Ciprofloxacin can cause long term neurological and connective tissue problems?

Question

alright ill elaborate on this, ive had some really major problems since i took Cipro, basically a good deal of the symptoms are much like MS but all test show that im ok, my leg and arm have been weak for four months i have muscles twitches and spasms, pain in joints deterioration of retina (this has stopped but left me with a ton of vitreous floaters that i will always have) there was no reason for this or any of it, i also become extremely weak just out of nowhere and have to lay still for a good hour,vibrations in my legs, extreme sensitivity to caffene...the list could go on, there is no apparent cause its just a mystery, but i read about cipro and heard that theres people who have had this problem as well and it last sometimes permanently, im goin to the doc on friday to talk to him about it but im curious to see if anyone on here with any medical knowledge could explain how this antibiotic could or could not do this to a person. just trying to get to the bottom of things here

Answer 1

I had not heard of this but I googled it for you and found this:
http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=24773
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/4072/e/1/T/CFIDS_FM/

Sounds like you are not alone! The two links above give different guesses as to why Cipro and other fluoroquinolones may cause these side effects. It does say Cipro is a CNS stimulant and the effects can be permanent if taken for a long time. How long were you on it? It doesn't seem there is a definitive answer other than there is a link and the longer you take it, the higher the risk.

I found this link here with a discussion group with others who have had bad effects from Cipro and other fluoroquinolones:

http://www.drugvictims.org/index.html

Lots of links here:
http://www.geocities.com/quinolones/

Answer 2

you've got to understand. antibiotics are no play medication. they are toxic. most people don't understand that. and cipro is an extremely strong medication. the bacteria that live in you are cells. when you kill the bacteria cells, never mistake that you are not killing your own as well. most antibiotics that are bacteriocidal are violent in the way they work. even altering dna sometimes. it's not like asprin. they are serious meds. i'd have to look it up but i believe ciprofloxacin is the antibiotic used to treat anthrax.

Answer 3

http://www.healthsquare.com/pdrfg/pd/monos/cipro.htm this link should get you started if it is a common enought thing they may have a support group out there somewhere