After effects of heavy antibiotics

Posted by bborth @bborth, Oct 4, 2019

Just curious if anyone out there has had side effects that linger after stopping antibiotics. I had Roux En Y surgery a month ago, and it went as planned until I came down with an infection 9 days later. This landed me back in the hospital for 3 nights as they started me on both Cipro and Flagyl. My fever and white blood count came down thankfully, and they of course wanted me to be on what I learned were high doses of both antibiotics for 10 days. I stopped the medication 5 days ago, but really feel some after effects......balance is off, cognitive issues, brain fog, and lethargy. It seems that these medications can eventually affect the central nervous system and do some nasty things. This is a different feeling that the post surgery malaise I had. Starting to worry about this aspect of the recovery now. Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you!

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@bborth - Welcome to Connect! You are not alone in having side effects from antibiotics. Cipro belongs to a group called fluoroquinolones. It is now known to occasionally cause serious side effects- musculoskeletal such as Achilles’ tendon rupture, central nervous system and vascular.
Cipro should only be used in serious bacterial infections- such as yours- where it works very well.
I have taken it many times until I got inflammation of the Achilles’ tendons. Flagyl can also cause some nervous system side effects.
Do you have a primary care physician who can evaluate you for neurological problems?

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Yes, and I will see him in 9 days. I am also seeing my surgeon tomorrow as a follow up, and texted him yesterday about wanting to discuss the side effects I am experiencing after taking that combination of antibiotics. What did you experience with Flagyl in regard to nervous system side effects? Being so lethargic and out of sorts is really distressing for a guy who generally is very active. Like my thinking is slowed down by 50% or so.

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@bborth

Yes, and I will see him in 9 days. I am also seeing my surgeon tomorrow as a follow up, and texted him yesterday about wanting to discuss the side effects I am experiencing after taking that combination of antibiotics. What did you experience with Flagyl in regard to nervous system side effects? Being so lethargic and out of sorts is really distressing for a guy who generally is very active. Like my thinking is slowed down by 50% or so.

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@bborth - I have not had any nervous system side effects with Flagyl. However, I have taken it often for GI infections and have seen the warnings.
Nowadays, I read all info on medications I’m given. I have a tendency to experience many side effects. Could you please let us know what your doctors found after your visits? Remember also that you had a serious infection soon after major abdominal surgery - even if the infection is treated, your body still have to catch up. Hope you get back to normal soon.

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Cannot believe that these very dangerous drugs are still on the market! They almost killed me 10 years ago! And doctors still prescribe them in industrial quantities not taking sex, age & weight into consideration! This is criminal! So many of my friends have ended up with impossible To get rid of C-difficile near death! So few doctors tell us to take probiotics at the same time to protect our intestinal flora so we end up with IBS as well! You take these broad spectrum at your own perils. Wuinolones are the worst! I found out that all I need (& I realize that can vary from person to person..) is straight penicillin 1 kind of pills for one week to cure my diverticulitis attack! They always used to prescribe one kind of pills why 2 now?
I am a very balanced person yet Cipro with Amox made me suicidal! Protect yourself!

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Basically I need to take a powerful probiotic and some B12 in extra quantity. He did say that Flagyl can break the blood/brain barrier thus affecting the CNS. I just wish I was told that prior to being given this. Mainly it takes time though to get out of the system and for your gut to balance things back out. I am also doing epsom foot baths now which I guess can draw the toxins out of your body. I did my first one last night and the water actually turned brown.

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@bborth

Basically I need to take a powerful probiotic and some B12 in extra quantity. He did say that Flagyl can break the blood/brain barrier thus affecting the CNS. I just wish I was told that prior to being given this. Mainly it takes time though to get out of the system and for your gut to balance things back out. I am also doing epsom foot baths now which I guess can draw the toxins out of your body. I did my first one last night and the water actually turned brown.

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@bborth - Thanks for getting back! I’m glad you are taking treatments to get you back to normal. It is scary to see what antibiotics can do. Hang in there!

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@astaingegerdm

@bborth - Welcome to Connect! You are not alone in having side effects from antibiotics. Cipro belongs to a group called fluoroquinolones. It is now known to occasionally cause serious side effects- musculoskeletal such as Achilles’ tendon rupture, central nervous system and vascular.
Cipro should only be used in serious bacterial infections- such as yours- where it works very well.
I have taken it many times until I got inflammation of the Achilles’ tendons. Flagyl can also cause some nervous system side effects.
Do you have a primary care physician who can evaluate you for neurological problems?

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Because of Cipro am having a severe condition for the last 6 months in my nervous system. I appreciate if someone will advice me how to reverse the symptoms or where to go
Thanks in advance

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Cipro is a very dangerous antibiotic! It almost killed me. Would never take it again. Side effects are well known yet Doctors keep on prescribing them. Stopping antibiotics before the end of the treatment according to what we are told can bring back the infection & even make it worst, We can also develop an infection many days after stopping the treatment. Doctors also prescribe the same strength to a 200 pound man & a 100 pound woman which is wrong. The broad spectrum antibiotics like Cipro should be reserved for infections like MSRA! No quinolones antibiotics for me!😡They can also give you c-difficile which can kill you or be almost impossible to get riff of
Such poor prescribing!

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@musharbek

Because of Cipro am having a severe condition for the last 6 months in my nervous system. I appreciate if someone will advice me how to reverse the symptoms or where to go
Thanks in advance

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What are your symptoms exactly? And how long were you taking the cipro which started all this? I am 6 days out from stopping my antibiotics, and the doctor fully admitted that these can mess up your CNS. For me it is brain fog and balance issues. I am a bit better (maybe 10%) today than I have been, so hoping that is a good sign. I was told to take B12 liquid and probiotics. Other than that is takes time to run the course. It is anxiety provoking for me though as to not know when this will lessen to the point where I can start going back to work again. Am thinking about a functional medicine doctor at some point if this doesn't improve much soon. Or accupuncture possibly.

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@bborth

What are your symptoms exactly? And how long were you taking the cipro which started all this? I am 6 days out from stopping my antibiotics, and the doctor fully admitted that these can mess up your CNS. For me it is brain fog and balance issues. I am a bit better (maybe 10%) today than I have been, so hoping that is a good sign. I was told to take B12 liquid and probiotics. Other than that is takes time to run the course. It is anxiety provoking for me though as to not know when this will lessen to the point where I can start going back to work again. Am thinking about a functional medicine doctor at some point if this doesn't improve much soon. Or accupuncture possibly.

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Thanks dear for the reply,

I started taking first Zinnat 500 first course, it didn’t work, so The doctor described augmentin and It didn’t work and finally he described Cipra and after the second day (till today)
Am facing the following problems:
Anxiety, short in breathing, swallowing difficulties, face half paralyzed. Hot drinks that contains caffeine and exercises will make my condition worse.
Am taking atarax to reduce the anxiety, not able to function my life normally any more. I used to work out 2 hours per day now I can’t work out 30 minutes with low performance.
Started in May 2019 till today, what is your advice to me dear I need a help
Thanks again

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