My husband is now under the care of Dr Bo Shen at CC for his pouchitis. He put him on Cipro, Tindemax, Xifaxan and ASA suppositories...full court press to try and get him in remission. Once he stopped the Cipro and Tindemax, he went right back to feeling lousy. How long do people stay on Cipro? What are the side effects of long term use?

Thanks
Judy

I've been on Cipro for about ... 2 years now. The most common long-term side effects are tendon pain and possible tendon rupture. Short-term that I've experienced- nausea, migraine headaches, sleepiness, joint pain.
Here's a good link to the drug info
Cipro drug info

I have been on Cipro for 6 months. It was starting to become somewhat less effective so I switched to Augmentin. My GI explained to me that several of his patients need to stay on Cipro long term because as soon as they stop taking it, the pouchitis returns. The bottom line is that if the Cipro keeps the pouchitis away and does not cause any side effects(which is most typical), then there is nothing wrong with staying on the Cipro long term. Just be aware of potential side effects. He also said that sometimes rotating antibitoics when one becomes less effective can work.

I recently have pouchitis off and on. My Dr always perscribes flagyl. Don't like it. Makes me feel nauseous, listless, and generally not me.
Never have been put on cipro????

I took flagyl when I had UC. It made me feel funny and it gave me tingling in my extremities. SO I stopped ASAP.

Maybe next time ask your doc to switch to Cipro. They appear to similarly effective in the treatment of pouchitis.

I have been on cipro and flagyl for 4 months now, trying to wean off them and hope that the pouchitis doesn't come back.

How about 12 years? I started taking cipro back in 1995 for pouchitis and have been taking it since then almost continuously at 1000 mg per day. Liver has not quit yet! I do rotate off onto a different antibiotic every couple months.

I have no side effects other than sensitivity to sunlight and a funky looking tongue.

BTW there is another thread on this topic.

Does Cipro have a negative effect on the liver?

Keith Pouch,

The answer to your question is a resounding "unknown" and probably varies for each individual depending on what other potentially bad stuff you are putting into your body (e.g. beer, cigarettes, illegal drugs, etc) and how long you have taken cipro. I asked my gastroenterologist, who is one of the best if not the best in New York City, and his answer to my question about long term liver damage from taking antiobiotics in general and cipro in particular was to tell me that if I was not a big drinker, which I am not, I would lessen any such potential damage.

My GI also said to me, "you are the guinea pig", with respect to this question. We are all lab rats to a certain extent because the impacts of long term usage of these drugs in conjunction with treatment of pouchitis has not really been studied yet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DJBHusky,

HI I suffered months taking Bentyl, Cipro, Metrazonidal, Flagyl.....All of these made me feel wierd and tingly. My surgeon told me about VSL3. It is a probiotic that builds good flora in the gut and pouch. Check it out on VSL3.com. Today I am totally antibiotic free!!!!
No more pills. I take the VSL3 twice a day. The good bacteria has kept everything in check.
Best thing ever.