Many thanks. Yes I feel unhappy that my main health worry right now has been caused by a pretty nasty drug. If I had known it was originally intended for chemo I would have asked for something different for sure! I am taking magnesium and MitoQ to try and eradicate it as I understand it can lodge itself at the cellular level and even affect DNA. Amazing it is still freely prescribed often as a first line antibiotic.
If I find anything that really makes a big difference I will let you know in case you have any lingering symptoms (muscles and tendons appear to be the longer term problem for most).
Thanks for replying and wish you good health too!
Mark
It really doesn't strike me as amazing that it's still prescribed, Mark. It's an extremely effective antibiotic, particularly for urinary tract infections, and the overwhelming majority of people have no problems with it. I've been prescribed it many times myself and it's always worked well for me.
Now that you know you're allergic to it you can ask for an alternative, but it would be a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water to stop prescribing such an effective drug because of a small number of allergies.
Cheers,
Chris
Perhaps you are right Chris - it is very effective in certain cases but is also pretty dangerous at the same time. In the US it is now not recommended for a UTI unless other antibiotics have failed. I think the usual issue of cause/effect come into play. For me I have taken it 3 times this year and the third time appears to have caused some damage but I am still working and able to function, albeit with bad fatigue and muscle pain! Still, now we know!
Got my first PSA reading today after RARP - 0.006. I am hoping that is good news as I read recently that chances of recurrence are higher if above 0.003! Seems 0.1 or less is no longer the indication of ‘cure’ it once was but the tests are getting ever more sensitive!
And I was only 0.9 before the surgery (ended up at Gleason 6, T2A)...
You have misunderstood; the validity of the utrasensitive test has been discredited and fewer hospitals / labs are using it now, not the other way round.
There was some research in America in 2015 that suggested a first post-op PSA of over 0.03 was indicative of future recurrence (not 0.003) but since then there have been these queries about reliability.
Thanks Lyn - really appreciate that information...brain can get addled! (If that’s a word)!
would like to say that numbers of so called 'side effects'.or 'allergic reactions' to fluoroquinolones appear to be far from small-can I draw your attention to the recent European Medicines Agency public hearing,held in June 2018, on that very subject?for further illustration,you might want to google the MHRA 'yellow card' scheme numbers of adverse effects reported under 'ciprofloxacin'-and that is just the tip of the iceberg,as many people might not make the connection between something they may have taken months previously and the emergence of various nerve/muscle/tendon/joint and other issues-or may be unaware of the existence of the yellow card reporting scheme..Many people have been,and continue to be affected by the aftereffects of indiscriminate prescribing of these initially meant as 'last resource' (anthrax,pneumonia..)antibiotics-which started of as chemotherapy drugs.There are various groups worldwide to raise awareness of fluoroquinolone toxicity and prevent others from suffering.Emerging fluoroquinolone resistance is yet another issue..So please inform yourselves before taking,in good faith,something that may not even be effective and may also cause long term damage-especially since there are alternatives-ask!
Thanks - I have reported all my symptoms post taking this drug. It is interesting that many put their problems down to 'well antibiotics make you feel rubbish' when many actually don't. And some are, in fact, somewhat dangerous and over the top for more simple infections...
Glad to hear you reported-it may help save others from experiencing the same-eventually..My partner,two years post exposure,still suffers from peripheral neuropathy in both legs/feet,as well as joint and tendon issues..In the states,cipro carries a black box warning-over here,though they have updated the guidelines on prescribing it, ADR's are still not being considered,or taken serious enough,and it appears down to individuals joining groups like 'fluoroquinolone toxicity uk' to press for change..
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