the past ten years that more side-effects have emerged.

‘When ciprofloxacin was first introduced, it was one of the first broad spectrum antibiotics which could be given as a tablet, so patients didn’t need to stay in hospital. 

'That was a major advantage but also came to be one of its major failings, because it then was over-prescribed.

‘As with all drugs, the rarer side-effects sometimes don’t become apparent until large numbers of people have been treated with them.’

He says there are few reasons why ciprofloxacin should still be prescribed by a GP except where there is no alternative, such as where the patient has an allergy to penicillin or where other antibiotics haven’t worked.

‘There is this assumption that antibiotics have no side-effects, but all drugs carry risks. I’d say that unless you need treatment, don’t take them.’

Neal Patel, pharmacist with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says serious side-effects from antibiotics are rare, but patients should be aware of the risks.

‘If patients notice anything untoward while taking antibiotics they should seek advice from their GP or pharmacist as soon as possible.’

A spokesman for Bayer, manufacturer of ciprofloxacin, said the drug has been used in millions of patients worldwide and has a well-established safety profile.

It added: ‘The product information includes information about tendinitis and tendon rupture, which are recognised but very rare adverse drug reactions.’

Judy Thomas, though, remains convinced ciprofloxacin is the most likely explanation for her ruptured Achilles tendon and pins and needles.

‘I feel very strongly that there should be more prominent warnings on patient information leaflets,’ she says. 

‘Antibiotics are something that all of us take without thinking, but we all need to be aware that they have risks as well as benefits.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2097415/Taking-antibiotics-ruptured-tendon-The-hidden-dangers-everyday-drugs-assume-harmless.html#ixzz1lvz7dbpO

New Year Cipro Goal!

OK, so the New Year has brought on a new and renewed vow to continue to strengthen my Cipro poisoned body. It has been nearly two years since I was poisoned, for the second time, by the anti-biotic called Cipro, or Ciprofloxen. I feel as though I am one of the very fortunate, as I have seen a remarkable improvement to my condition over the past 6 months.

I am now able to use and bend my toes again, and am also able to go up and down stair cases, like a normal person. I no longer feel as though my Achilles will rupture if I a wrong step, or that my knees will blow out if I waltz. I am no longer, regularly dependent upon braces on my feet, ankle and knees and can get in and out of the bath tub, without help. All of this is a huge improvement and I am eternally grateful.

So, this year, I am going to attempt to continue to strengthen by damaged body, in an attempt to return to my pre-Cipro poisoned body. One of the way that I am going to do so, is yoga, the other is walking. Being that I am a dancer, the walking must include tunes! For Christmas, “Santa” got me the coolest bluetooth stereo headphones; I absolutely love them, since there is no dangling wire. I know that this may not seem like a big deal to some, but it is for me. You see, even though I am a dancer, I am also a klutz. Before, when I used to walk with my I Pod, I had the headphones that connected to it; and as I walked, I would yank the daggone ear buds out of my ears at least four or five time on every walk. Now, with the bluetooth stereo headphones, not only can I hear music in both ears, I can actually swing my arms around to the music without pulling the headphones out of my ears.

Yes, if you ever see me walking down the road, I will be the person that everyone is pointing and laughing at! Cheers, to me!

Beware of the Antibiotic Cipro!

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 know know differently and have reported my side effects to the drug manufacturer and the FDA.

Floroquinolones Destroyed My Mother's Life!

My Beautiful Mother!

While recently reviewing my mother’s medical history, due to the ulcers on her leg, I am 100% convinced that floroquinlones have destroyed the past eighteen years of her life. Eighteen years ago my mother suffered from a torn rotator cuff. I thought that it was odd that she had a torn rotator cuff since she did not ever “overuse” her shoulders. She did not golf; play tennis or regularly life heavy objects. She was fit and in great shape. I chalked it up to a fluke. Shortly after she had surgery on her right shoulder, her left rotator cuff tore requiring a second surgery.

No one found this odd except for me. When she returned twice more for additional tears in each of her rotator cuffs, I was appalled at the lack of interest as to “why” my mother suffered from four torn rotator cuffs, which required surgery. I had no idea “why” it happened; I just knew that it was not “normal” and that there must be a “reason.”

As my mother’s shoulders continued to heal, she began to suffer from an all over the body pain and achiness that would not subside and could not be controlled with medication. She saw doctor after doctor and they treated her with many drugs including mass doses of cortisone. She was monitored closely while on the cortisone (prednisone) and was eventually weaned from mass doses, to a therapeutic dose after suffering from the side effects from the mass amounts of cortisone that she had been given.

Since she was in such chronic and excruciating pain, the doctors continued to try medications and remedies, including intravenous Remicade (Humira). She was “loosely diagnosed with first, Fibromyalgia and them poly-myalgia-rheumatic. Yes, they were convinced that she had an auto-immune disease and Rheumatic Arthritis. She was often in so much pain that I would hear here crying and chanting, in private, praying for relief from the pain.

I remember her trying to describe the pain, in her feet, to me. She said that they felt as though they were on fire; like she was walking on broken glass; that even the air hurt her feet so badly that she could hardly breathe. It wasn’t until I suffered the same pain in my feet ,that I realized that what she was describing was floroquinolone poisoning.

I immediately asked her if she had taken Cipro; of course she had, many, many times; and Levaquinn and Avelox, for years and years. I expressed my theory and of course was met with doubt. She cannot even fathom that it is possible that her entire condition was not only caused by floroquinolones, but exasperated by the continual usage of them, combined with her cortisone treatment.

It was the ulcers on leg that led me to her medical records and the confirmation that she has been prescribed all of these antibiotics throughout this slow and painful destruction of her life. I am 100% convinced that this has been the cause of all of her pain and suffering. I literally took 6 bottles of Levaquinn out of her medicine cabinet the last time that I was there. I have called her doctor and told him of my suspicions. After almost causing her death, from a near heart attack while on Avelox, they have finally listed floroquinolones as an “allergy” on her chart.

I do not know how I will ever “prove” all of this, but what I do know, is that it is a crime that not once, has a medical professional ever even considered that her rapid and painful deterioration might have been caused by one of their “cures.” The over use of these drugs, is criminal.

I was very lucky that it only took me one ruptured tendon in my foot and 15 months of rehabilitation from crippling pain to realize that my conditions were due to Cipro, so fortunately I will not suffer her fate. I am so infuriated that it has stolen my mother's life and I shall continue with my crusade to warn others. 

Check Out This Video Exposing Floroquinolone Damage

Finally a report that recognizes the potential dangers of floroquinolones: Cipro, Avelox and Levaquinn  are among the front runners of this class of antibiotics. I have personally been floxed by Cipro on two occasions. I, like many, did not even have a clue the first time that i was floxed. I was given Ciprofloxcin for a urinary track infection. On the fourth day of my treatment, I ruptured a tendon in my big toe while dancing. I heard and felt the "Pop" and wondered what on earth had happened. I continued to take my prescription of Cipro without ever realizing that it was what had caused my tendon rupture.

Fast forward eleven months; my ruptured tendon was finally healed. I was "healthy" for exactly five weeks before I contracted another UTI. Once again I was prescribed Cipro. I willingly took the prescribed drug as it had alleviated my bladder infection the year before. On the second day of ingesting Cipro, upon awaking, I went to step out of bed and nearly collapsed onto the floor. My feet felt as though they were on fire and that I was stepping on broken glass. I could not bend my toes, ankles, knees or hips. The pain was excruciating and I needed assistance just to walk to the bathroom.

I did not know what was wrong with me and I continued taking the Cipro. It wasn't until the following day that the pain intensified so much that I began to wonder if the Cipro was causing blood clots or some other reason for the pain. This sent me to the internet where I saw the "Black Box Warning." I immediately stopped taking the Cipro and called my doctor.

I began a fifteen month journey full of pain and frustration. The amount of people that I have met who have suffered from the same symptoms as I have, are staggering. The most staggering realization of all is that very few of them correlated their pain and suffering to the antibiotic. It is my belief that the supposed 1% of people affected by these antibiotics is grossly under-reported simply do to the fact that affected people simply cannot even begin to imagine that they have been crippled by an antibiotic that was intended to cure them.
The below video is one of the first videos that I have seen that acknowledges the possible dangers of floroquinolones.

Healthy Living is a Plus!

When you live in chronic pain you may often be viewed as a whiner, complainer, or hypochondriac. Having lived through the excruciating pain caused by Cipro, I can totally relate with people that have and live with chronic pain. Being sympathetic to a person with intangible pain can often be a difficult task for family members, friends and co-workers. They seem to think if they cannot see it, then it must not hurt. Life for the person in chronic pain is not only difficult from the physical aspect, but the emotional one as well. Having your life stolen from you is frightening, devastating and frustrating. There are many reasons that people live in chronic pain, mine just happened to result from taking an antibiotic.

I think that regardless of the reason, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to take care of yourself. Devise a health plan and stick to it. Exercise as much as you possibly can, eat well, get plenty of rest. Healthy living will probably not cure your pain, but it will help to prevent other health issues that may arise from an unhealthy lifestyle. There are many things that we all can do to improve our overall health.

Healthy living literally means taking care of yourself; body, mind and spirit. The last thing that any of us that live in chronic pain needs is to have any other health issue crop up and cause additional health issues.

Physical Therapy Documentation Going Paperless!

I suppose that I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to certain things. I know that when I go to the doctor, I like to see my chart and I like to see what is “literally” written down on the pages; in my chart. I do admit that since more and more doctors dictate their notes into a small recorder, and then have them transcribed, they are much easier to read, type written, than in the doctors own, often difficult to read penmanship.

I imagine that it is safe to say that having notes typed vs written is probably a more efficient and accurate way of keeping patients charts, with less room for error. I can also appreciate the value of simply going to a computer, typing in a patient’s name and accessing their entire history with just a few clicks of a mouse. I know for many people, with ongoing medical conditions, their charts can become quite large and cumbersome. Keeping track of physical therapy documentation is crucial to a recovering patient. I can understand how recording a patient’s exercises and treatments in a chronological chart or list would be beneficial, and viewing that information on a handheld computer would make that task much more efficient and accurate.

So, despite my “old fashioned” ways, I do see the value in going high tech and paperless; not only for the doctor’s sake, but for the sake of the patient as well. The doctors can record notes quicker and in more detail, resulting in more accurate documentation with easier access; as a bonus, I suppose it will inadvertently help to save our forests and landfills as well.

Pain Killers Due To Cipro Side Effects

If it were only this simple!

For many of us that have been adversely affected by the side effects of a floroquinolone, (Cipro, Avelox or Levaquin), the muscle, joint and tendon pain can often lead to drug abuse. Drug abuse can occur in many different ways; one can take too many over the counter or prescription pain relievers or people in constant chronic pain may even turn to other illegal substances; desperately seeking relief. Living in so much pain that every step you take brings you to tears is physically and emotionally draining.

I remember the beginning of my second Cipro poisoning; the pain in my feet alone made me wish that I would just die. I did not want to live if I had to suffer that pain every day. Without any advice from medical doctors and no information as to whether or not the pain would ever go away, I was devastated and desperate. I was definitely on the borderline of over using Ibuprofen. I was taking 800 mg every six hours, around the clock. Occasionally, I just could not hold out and took them before the six hour mark approached. This over the counter medication has a plethora of its own side effects and I if am lucky I have not caused any permanent damage to any of my organs.

I can understand how chronic pain can often lead to drug abuse; whether it is an illegal substance or a prescribed medication, doesn’t really matter. Fortunately for me, my pain did begin to subside after several months, allowing me to see a small light, at the end of a very long tunnel, as opposed to the inside of a drug abuse rehab center. I am sure that many, many desperate people turn to addictive pain killers when they are faced with extreme, chronic pain, the question is if they are addicted to pain killers, how will they know if their pain has subsided and will they need drug abuse rehab?

What an utter and complete mess a federally approved antibiotic can cause.

Dancers': Beware of the Antibiotic Cipro

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 know know differently and have reported my side effects to the drug manufacturer and the FDA.

Cipro Damaged; Good Nutrition Cannot Hurt

Good nutrition is extremely important for those of us that have been “floxed,” “poisoned’” or whatever other term that the medical doctors choose to apply to our side effects from floroquinolones. While I am not very pleased with the fact that Cipro has caused me great pain for a total of 26 months, I DO count my blessings that I have seen quite an improvement over the past few months and am now able to walk and dance with much less pain. I know that there are others out there that are much less fortunate.

I do attribute a portion of my recovery upon the many suggestions from my chiropractor. He recommended probiotics and a plethora of supplements to me shortly after I was floxed. I am trying to use more organic products and am continually trying to eat a well-balanced diet while also supplementing the vitamins and minerals that may help me to regain what the Cipro destroyed.

I try to stay hydrated and nourished while traveling and competing at dance events. I always have a bottle of water, with minerals, and a protein bar with me. I am not sure whether the exercise, nutrition or just my plain old stubbornness has gotten me as far as I am in the healing process, but whatever it is, I am grateful to be walking again. Hobbling around like a 95 year old woman in excruciating pain is no fun. It is a crime that so many people suffer from the side effects of these antibiotics.  

It truly amazes and disgusts me that taking an antibiotic for such a short period of time (3 days) can have such a long term effect on your body. It has now been 7 months since I was floxed by Cipro and I can honestly say that I am doing much better, however the continual up and down of the muscle and tendon inflammation and pain is really depressing.

As a competing dancer the foot issues are the most troublesome. Every time that I feel as though I am able to actually "Dance" I suffer for it for days. The balls of my feet and my toes still haven't recovered from my Trick or Treating escapade and I have another competition in three weeks! The big toe on my right foot just isn't happy. I felt a slight pop underneath it last night while I was dancing. Wonder how long this will last.

Ugh, how do you send your body from foot to foot when it is difficult to just put your foot on the floor and land on it.

My question and concern is: Just how far can I push myself through the pain and am I just how much risk am I taking by doing so. I can dance through the pain, but I am terrified of a tendon rupture. Damn those pharmaceutical companies that ignore all of the people that they have injured and just continue to do so!!

Typically when I compete, it is at 8:00 am, with warm ups at 7:00 am. Luckily at this competition we didn't need to be in the ballroom until 9:30, which was a huge relief. I slept well and woke up feeling OK. I had actually managed to finish sewing and stoning my new costume and I thought that it was going to be a great day. Wrong!

By the time that I got to the ballroom, I had that achy, fevery feeling, so I took an Ibuprofen. We had also decided to delay my daily dose of Sprycel (Dasatinib) until later in the day. Joe actually came up with this brilliant theory; if I take Sprycel at my “normal” time, 10:00 am; I usually start feeling crappy around 3:00 pm, about five hours after I take it. Usually, I start feeling better around 9 or 10 pm; so, he suggested that I try to start taking it at 10:00 pm, right before I go to bed, that way I would sleep through the “yucky” part. Worth a try, right?

Anyway, back to the ballroom; besides feeling a bit achy and extremely tired, I realized that I had left my brain back in bed, still sound asleep. I was present in body, but not in mind. It was the strangest feeling; it was as though my head was completely vacant .I actually felt a bit like I feel when I need a shot of Neupogen. The only other time that I have experienced that vacant-ness was when I was actually in the hospital going through chemotherapy. I was very odd and disconcerting.

I seemed to do alright during warm up’s, despite not having a brain and I remember walking out onto the floor for our first dance. I remember hearing the music, starting the dance and then all I remember was turning and turning and turning, thinking why in the world isn’t he picking up my hip! I knew that I must have blown out of the routine, yet I hadn’t a clue of when or where. Somehow, being the Pro that Joe is, he managed to pick me up, get us back into the routine and finish the dance with no one, the wiser. I apologized profusely and wondered how the rest of the day was going to play out. It was not a great start to the morning!

The next dance is a Polka, which ought to get the nerves out and wake me up, right? Nope, just as vacant as the last dance but fortunately I only had one mis-step and it was an easy, no-brainer fix. The day continued on this way for another two dances; a friend of mine then offered me a sip of that five hour energy stuff in a small bottle. I was a bit reluctant so I only took a small sip after making sure that there was no grapefruit in it.

Waltz was our next dance. It began with the same empty brain, but somewhere near the end I actually felt like myself. I knew where I was and I knew what I was doing. It was a miracle; a short lived miracle, but a miracle nonetheless. The clarity came about quite suddenly and left just as quickly. I spent the remaining part of the competition and the rest of the entire day in a foggy, I just don’t feel good, daze.

Now, for the topper of the entire day; After the competition, I approached one of my judges to ask for constructive criticism. I expected some sort of dance related tip, but instead, she asked me; “What in the world is up with those black panties???” Great, right?

Now, let me explain; if you remember, I had previously bought material and a TON of rhinestones, a bathing suit pattern and some elastic. I put my imagination to work and made my own costume. The short skirt was almost to my knees so I thought that it was long enough to NOT show my panties. It actually has a full bathing suit/body suit underneath the outer costume, so there was absolutely no reason for my “black dance panties” anyways; I had actually put them on without even thinking about it, as I had worn them in all of my other previous competitions.

As it turns out, the bottom couple of inches of the black, dance panties were sticking out below the leg of the orange ( in recognition of leukemia), body suit. Mind you, I had previously asked four different people if my skirt was too short, or went up to high when I turned. “Did everything look ok?” Every one of them said, “No, it didn’t go up to high and everything looks just fine.”

Thanks guys, for NOT mentioning the black panties!!  I am now, and forever will be; “The Black Panty Girl!” A perfect ending to a not so perfect day! It seems as though I gave many dancers’ something to talk about for the entire weekend.

Despite my complete out of body experience I finished second overall; more importantly I danced better than I did at my last competition and managed to compete in all eight dances instead of only five. Nowhere to go but up, right?

Be sure to watch for the Black Panties!!