Cipro and terrible side effects

I've had Cipro several times and never experienced any of those; Flagyl is my nemesis. I would phone your doc ASAP as it does not sound good at all.

The symptoms you describe sound more like an infection... Maybe a timing coincidence?

Gin

Those are known to be possible side effects of cipro. I have never had those issues but others have reported them.

However if you stopped taking cipro and still have the side effects, you may have an infection or something else.

What kind of infection and why would the cipro have caused the infection?

Nobody said cipro would have caused the infection, although it weakens resistance to viral and fungal infections by killing bacteria. These microrganisms are already in your body, it is the altering of bacterial populations that causes possible issues. But who knows what the infection is or what caused it? It's speculation. These symptoms should have abated with the stoppage of cipro and if they did not, something else is causing them. You could have a virus. When you take antibiotics you can become prone to viral and fungal infections. Usually this happens over a longer period of time using the cipro, however. It's happened to me but only after long periods taking high dosages, and what happened was yeast infections and warts, different but also caused by fungi and viruses.

Does any/everyone take a probiotic every time they are placed on antibiotics? My internist has told me to do so. Just wondering.

Ceeeceee,

I have been told probiotics are pointless to be on if you are treating pouchitis with antibiotics, because they kill the probiotics. However it should be noted that most probiotics stay in your gut and are not systemically absorbed, whereas most antibiotics, and certainly cipro, are systemically absorbed. So I don't know if you are implying that probiotics would help any with restoring bacterial balance outside the gut, but as far I know they do not.

Some docs suggest probiotics with (and after) antibiotics, and others suggest otherwise. It seems like they're all just guessing. Different antibiotics will have different impact on the various bacteria in the particular probiotic you are considering; some will probably survive the antibiotic onslaught.

I choose to continue the probiotic. It seems clear that the only organ it can harm is my wallet.

I agree with what others have written regarding shnwilkins' experience. It's probably not Cipro side effects, and if it is they will certainly go away.

I got the joint and tendon pain with the cipro although I had had no idea that the cipro was causing it until I came here. I did I 1 yr run on it due to pouch/necrosis based infected cysts.
In that period I started having Achiles tendonitis and the severe, chronic hip pain that has never gone away since then.
I also used to get nausea and headaches but was told that it was not the cipro but the infections. (!)
In France they systematically give you brewer's yeast with the antibiotics and are not starting to order probiotics to be taken in between doses (at least 4hrs they say).
I know that my pouch feels better with them rather than without but I also eat a probiotic yoghurt 2xs/day when on them or my gut seems to slow to a halt.
Sharon

i am with scott on this one..maybe a guess on drs part when they say take probiotics when taking antibiotics.. it is worth the cost to me rather play safe than sorry when it comes to dealing with the bad bacteria..however,it was suggested to leave between 2 to 4 hours in between..i leave more time still probiotics in morning antibiotic at night..again just trying to cover the bases..

In my mind, taking S. boulardii with antibiotics makes sense because it retards C. diff growth. Most probiotics are not useful for C. diff, and if C. diff is what you are worried about with antibiotics, then you should target your approach.

Still, there is no harm, and may be some gain by using probiotics with antibiotics. I just don't think the data is there supporting it. If anyone's got some, I'd love to see it.

Jan

I'm guessing we'll never get the data, Jan. Antibiotic usage is too variable to conduct a meaningful clinical trial, I think.

I agree completely about S. Boulardi, since the antibiotics don't kill it.