Ciprofloxacin

Post by **tex** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 12:19 pm

As many of you know, selecting an antibiotic (when we need one) is not an easy task, since many (maybe most) of them tend to cause an MC flare, at least for many of us. The only antibiotics that I am aware of that never cause an MC flare for anyone, is the fluoroquinolones, of which Cipro is the most commonly used. But Cipro (ciprofloxacin) contains numerous black box warnings imposed by the FDA. Nevertheless, Cipro is always my personal choice for any infection that it should be able to handle. I've never had a problem with it, and I've often wondered if I'm just lucky, or there might be a reason why. Here are some of the known risks:

* Caution: Note that the fluoroquinolones have been shown to carry a risk of causing tendonitis, and they can significantly increase the risk of suffering from a torn ligament. Even more importantly, they have also been shown to cause nerve damage in the form of peripheral neuropathy. And more recently, this group of drugs has been shown to be associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of retinal detachment. Please research all the risks before considering taking any antibiotics in this group, because the risks are real.

Tinnitus is another risk that should be considered if a fluoroquinolone is prescribed. These antibiotics can either cause tinnitus to develop, or make it worse if it is already present.

I may have found a possible reason in one of Dr. Carolyn Dean's blogs. She maintains that the tendonitis and tendon-damage risk may be caused by taking a fluoroquinolone while having a magnesium deficienency. She points out that the fluoroquinolones severely deplete magnesium, which then causes the increased risk of damage. If that's true, it's certainly possible that the other risks attributed to the fluoruquinolones may also be due to magnesium deficiency, (because they are known symptoms of magnesium deficiency). Here's a link to her blog on the subject:

Magnesium Deficiency Can Cause Cipro Damage

Make your own decisions on this, but so far at least, Cipro has been very kind to me, despite the fact that I have to practically arm wrestle my doctor in order to get him to write a prescription for it. My dentist, on the other hand, never hesitates to call in a prescription for me if I request one, bless her heart.

Tex

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 5:28 pm

Tex, in my town it is easier to get an antibiotic for your dog and very difficult to get an antibiotic for a human.

Harmony33 · Post by **Harmony33** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 8:12 pm

Tex,

I had to take Cipro and Flagyl in December for a bacterial infection of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa that they suspected was causing the D—the same week that I was actually diagnosed with LC. My GI Doc told me to finish the antibiotic, and give myself a week and take some probiotics before starting the Budesonide in January or I would be at high risk for a CDiff infection. Yikes!

I developed tinnitus, which I suspect is from the Cipro. It is tormenting. My PCP is going to refer me to an ear, nose and throat specialist, but in the meantime, has anyone had experience with this? Will it go away on its own?

Post by **tex** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 9:17 pm

If the Cipro caused the tinnitus it sometimes resolves when the treatment is ended. But if it's still going on now it's not likely to stop at this point. I believe another member mentioned that her hearing improved after she took magnesium for a while, but I don't remember who it was, unfortunately.

Tex

Harmony33 · Post by **Harmony33** » Mon Apr 15, 2019 11:06 am

Update: the ENT Doc diagnosed Intracranial Hypertension, of which the pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom, along with pounding headaches. She believes it was not caused by Cipro, but instead by Budesonide, as a rare, but published side effect. It might go away eventually.