FDA requests black box warning on Cipro & Levaquin

Yer welcome, Lyn. I thought I had posted that link and info at the start of this thread. I must have dreamed I did it. I certainly meant to. Duh. I was on Cipro for 5 months when I first started Imuran. They had suggested Entocort which I didn't want to do. So I investigated Cipro and subscribed to that group for quite awhile. First to make up my mind, and then to keep current just in case any problems arose for me. As it was, I was lucky, no problems. But I was careful not to put any real stress on my legs, etc. all the while I was on Cipro. For instance I kept my treadmill on the level instead of using a grade. There were times it was frustrating to not do something that I normally would have done that would have stressed the calves, etc. but it just seemed wiser not to risk it.

wow, I have heard of the effects of these drugs, and I have also taken them myself.

I have never had any serious effects though, except for sometimes suspecting that I had some tingling in my nerves...

I am a big proponent of weighing the pros and cons for all medications, sometimes the alternative to not taking the meds is far worse than the risk of problems caused by taking them. It's an individuals duty to make that decision.

However, I do believe that those who had pointed out effects and were ignored should pursue litigation against their doctors and/or pharma companies.

And, also, you don't have to do that as part of a class action suit, if you have a strong case, an attorney may represent you without paying for his fees upfront.

With all that said, I will go out on a limb, and play devil's advocate here for a second. I want to remind you all, that not everyone has these reactions. I am curious as to how many people have taken Cipro without any harmful side effects?

I just wanted to bump this thread and ask if anyone else has similar issues to what I am experiencing.
I took two pills of Cipro back at the end of May (in case I had an infection due to Crohn's.) The first night after the first pill, I went to bed and woke to find that my achilles tendons were absolutely aching. I fell back to sleep somehow. In the morning, no pain, so I took the second pill and went to work. As the day progressed, my ankles became painful and swollen. By the end of my day at work, my ankles were the same size as the rest of my legs, and I had that "dentable" form of edema like swelling. I got discoloration like bruising all over my ankles. It took approximately two and a half weeks for the swelling to go down. Since that time, I have devastating pain in my joints of my fingers, thumbs, and wrists. My elbows are sore and weak, and I have pain in both shoulders. The swelling of my ankles came back again about a week and a half ago. I can barely walk now. I am so miserable. I don't trust doctors at all. I reported my symptoms to the GI immediately and he denied that it could have been from the Cipro. He wanted me to take Levaquin as a replacement! Fortunately I read here that both drugs are in the same class of drugs, and refused to take it. I reported this to my endocrinologist, the rheumatologist that he sent me to, as well as the internist that he also sent me to. They all said "No way could Cipro cause that." They all also said the GI was a "great doc" and "one of the best in the country." Covering each others' asses? I think so.

Is there any end to this? Does it eventually work its way out of your body? I feel "poisoned" for lack of a better term and like I can't get it out of my body. Are there any treatments? I've seen the various yahoo groups, but I haven't come across any info about possibly treating/reversing the "poisoning."

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

So to clarify for myself - you are not supposed to take cipo when you are on pred right? They just tried to give it to me and I protested and they gave me another antiboitic. But a couple of weeks ago they gave me a 5 day supply of cipo to take. Are you supposed to not exercise when you take both? Sorry I am just confused.

I had an excrutiatingly painful stiff neck on Levaquin. It eased/stopped as soon as I stopped taking the drug. I will never take Levaquin again.