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Cipro or Levaquin??

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Posted 2/3/2011 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
So I saw my doctor today and I am flaring. He pushed around on my abdomen and felt that the usual area is a nice and swollen. He wants me to go on a liquid diet and prescribed Levaquin and Flagyl and will order a CT hopefully in the next day or so. The reason for my question is that I don't have insurance and the Levaquin is about $200. I plan on calling him tomorrow and telling him I can't get it. If anyone has experience with both is there that big of a difference in it and Cipro? They seem a lot a like comparatively. shakehead
Posted 2/3/2011 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I had major side effects from Levaquin, and not just GI side effects. For me, it's an evil drug...almost as bad as Pred. Cipro, however, worked beautifully for me. I know other people who have taken Levaquin and will never take it again. I'm very prejudiced against it. But, it may be the best antibio for YOU, I don't know. I just know I'll never use it again. Also, Levaquin did nothing for the infection and I was feeling much better after the 3rd dose of Cipro.

That's just my experience.
Posted 2/3/2011 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
SaladShooter, I've read a lot of horror stories from people who took Levaquin. I've taken it before, but now I'm kind of scared, plus with the price if something else works just as well I'd rather take it instead.
Posted 2/3/2011 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
 My GI says that Cipro and Flagyl are the only two anitibiotics that I can take because the others are more likely to cause a flair. I have taken both with no problems. I have also taken about 3 10 day courses of Levaquin within the last two months for frequent sinus infections because my ENT said it works better for sinus stuff than the cipro my GI had me taking. I took saccharomyces boulardii or Florastor with the Levaquin to help keep me from having any GI issues per my GI and it worked!!! The florastor you can get at Walmart over the counter but its expensive so I get the "generic version" online for $5 or $6. 
Posted 2/3/2011 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah, thanks for that. I should talk to my GI here shortly to get the results of my CT and I'll ask him about it. I see you're in AR too. I live in Little Rock :)
Posted 2/3/2011 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Both Cipro and Levaquin are floroquinilones w/similar risks. Given the price difference via your insurance by all means discuss this w/the scripting doctor and ask that he script the Cipro instead. He might not listen to objections about risk factors but most doctors will listen to costs and insurance factors regarding similar or related medications.
Posted 2/3/2011 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had a severe reaction to Levaquin. The on call doctor then called in a Cipro relative. I had another severe reaction. I will never know if the second reaction was because I took it within 18 hours of the Levaquin, but I know I will NEVER take either again. By the way I took them for a sinus infection not for CD, but now there are whole classes of drugs that are off limits to me.

If one is cheaper than the other and they are comparable, you might as well ask. The most your doctor can say is no.
Posted 2/3/2011 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
dana_1974 I'm about 2 1/2 hrs South of you! I have family in Cabot so we come to LR alot!! Cipro does have a generic version, Levaquin does not, so ask for the generic of Cipro and hopefully it will be cheaper for you!!
Posted 2/3/2011 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Is there any chance he could put you only on Flagyl, and see how it goes?

Cipro, Levaquin, and other fluoroquinolones have a black box warning from the FDA - that they can cause tendinitis and rupture tendons. I've seen reports on HW from Crohn's patients who have had problems with their achilles tendon after taking Cipro.

 

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