Cipro and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Dre...
• January 4, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was suffering from a UTI for over 2 weeks. Burning had stopped but was losing my mind over how severe the urgency was. I got prescribed Macrobid. After 4 days of no relief, I went to the ER and got prescribed Cipro 500mg two times a day for 5 days. I took my second pill and my symptoms are 98% gone. The only side effect was a bit of anxiety after the first pill. But, this could've been because I had read so many scary reviews. I'm truly grateful for this drug. I was sleepless and restless to the point of depression. So happy something is finally helping!"

• Spo...
• April 5, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm a 25-year-old woman, and I was prescribed Cipro for a UTI. I got 250 mg twice daily for three days. I got this yesterday, and today I've taken three pills in total. I have a horrid fear of vomiting, I become suicidal when I think I'm going to be sick. So I'm very particular and paranoid about my antibiotics. I usually respond well to antibiotics, but not this! I didn't vomit, thank goodness, but three pills in and I'm lightheaded, light sensitive, bloated like no other, abdominal pain, and kind of nauseous, itchy, and muscle pain. Not to mention my anxiety is sky-high! I'm writing this before my current panic attack makes me unable to write. Hope these side effects leave and don't stay! Very paranoid!"

• MIV...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was lucky enough to get most of the side effects from this drug. For the first two weeks, I lost my ability to walk. My entire body went numb (including my face), I had crippling anxiety, insane nightmares, and all of my major tendons were damaged. I had so much fatigue that I slept 18 hours a day. Thankfully, I was only sick for four months, but I lost my job and had to move back in with my parents. Now, I am okay. 0/10 would recommend. Even if you don't get a reaction the first time you take it, it is NOT WORTH TAKING. My friend's Achilles heels ruptured after her fifteenth round having no problems before that. Take another antibiotic or eat some garlic. I had $3,000 in medical bills."

• Lyn...
• July 6, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Cipro caused me to have horrible panic attacks. I have been dealing with anxiety for the last 1.5 years, but had been doing so much better the last 5 months or so. I was prescribed it for a UTI, after my original antibiotic wouldn't be covered by insurance and I couldn't afford it. I will never take it again if I can help it at all. It has set me back so much, and even though I've finished it up over a week ago, I am dealing with worsened anxiety still. I know it was the medication. I haven't been that bad since I started having trouble to begin with. It was awful. I've also had a lot of stomach issues since and can't help but wonder if it was the medication. I think the stuff is like poison for some people!!"

• Dun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 23, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Search up Quinolone Toxicity on the internet before taking this potent drug. I had repeated courses for UTI/Kidney infections from 1993 to 2008. I believe this drug has ruined my life. I have ME/CFS, anxiety/depression, Achilles tendinitis of both heels, persistent severe dermatitis, to name just a few. If I had been made aware of the possibility of serious and lifelong side effects, I would never have agreed to take this poison. I went from being an energetic sporty person who worked 2 jobs simultaneously because I liked being busy and social, and now to someone who hasn't been able to work since 2002. Don't take ANY of the Quinolone Antibiotics unless it's literally a matter of life or death and you have no other options."

• Tyl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2013

For Prostatitis "On my fifth day of Cipro and Flomax, age 19, with severe prostatitis. Feeling very dizzy and lightheaded. Anxiety attacks for 30 seconds, but then go away. Hopefully, by the second or third week, I start to feel better!"

• gma...
• May 8, 2016

For Prostatitis "Cipro is horrible poison, and it has had a negative impact on my quality of life. I took 500 mg 2x a day for prostatitis. On day 5, I developed severe fatigue, brain fog, neuropathy, severe anxiety, and blurred vision. My prescription was for 10 days, but I stopped taking it that day. A few days later, I developed Achilles tendonitis and was unable to walk for 3 weeks. Recovery has been slow, challenging, and expensive; one year later (almost to the day), I am still not recovered, although I am better. I learned a painful and expensive lesson: I will never ever again in my life take a fluoroquinolone antibiotic or blindly trust the judgment of an allopathic physician. The not-so-silver lining is it did nothing for my prostatitis."

• Anonymous
• July 9, 2011

For Prostatitis "Well, I am 34 and have had prostatitis a few times. I have tried Doxy, Cipro, and E-Mycin. The first time I took Cipro, it gave me bad anxiety and the feeling of an elevated pulse, so my doctor switched me to Doxy, which had helped me in the past. The Doxy has the least amount of side effects if you are taking it for 3-4 weeks. Cipro is the stronger drug and probably will work better for prostatitis, but the side effects, if you get them, are pretty brutal. The last time I took it in a desperate effort, it gave me leg cramps and foot pain, so that was a red flag because of the black box warning. So, I guess it's back to Doxy. All drugs have side effects, but if it was a life or death deal, I would take the Cipro."

• MrS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2018

For Pneumonia "I was given this medication for pneumonia (extended period of time). I was severely agitated, very anxious, and had difficulty sleeping. After discharge from the hospital, I was given oral RX for home use. The symptoms stated above worsened and new symptoms began. I also take Klonopin. After much research, I found Cipro binds to GABA receptors, causing displacement of the Klonopin (both bind to GABA). This caused Benzo Withdrawal Syndrome, which obviously put me in dire straits. I reported this to the FDA. It appears they are aware of this problem. Please be careful using these two medications together and research, as more data is available now supporting these major interactions. Hopeful Black-box warnings will soon follow."

• Net...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2018

For Surgical Prophylaxis "I was prescribed this after having a stent placed in my ureter due to kidney stones. Took as directed, one 500 mg tab twice a day for 14 days. By day 3, I could barely tolerate the nausea, bloating, and headaches, but continued to take as prescribed. By day 5, after taking the 2nd dose for that day, I started getting a pounding, accelerated heart rate followed by anxiety. Called my urologist's office, the doctor told me to stop taking the Cipro immediately, so now it's on my allergy list."

• Per...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2021

For Kidney Infections "After 3 doses of Cipro for a kidney infection, I had short-term memory loss, couldn’t recall the days of the medication, I had increased anxiety within 30 minutes of ingestion, depression. HORRIBLE DRUG!"

• Ano...
• December 14, 2009

For Diverticulitis "Nausea after 3rd day. Some disorientation-dizziness on 6th day. Nervousness-shakiness after 4 days. DOES KILL the bacteria well, though."

• Xim...
• August 23, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "It is good for UTI, but it's not good for the body at all! The second day, I started having muscle problems, sleeping problems, anxiety..."