Cipro and health problems

Sadly, I am just another case among many it seems. I am a 26 year old female who was prescribed ciprofloxacin for a UTI at my urgent care center. I have health problems to begin with and did not want any more. You know, I’ve had to take all kinds of meds over the years, including harsh ones, but it was never so bad as to prompt me to write comments on the internet about it. What does that say about Cipro? When I got home from the doctor I read the paper before swallowing the pill, which included the description of side effects. Unfortunately, it did not include the truth about what could happen to you while even taking this drug for a short time. If there had been some kind of warning about the strength and potential risk of taking this drug, I most likely would have steered clear from it since I am sensitive to medications and already suffering. The paper led me to believe false information, listing some common antibiotic side effects, and I ended up starting treatment. Some of the negative effects I experienced while on this medication for only 2 days were: severe muscle/overall body weakness, difficulty breathing, fatigue, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness, mild carpal tunnel pain, slight vision change, stiffness, pain, an overall feeling of terrible heaviness, including of the chest, and possible heart palpitations. It felt like the medication was damaging my body; like it was eating away at my muscles or something. I've never had chemotherapy before, but some how that's how I would imagine it. It felt like it was doing damage to every cell in my body. The worst part is the weakness and altered thinking right now. I hope these symptoms go away completely. I felt better after quitting the drug, but not completely. I am just thankful for my hope in Jesus Christ. Even if things don't improve, I am comforted that He cares for me. I am going to be praying for this terrible situation where doctors are just handing this out for common problems without giving proper warning. May fewer and fewer people have to suffer because of Cipro and this class of drugs. I am also going to report this to the FDA and hopefully to my doctor’s office. I would like to see clear and extensive warnings on this drug, if not for it to be taken off the market. My personal advice to any one who is currently on this medicine and experiencing side effects would be to: drink milk or eat other dairy products to lessen the symptoms. It seemed to temporarily help me.

In April 2006, I began urinating blood every time I did something strenuous. After seeing many specialists and receiving CT scans and Ultrasounds on abdominal area and testicals my Dr. wrote the symptoms off as a urinary tract infection. He prescribed Cipro, I took the drug for 2.5 days and have not been the same since(was supposed to take the drug for ten days). Now December, I have had severe gut-wrenching pain in my left side, stomach and back. This pain is that of passing kidney stones every day, still peeing blood and waking up with so much pain that I can barely move. I was very much into weightlifting, now I can barely lift my kids, (55, 40 and 35 lbs.) I have had every test known to man and the Dr.'s have no idea what is wrong with me. Just coincidence that this all started after taking Cipro? I have no choice after reading the testimonies on this drug, that this has added to the health problems in my own life. I too will tell all my Dr.'s from this point on that I'm allergic to Cipro and Levaquin. Do yourself a favor and stop taking this drug before you have similar or worse health issues.