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wondering if cipro is causing my panic attacks

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Posted 7/26/2009 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have been prescribed cipro for an UTI. I have had several panic attacks since I have been taking it. I started looking at the side effects & it says it can cause depression & anxiety. I also found out that if you take it with caffeine, it can increase the effects of caffeine. I was wondering if anyone has had a problem with cipro & anxiety attacks. I am beginning to wonder if my attacks are stemming from the cipro. This is my second round of cipro due to my UTI not going away on the first prescription. Has anyone else experience this?

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 12/3/2011 5:15:25 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 7/27/2009 12:58 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Winter...where you prone to panic attacks before the CIPRO?

I was prescribed CIPRO for a UTI and refused to take it and asked for a much older drug (microdantin).  I am not saying you should not take it.    CIPRO does have many side effects, including anxiety.  With all the antibiotics we get in our food and water supply it's a shame simple infections have become so resistant to less complex antibiotics.  My son took CIPRO for a minor ear infection and had some anxiety issues while taking it.  But if you have panic attacks anyway, it would be hard to tell if it's the meds.

I would call your doctor and tell him about this.  Maybe there is something else he could prescribe that would be more gentle on your body.

Donna

Posted 7/27/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Donna,
I would have a panic attack maybe once or twice a year but that was it. For the last 4 weeks, I have been experiencing more panic attacks since I have been on cipro. Plus I would take my morning dosage with a Pepsi or Coke. I have noticed that in the mornings that I would more anxious but I would be calmer as the progresses. I think it was a combination of the caffeine & cipro.
Posted 7/27/2009 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi..I have taken cipro for a uti  and it made me feel horrible. I dont remember any anxiety with it but i do remember how tired i felt,  As a matter of fact i was on

the sister drug to it called leviquin about 3 weeks ago for a uti and had to go off it because it was keeping me awake and made me nervous....I would ask my Dr for something different.... There are plenty goods ones out there for uti....

Feel Better

Lucy

Posted 7/27/2009 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Winter. I have been taking Clorazepato for 8 years and it is now giving me more anxiety than before. As you say in the instructions it says "Can cause anxiety" so I would say see your doc and explain what is going on, one thing you don't want is for your body to get used to them and then have to change medication that is a real pain. Hope you feel better soon. Kevin
Posted 7/27/2009 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Can you try taking it with some water instead and see if that helps. With your Crohns sometimes other meds are not options for us, so I would first try taking it with plain water and stay away from the caffiene and see if that changes anything. If not, call your doctor and see about another medication.

Good luck
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 7/27/2009 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
With my crohn's cipro is considered a safe antibiotic for me. I was going to take it today with water to see how I felt. I only need to take it for 4 more days so I going to try to figure out a system that doesn't make me anxious.
Posted 8/23/2009 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on Cipro for the first time for a bacterial infection, after 1 day of dosages I had the first panic attack I have ever had in my life and was rushed to the ER, they put me on Lorazepam 1 MG and the panic attack subsided. I was told to finish the Cipro and take the Lorazepam as needed for panic attacks. I finished the Cipro 1 week ago and the bacterial infection is gone but I'm still getting panic attacks and have to take 1 Lorazepam a day to function. Has anyone else had this happen?
Posted 8/23/2009 11:07 PM (GMT 0)

Desert guy, I have never had a panic attack from an antibiotic.  I would guess each person is different and reacts different to medications.  I would continue to use your Lorazepam and check in with your Doctor if your panic attacks continue or become worse.

Good Luck and welcome to HealingWell.

Kitt

Posted 8/24/2009 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I also felt anxiety from Cipro. I didn't get any panic attacks but definitely was very much anxious even before reading about side effect. There are a lot of antibiotics out there, so I switched and never used Cipro again. Probably for people who is prone to anxiety is not recommended.
Posted 10/11/2009 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was just prescribed this same thing for a uti. I came on here and was going to look and see if anyone else has had problems with it. I sure am glad I did! I have MAJOR panic attacks almost daily and I'm terrified of meds making me feel nervous or strange or sick!

The thing is, I got some cranberry vitamins and some cranberry juice. I've been drinking lots of the juice and taking the vitamins with my food for 2 days and havent had anymore symptoms. Is it possible that I'm ok and dont need to take the med? I just mean, is it possible that I can get rid of this with the vitamins and juice? I cant go see a doc because my Medicade is pending and they wont see me. The ER prescribed the med for me so I cant just go get another kind.

Very Panicy about this!!!!

-Jen
Posted 10/11/2009 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Like I said though, the symptoms are gone for the past 2 days. No more burning, frequent urge to pee. Just feel fine. I dont see a reason to take the med if I'm better but I dont know for sure.
Posted 10/11/2009 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Please do not assume that you will get panic attacks from this med it is different with each of us imho....i have had some antibiotics make me shaky n such but not directly given me a full blown panic attack......i would do as Kitt suggessted stay on lorazepam n let your doc know if you have further problems As for Jennara i would really still want to take the meds to make sure indection is gone...just to be safe ya know but that is me ..let us know how you are doing k ...lyn

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 12/3/2011 5:16:26 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 10/11/2009 10:05 PM (GMT 0)

Jennera,

I feel Lyn has advised you wisely as you may have had a bacterial infection and one of the biggest mistakes people make is to stop taking their antibiotice when they start to feel better.

Good Luck,

Kitt


Posted 11/9/2009 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
I was prescribed cipro for an unknown infect matter fact it actually came back as lab error. I started off good on it but on day four i started to panic for no reason. I started having thoughts that weren't like me. Then one day full out panic attack. Cipro ended up eating the lining of my stomach. It took 2 1/2 months for it to heal and digest properly. 5 months later still battling with anxiety. I tried to tell the dr what i was feeling but he didnt want to believe it was the cipro. Not saying its a bad med just saying its not for me and thats one thing i wish i never took.
Posted 12/3/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I too have had some anxiety issues with Cipro. It's the preferred antibiotic for the treatment of prostatitis.

It's powerful stuff, to be sure, so the payoff with the brief waves of panic is that you hopefully get rid of the infection, I suppose.

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 12/3/2011 4:39:37 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/2/2013 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for this post! I started taking cipro for a uti 2 days ago and have had massive panic ever since. Oh my, I could hardly function. Who would have thought antibiotics could cause anxiety. I do not have anxiety otherwise. I went back to the doctor today and got a different medication, but she did not think my anxiety was from cipro. After reading this post I am sure thats what it is and feel much much better. I'm not suddenly losing my mind. Phew!!!!
Posted 9/10/2013 9:42 AM (GMT 0)
I know it's been a while since people posted on this but I was wondering how everyone recovered from their panic?? I am suffering attacks now after taking Amoxicillin :(
Posted 9/10/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rorie,

It may be unlikely that people will respond to this thread, as it is older...but you could do a search here (icon upper right of page) and input key words 'antibiotics and anxiety' and see if there are any other threads that answer your question.

The panic could very well just go away as quickly as it came. Other times, we find that we have a pre-disposition to anxiety that simply get switched on by a trigger...in some cases a medication, so management of the anxiety is needed.

Check out our Resources here (main page, 1st post) for great self help ideas, and talk with your doctor, especially if things don'e improve. (in the Resources you will find links to teach you how to do breathing techniques to shut down an attack, and more great skills!)

Post with us anytime. We understand and are here to care and listen.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 10/22/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rorie - I am replying to this post, I know it is older, but I am currently taking cipro and experiencing an increase in panic and anxiety. I currently have a script for lorazapam (ativan) at the minimal dose you can take and have had to take it more often than usual since being on the cipro. I do know the cipro medication pamphlet specifically talks about anxiety and panic and depression being a possible side effect. I am not certain about amoxicillin though - I have taken that numerous times for sinus infections and not had an increase in symptoms, however we are all different. If it continues, call your PCP and see if you can get in to talk about your concerns. Having anxiety is no fun. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.
Posted 10/23/2013 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I went to the doctor on the 15th of this month for conjunctivitis and was prescribed ciprofloxacin 0.3% eye drops. I started getting bad headaches, slight dizziness and anxiety the day after I stopped taking them (Saturday) and things have only gotten worse from there. The headaches and anxiety have been consistent since then and mixed with thoughts of suicide which is not like me. I've been dealing with this for 5 days strait now and I'm barely able to get 3 hours of sleep at a time. The doctor at the clinic said these symptoms are completely unrelated and there is nothing he can do. My only options at this point are to either wait it out and hope whatever is causing this subsides soon or go to the ER for a bunch of tests I can't afford (no insurance) and that will most likely reveal nothing.
Posted 10/23/2013 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi xG and welcome.

I am sorry to read of your Rx troubles. Is this your first experience with pronounced anxiety and symptoms? Or is this something that you have dealt with in the past...and is possibly just by coincidence returning at this point?

Either way, you may find some relief in doing the self-help exercises found in our Resources (main page, 1st post)

I wish you the best and relief from this soon.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 10/23/2013 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, glad I found you guys.

Not the first time, no. It is the first time I've had thoughts of suicide since my bad experience with Lexipro about 8 years ago (the original source of my ongoing disorder). I'm pretty good at managing my anxiety and my attacks rarely last for more than 24 hours but this thing hit me hard... and it's still hitting. The Cipro was definitely the trigger, given the suddenness, intensity and length of this attack, I have no doubt about that. Would it have happened if I didn't have a history of anxiety and panic attacks? Probably not... I'd still tell anyone with a history of anxiety (or any one else for that matter) to be very weary of the stuff.
Posted 10/23/2013 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, sounds like this definitely triggered a relapse for you then. If you are still having thoughts of self-harm, then you must go to the ER.

If however, you feel that you are getting a handle on this and able to use your coping skills, then hopefully this will subside for you soon!

Check our Resources for some fresh ideas that could help.

Let us know how you are doing soon.

S.C.
Posted 11/8/2013 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still kicking, unfortunately not much has changed. The anxiety fluctuates in severity but never really subsides which really sucks but I've got it under control for the most part. I've made an appointment with my physician for the 15th to see if she can find the source of my headaches and lightheadedness. I'm also trying to find a psychologist to help with my GAD which is kind of a pain in the ass, I have no idea how to go about finding a good psychologist other than trial and error. Google is pretty useless and I don't have any friends that can recommend one.

-Adam
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