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Beware - Ciproflacacin antibiotics can cause permanent damage

Posted by Nazir Khan @nukhan, Feb 16, 2025

In 2017, I took Cipro for just five days to treat a simple UTI. Since then, my quality of life has been steadily deteriorating. Over the past seven years, my condition has worsened to the point where I can barely walk, and I will soon need a wheelchair.

I have tried countless supplements, therapies, and remedies, including LDN, major dietary changes (eliminating sugar, wheat, dairy products, processed foods, bakery items, and vegetable seed oils), and intermittent fasting for extended periods. Despite all these efforts, I have found no relief.

The best way to describe my current condition is that the soles of my feet are completely numb, with a constant sensation of poor blood circulation, tingling, and severe pain. The deterioration has been progressive, and my feet have lost muscle mass. The soles now have an extremely thin layer of skin, making every step excruciatingly painful and highly sensitive to touch.

When I attempt to walk, even for a few steps, it feels as if I am walking directly on my bones, with no protective cushioning underneath. At this point, I can barely manage to walk from my bed to the bathroom.

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carol1024 | @carol1024 | Jun 29 7:18am

I have the same issue from chemo therapy treatments. Do you have any back issues? That can also cause neuropathy in feet. I have found that vicks vapor rub helps. I also have to wear compression socks. I buy the large and it's so much easier to walk. I also order this cream from Dermavitality. They make products for cancer patients. You can just go to the website. I soak my feet in really cool water too. I put a little ice in to keep it on the cool side. Hope you find some relief soon.

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andyou1 | @andyou1 | Aug 5 1:57pm

I had to visit the ER due to a prostate infection in 2008 and was given generic Cipro in IV form. I started having some issues right after that but in 2009 I had rectal bleeding and was given generic Cipro in pill form then it really got bad. Severe neuropathy, joint pain everywhere, brain fog, irritable, the list goes on. I has a skin biopsy and it was determined that I have small fiber neuropathy. 18 years later, 20+ doctors I have auto-immune problems, joint problems, there are days when I use a cane and there are good days. I have to say it has gotten slowly better. for several years I would just lay in bed but now I exercise a little although I won't lie its very painful, but I do housework and I'm back to playing my guitar. I tried to sue the company. I sent all the paperwork to a law firm, but in the state (WI) that I lived in at that time, you could not sue generic companies for their product.

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kriskat | @kriskat | Aug 6 1:32am
In reply to @paulsxm "My urologist prescribed a 7 day (14 tablets @ 500mg) intake of Ciprofloxacine as well as..." + (show)
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My urologist prescribed a 7 day (14 tablets @ 500mg) intake of Ciprofloxacine as well as a 30 day intake of Tamsulosine (30 tablets @ 0.4mg) to treat a prostatitis. After 2 days I started feeling pain in my right foot, dismissed it at the time, thinking I may have stepped wrong somewhere. On the 3rd day the pain became so unbearable that I could not walk anymore. Stopped taking the Ciprofloxacine right away. It now looks like I have an acute inflammation of the Plantar Fascia (located in the sole of the foot). Notified my urologist who told me to stop using Ciprofloxacine immediately and pay him a visit in 3 days for a follow up. Now in day 4, can only move with help of crutches. Hope that this inflammation will go away soon. Tendon inflammation seems to be a known side effect of this drug , more frequent occurring when you are over 60 (I am 73). Just want to let others know about my not so good experience with this specific antibiotics. Will follow up to report about the time line of this ordeal.

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@paulsxm I can confirm the possible tendon problems with CIPRO. My husband’s urologist just prescribed it for a UTI and said that it is known to cause Achilles tendon problems but that it’s “highly unlikely”. He DID mention it and asked that if there were any problems to contact him right away. Thank you for sharing this info. I hope your pain is only temporary, along with the UTI. Your positive attitude will surely help.

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uisge | @uisge | Aug 6 12:38pm
In reply to @kriskat "@paulsxm I can confirm the possible tendon problems with CIPRO. My husband’s urologist just prescribed it..." + (show)
Profile picture for kriskat @kriskat

@paulsxm I can confirm the possible tendon problems with CIPRO. My husband’s urologist just prescribed it for a UTI and said that it is known to cause Achilles tendon problems but that it’s “highly unlikely”. He DID mention it and asked that if there were any problems to contact him right away. Thank you for sharing this info. I hope your pain is only temporary, along with the UTI. Your positive attitude will surely help.

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@kriskat Fluoroquinolones are very effective antibiotics, however, (and this is a mighty big 'however'), the have been found to do so much damage to some people. Not everyone experiences a bad side effect from them, but many do.
If you do a quick web-search on Fluoroquinolone damage, you'll probably be shocked- the FDA finally required a Black Box Warning on them, both brand and generic. You can also search this site under fluoroquinolones. Common names are: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro); Levofloxacin (Levaquin); Moxifloxacin (Avelox); and Ofloxacin (Floxin)

Doctors should advise their patients about the problems, take everything into consideration before prescribing, but sadly some don't. And the side-effects don't always show up right away.

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ktbs | @ktbs | Aug 7 6:52am

Same thing happened to me with Cipro . I feel your frustration and pain.

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uisge | @uisge | Aug 8 11:53am

Here's a nasty surprise - Clindamycin can cause the same tendon problems. and it's not as rare as 'they' say.

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katherinac | @katherinac | Aug 8 4:18pm

I'm sorry that this has happened to people but it makes me angry that the FDA took so long to recognize that it Really does occur! I'm another patient that has tendon damage to my left foot, had a boot on it, was in the hospital and rehab since I also have tremors that are not controlled (again Ciprofloxacin) and my digestive system is affected. Thanks to Chat GPT I was able to recover from a virus that everyone else had for about 24 hours. I have since had more trouble with both shoulders but maybe it's just age, I'm 80. I talked to our lawyer. He said that they have tried to see about a case against them but that the evidence has not been consistent. They had a caution about giving it to the elderly but I was not given that info. It was a year ago that I was given it. I started to heal from it but I am a caregiver to my blind husband so when I came home I regressed and the endless pain returned. I am now healing! I have had 3 Prolozone treatments at a Holistic Health Clinic that finally started the real healing, no insurance coverage but thankfully we can handle it. Prior injuries were disturbed so I am still healing but I wear braces on both of my feet. The podiatrist said that it will take months if not up to a year to heal due to my age.
I got my braces on Amazon when I was in rehab. They are better than the ones that the doctor sold me for $50. WHCOOL
Thanks for sharing your story, it helps.

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