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Antibiotics made anxiety worse?! side effect or just anxiety? please help!

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Posted 7/30/2015 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there...
I just needed some comfort and to know what's wrong with me.. I was never officially diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but I think I have an anxiety disorder that comes and goes since my GERD problem started..
I started taking an antibiotics called Cipro 500mg twice a day and I started feeling awful since yesterday night. I started feeling panicky and anxious out of no where..I have GERD and acid reflux and it got much worse yesterday. I was wondering that this could happen cause I might have an underlying anxiety disorder or it's a side effect from the antibiotics? Will it go once I stop them?
Has anyone had this problem and what to do to tolerate the antibiotics?
Any advice would be appreciated thanks in advance!
Posted 7/30/2015 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
It is definitely a side effect of Cipro. I have an anxiety disorder and recently had a sinus infection and was put on Cipro. I had a really bad reaction to it and stopped it after 5 days of torture. I thought I had to keep taking it because that is what I was prescribed, but my dad told me no, there are plenty of antibiotics out there and you shouldn't have to suffer terrible side effects of one when you could be using something else.

It gave me a massive headache and anxiety... it was really bad. I would go back to the doctor and request a Z-Pack instead. It worked much better for me, although I was put on some sort of steroid along with it to give the Z-Pack a "boost" which made my anxiety go through the roof! Yikes!

I would stop the Cipro ASAP and try a Z-Pack (with nothing to give it a "boost"). Good luck!

-Cat
Posted 7/30/2015 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Antibiotics almost always affect my mood. It makes sense because so many of them wreck havoc on your GI track bacteria and there is so much research showing the link between mental health and your GI track!
Posted 7/30/2015 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bluek and welcome!

I am sorry that your abx has temporarily amped up your anxiety...

...but you should start feeling better soon once your course is finished.

If it gets unbearable, call your doctor and see about switching meds...otherwise, you will just need to ride it out as best you can.

You can check out our Resources at the top of the main page for some coping skill suggestions that will help.:)

You can also do a SEARCH here to read more about he antibiotic and anxiety connection that sometimes occurs in some.

Keep posting with us as well. We understand, care and support is key!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 7/30/2015 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
the last thing you need if suffering from anxiety is steriods.
Posted 7/31/2015 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Make sure 2 hours away from those antibiotics you are taking a quality probiotic or you run the risk of a c diff infection. Zithromax (zpack) is a macrolide that covers a wide spectrum of bacteria both good and bad...
Posted 8/5/2015 8:04 AM (GMT 0)
BlueCat, thank you so much for your reply... I stuck to Cipro for 5 days and I stopped it 2 days ago... I feel my anxiety is a bit better, but I still get scared and feel lightheaded... I also have terrible GERD now so not sure how to control that since it makes my anxiety worse..
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LumpyComforter, I think so too.. I tried taking probiotics but I don't feel so good since yesterday.. Maybe these things take time..God knows...
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Scaredy Cat, thank you so much for your support.. I really appreciate it. For the last 4 months I've been going through a very difficult and stressful time in my life and I feel this made my anxiety and stomach problems worse...trying to control it but I guess I have to let it go.. I'll check the resources out, I need something to help me get through this..thanks again!
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Daddylonglegs, I started the probiotics supplements yesterday but I feel my acid reflux is worse... I will take them for a month is it enough though to restore the normal gut flora?
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