Cipro and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Max...
• November 8, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I took my second Cipro pill today out of a 7-day dosage. The burning sensation has almost disappeared, as well as the bladder pressure. However, the back pain is still strong. Side effects include diarrhea, weakness, and sleeping problems, but it’s tolerable. I will come back with an update on day 3."

• mat...
• March 16, 2010

For Diverticulitis "Have used once or twice a year for the last 10 years and start to have relief within 24 hours, with symptoms usually gone by day three. I take two a day after the first tinge of pain (you know what I am talking about) and continue for one week minimum or two days more than symptoms persist. Makes me a little fatigued, and I start to get diarrhea after about 4 days, but it is worth it."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "I've been taking Cipro for three weeks now, had a horrible urinary tract infection that was not caught on time, and it went to my kidney. To my luck, this medication exists and also is my worst nightmare. (I'm used to it now, but the first three days, I couldn't sleep, I had the worst headaches ever, fever, body aches, a little diarrhea, and loss of appetite.) I have two more days to go. At first, I thought the headaches were because I stopped drinking coffee, like a lot!, but stopped my coffee intake when I got super sick. I'm currently on a 1000mg Cipro, and wow.. I can tell you that as much as the side effects kick you, this medicine sure is working wonders. I drink plenty of water now. I honestly don't ever want to go back to having a urinary tract infection."

• Tou...
• January 23, 2013

For Bladder Infection "I took one dose and within about 3 hours the blood started to clear from the urine, and pain lessened; however, soon I got a bad headache, nausea, and chills. Within about 12 hours from the first (and only) dose, I was in the hospital - vomiting and feeling miserable. I was there for 3 days taking a different antibiotic and fluids by IV. One week later, bad diarrhea, and pain in the knee joint. Must be allergic to Cipro - will remember that for sure!"

• Ano...
• May 7, 2013

For Bladder Infection "This medicine gave me quick relief from the urinary tract infection, however I am vomiting and have diarrhea. The pharmacist label said to take on an empty stomach but when I called them, they said I can eat, just no dairy. Hopefully with something in my stomach the side effects will decrease."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2019

For Prostatitis "I used Bactrim for a month for my prostatitis, but I didn't feel any better. I went to another Dr and prescribed me Cipro. It's been 5 days since I started using this medication, and it seems to be working. As a side effect, it gave me diarrhea, but I just ignore it. I feel much better than before."

• Buc...
• June 29, 2013

For Urinary Tract Infection "I took Cipro a year ago for a urinary tract infection and had very little side effects. I just started taking Cipro again two days ago for another UTI, and this time it is making me miserable. I no longer have the symptoms of a UTI, but my muscles hurt, I feel tired, and I have had some diarrhea."

• lan...
• November 25, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "Symptoms I had before being put on Cipro were the usual - blood in urine, pressure on bladder, need to pee every 10 seconds even after going, stinging. After being on 500 mg twice, almost all the symptoms were gone, but the side effects were horrible. I had nausea, headache, diarrhea, drowsiness, and some chest pain. The size of the pills is relatively huge too. Not supposed to split them, but I did anyway because it got stuck in my throat and made me throw up my dinner once. I put the split pill into a 00 veggie capsule, which makes it easy to swallow, and I can't taste the bitterness."

• Cip...
• August 18, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Unfortunately, I get UTIs more often than I should. I have taken a 10-day prescription of Cipro, 500 mg every 12 hours for a bad UTI, and I couldn't get past 5 days of it. I was just prescribed Cipro, one 500 mg pill (because my doctor believed that this medication's side effects were too common and powerful). Within 24 hours, my UTI symptoms cleared up, BUT in the past two nights, I have barely slept. I have bad stomach cramping and diarrhea and headaches. Not fun to say the least. It will do a good job knocking out the infection, but the side effects are just crappy. I also learned that with this medication, sometimes less is more."

• DlR...
• November 18, 2014

For Bladder Infection "Cipro worked the first day for reducing the urgency, but I must not have eaten enough because I felt like vomiting. The second day, I had diarrhea, and the third day, I have the urgency back, but not as painful."

• Dim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2012

For Bladder Infection "I had a major bladder infection and was prescribed Cipro. I had diarrhea and dizzy spells the entire time I took this medicine. I told my new primary doctor to prescribe Amoxicillin. He told me that Cipro is better. My former doctor prescribed Amoxil, and I never had problems with that medicine."

• M E...
• October 22, 2016

For Diverticulitis "Taking Cipro made me almost sicker than the bout of pain. I couldn't function, slept most of every day. Developed thrush, heavily coated tongue. Staggering when walking, off balance at times, thinking process was not normal, crying jags for no reason. This drug in the class of quinolones causes CNS problems. I will never take another in that class. Diarrhea was continuing days after the 10-day course was done. Read Cipro can actually cause C. difficile, and Imodium can aggravate that! It's been one month since I started the ten-day course of Cipro, and I'm still having side effects of CNS."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2016

For Bladder Infection "I took Cipro for only three days for a bladder infection. I was left with ankle/tendon pain and diarrhea for three months. I had no clue what was happening to me. Turns out lots have had the same reaction to this class of antibiotic."

• rya...
• April 20, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "Been taking antibiotics for almost 3 months now, Cipro for 6 weeks for an apparently antibiotic-resistant infection. Started on Meropenem I.V. (don't know why if it's antibiotic resistant). I think doctors do whatever they can with the knowledge they have been given by these companies, which most don't even know of the side effects and say, don't believe everything you read on Google. But I had diarrhea straight away after the first pill (500 mg). I have also had tennis elbow, yet never played any tennis or golf. I have muscular pain in my shoulder, and it felt like it popped out or something almost a week ago. And only now I reread the symptoms and the reviews, I see others having this problem. I don't trust pharma companies, I want to stop taking now."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

For Sinusitis "Pros: Noticed great improvement of my symptoms after only 24 hours and continued to get better each day. Cons: After the second dose, started to have loose bowel and stomach pain. Also experienced nightmares and severe insomnia. By the third day, 6th dose, the side effects were much too severe to continue this antibiotic."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2017

For Prostatitis "30-day prescription up to 60. After the first week of mild nausea and mild diarrhea, I developed a weird tightness in my right hip, severe tennis elbow, and weird pain/headache behind my left eye for 2-3 days, bloating, some nights unable to sleep due to insomnia and tremors/weird body vibrations. Mornings were hell due to my coffee drinking and the foggy brain. Do not drink coffee while taking this! 3 weeks after stopping, I still have some prostatitis symptoms but have greatly improved. However, the side effects from the med of muscle tightness, brain fog, foot pain, hip pain, back tightness, lack of appetite, and fatigue still remain but seem to be subsiding a bit. I wish the docs would explain the meds they prescribe, but I don't think they really know!"

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2021

For Sinusitis "I was prescribed the Cipro tablets for 10 days for a resistant bacterial sinusitis infection. The medication did work in clearing the infection when the other 2 medications previously had failed. While on Cipro, I experienced extreme nightmares, very disturbing dreams, and sleep interruptions. I experienced a continual bitter taste in my mouth. I experienced abdominal discomfort, IBS, and diarrhea. I also experienced ringing in my ears/tinnitus at the time of taking Cipro and ever since, which is a time span from 2009 to 2021. I have permanent damage to my hearing and quality of life since taking this drug."

• Rac...
• August 27, 2022

For Sinusitis "After having amoxicillin and co-amoxiclav, which did not touch the chronic sinus issues I have, I was given Cipro. Due to the fact that I am immune to antibiotics and usually I'm into week, my symptoms are getting worse because none of the antibiotics I have been given by a GP have worked. Cipro is the only one I find helpful, 250 mg was given to me this time because I've had many other antibiotics that have not worked at all. Also, I have taken it for an ear infection when nothing else has worked. I find it good, it can take sometimes over 5 days to work, but I am usually given 10 days' worth. It's a hard antibiotic to get because no one likes giving it to you, but because I'm a complicated case, I have been given it. I would say try it because every antibiotic has side effects. After all, it's just what they do. I get diarrhea, that is it-nothing that is intolerable to a bad extent."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2010

"After 5 days on Cipro for a urinary tract infection (allergic to sulfa, Keflex, Macrodantin), I finished the 5 days prescribed, then began to feel awful, severe joint pain in wrists, back, and neck. I had painful deep breaths and general overall aching. I had some diarrhea and abdominal pain. Bladder infection is better."

• Ohm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took Cipro and almost instantly had horrid diarrhea for hours."

• I...
• September 27, 2013

For Sinusitis "After taking just three pills, I had diarrhea and nausea."

• Jos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2021

For Intraabdominal Infection "Experienced diarrhea followed by muscle cramps in legs and feet. Immediately stopped the medication and will not take it again. This medication should not be legal."