Cipro and Pain: What Users Say

• Rus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Cipro was terrible. I was given an 8-day supply for a UTI and started having sharp joint and leg pain on day 6. For the next 15 days, I had problems walking because of the pain. I will never take it again!"

• Ano...
• May 3, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "Great medication for curing UTI, but the side effects are horrendous and not worth it. After 3 days, tendon pain in my heels and pain and tingling in my feet made it almost impossible to walk. The doctor took me off immediately, and now, more than 3 months later, the pain is finally beginning to subside. I've never suffered side effects from any medication when younger, but now at 65, I have to be extremely careful."

• Rae...
• September 20, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "This is poison and can cause long-term muscular, joint, and nerve damage and degeneration. After one pill, I felt leg pain and tightness that felt muscular in nature. I talked to my doctor, and she didn't associate it with Cipro. After another day of taking it, the pain began migrating, heading into my joints and moving all around my body. I popped my shoulder and had excruciating pain taking my briefcase out of my car. I read online and found out about Cipro toxicity. I called my doctor and said I read about this, and given my symptoms, I thought I should stop it. They agreed. I have been off the pills for 5 days now and still have the roving pains. Mostly in legs, shooting, burning, aching, tight alternating. Hands, shoulders, knees..."

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2011

For Diverticulitis "Last year, when I had my first diverticulitis attack (a bad one), I was put on Cipro and Flagyl. Condition did clear up although I was left with a nasty case of thrush. This time only on Cipro - don't find the one medicine alone very effective. I'm nearing the end of my prescription (10 days of 2 per day) and still having some pain and nausea. Will see my doctor next week."

• Gre...
• July 2, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I started experiencing side effects right after I took my last pill. I was prescribed 500 mg 2x daily for 14 days. This was the first drug my urologist prescribed for prostatitis. Now, 3 days later, foot and leg pain. This drug should not be used as the first option. It should be used only for severe issues. I misplaced my pamphlet, so I was unaware of the dangers. It should be a requirement that an FDA black box drug should be marked on the bottle with details in the pamphlet. I would have never taken this drug had I read what the possible side effects were. The sad part, no one knows how to treat the side effects, and they could be permanent."

• Asw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2022

For Prostatitis "I was diagnosed with a UTI at the end of January. Prescribed a 10-day course of Cipro. Symptoms got better, but one day off, symptoms came back. Went back to the doctor and was diagnosed with acute bacterial prostatitis, and put back on Cipro for six weeks. The treatment takes time, and prostatitis is painful, so waiting for the treatment to work is frustrating, but it does work. At week three, most of my symptoms were gone. At week four, all symptoms were gone. Finished the six-week treatment to make sure everything in my system was cleared up. Cipro is basically poison, but it does what it’s intended to do."

• Rav...
• July 24, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was poisoned by this medication. It got rid of my infection but at the risk of my health. After four days of taking it, my knees started hurting, and it went to my elbows. After I stopped taking it (a year ago), I was in terrible chronic pain, and I’m still fighting off the symptoms of fluoroquinolone toxicity syndrome to this day. I am an artist, and I couldn't draw for months, and I couldn’t make money. The worst part of it is I still can’t get any answers. I’d rather have my UTI back than ever take this again."

• Tom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 5, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "DO NOT TAKE CIPRO! I'd give this garbage a negative 10 if I could! Read all the possible side effects, then ask yourself if you're willing to risk contracting many of them, no matter whether a doctor tells you the odds of those happening are slim, rare, etc. In my case, I was given this junk 4 different times within a year, around 60 pills total. I developed peripheral neuropathy shortly after that, which means that all of my extremities are becoming more and more numb, after the paresthesia (intense tingling and pain) stopped because I don't feel it anymore. I can still feel pressure in my head, hands, and feet, but when they are lightly touched or stroked? Nothing. I've seen 3 neurologists, two said it was simply coincidence. I fired them. The guy I still see said it was probably the Cipro that damaged me, but unfortunately, he can't directly correlate them, so he would only be a 'maybe' if I sue everyone responsible. But I'm still checking into it. Please say no to Cipro."

• Ker...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Do not take this drug unless you're near death, exposed to anthrax, or contracted the plague; seriously, that's what it's meant for. I took ONE pill of this and developed horrible popping in all joints, knee/leg/shoulder pain. The worst was the ER visit that followed 48 hours later, because I had rapid swelling in the eyes and light sensitivity with blurred vision. The scariest day of my life happened because of ONE pill of this poison. This awful medicine has a black box warning from the FDA and should not be given for basic infections."

• Ker...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Do not take this drug unless you're near death, exposed to anthrax, or contracted the plague; seriously, that's what it's meant for. I took ONE pill of this and developed horrible popping in all joints, knee/leg/shoulder pain. The worst was the ER visit that followed 48 hours later, because I had rapid swelling in the eyes and light sensitivity with blurred vision. The scariest day of my life happened because of ONE pill of this poison. This awful medicine has a black box warning from the FDA and should not be given for basic infections."

• Ker...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Do not take this drug unless you're near death, exposed to anthrax, or contracted the plague; seriously, that's what it's meant for. I took ONE pill of this and developed horrible popping in all joints, knee/leg/shoulder pain. The worst was the ER visit that followed 48 hours later, because I had rapid swelling in the eyes and light sensitivity with blurred vision. The scariest day of my life happened because of ONE pill of this poison. This awful medicine has a black box warning from the FDA and should not be given for basic infections."

• Ner...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Horrible pain and nerve damage in my feet after one pill. Couldn't walk normally for over a month and had to roll around in a chair. Turns out I didn't even have the UTI they prescribed it for, but the nerves will still get painful and make walking hard today, which is 6 years later. I wouldn't recommend taking this unless your infection is life-threatening!"

• Gan...
• May 3, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "This is my 10th day taking 500 mg Cipro every day for a UTI. I'm laying in bed with severe pain in my lower stomach. I have noticed side effects, i.e., lethargic, leg pain, etc. I still feel like I have to urinate even though I just did. I'm still having the usual symptoms of pressure, pain, and frequency... In fact, it feels worse. I have a call into my doctor, but wanted to let it run its course."

• 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."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have had a UTI for about 2 weeks now. The first week I was prescribed 100 mg twice a day of Macrobid, which did absolutely nothing to my UTI. I went in for a physical days after finishing Macrobid and was told I still had a UTI, so I was put on 500 mg of Cipro twice a day. Ever since getting on Cipro, I have had pain everywhere in my body. I now have pain in my leg and behind my knee, I have horrible pain on the right side of my shoulder and neck, and I also have a sore feeling all over my chest area. On top of that, I feel as if something on my face is swollen. It does not appear swollen, but I feel my tongue is a bit bigger and so are other parts of my face. This is torture. I cannot wait to get off of this stuff."

• Aur...
• July 5, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "I went to the doctor with a UTI. I got prescribed the generic for Cipro 500 mg. The first pill, I felt fine, the second pill, I started to feel a tingling sensation on my forearm and pain in my wrists. The third pill, my arms hurt from the shoulders to the palms of my hands, my arms had gotten swollen, and I couldn't even stand my watch. I couldn't sleep at night due to the pain in my arms, which I thought was not normal. The next morning, before my next pill, I decided to read the side effects of this medication, and it said that in some cases, it could cause swelling, vomiting, nausea, and arm pain. At that moment, I stopped taking the medication and went back to my doctor and complained. I made them write this medication under my allergies so this doesn't happen again."

• Aur...
• July 5, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "I went to the doctor with a UTI. I got prescribed the generic for Cipro 500 mg. The first pill, I felt fine, the second pill, I started to feel a tingling sensation on my forearm and pain in my wrists. The third pill, my arms hurt from the shoulders to the palms of my hands, my arms had gotten swollen, and I couldn't even stand my watch. I couldn't sleep at night due to the pain in my arms, which I thought was not normal. The next morning, before my next pill, I decided to read the side effects of this medication, and it said that in some cases, it could cause swelling, vomiting, nausea, and arm pain. At that moment, I stopped taking the medication and went back to my doctor and complained. I made them write this medication under my allergies so this doesn't happen again."

• Anonymous
• January 26, 2010

For Bronchitis "Dangerous drug, associated with many side effects, even after you stop taking it. I took a similar one (a quinolone) and came out in a terrible rash. Had a bad taste in my mouth, and aches and pains. I also suffered hallucinations. All these reactions have been strongly associated with this group of antibiotics. Best avoided."

• Pos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2016

For Infection Prophylaxis "DO NOT USE THIS DRUG. I used it for post-vasectomy infection prevention. Horrible drug with crazy side effects. I can't believe that this is legal to prescribe except for emergencies. I only took 2 pills, and 3 days later, I still have aches and pains in joints all over my body. Joints are stiff, and I have to walk slowly. Now I have to worry about a possible tendon rupture even months from now. I also have tinnitus (ringing in my ears), which is CONSTANT. After taking the very first pill, I felt light-headed, out of it, and almost passed out. I should never have taken the 2nd. This drug is insanely overpowered and should only be used if there is no alternative. It attacks your joints, tendons, muscles, digestive tract, and nervous system."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2021

For Kidney Infections "Don’t take this. I’ve been taking it for three days, and I can’t sleep, I’m in pain, my Achilles tendons hurt. My legs have pins and needles, and they are extremely restless. My heartbeat is irregular and fast. My mental health has plummeted. I don’t know what to do. I can’t take this for five more days, I have to stop. I just want these side effects to be over, this is a nightmare."

• Dou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2018

For Prostatitis "I was prescribed Cipro for 45 days to combat a prostate infection. I had to stop taking it after about 40 days because I developed a dull pain with spasm in the kidney area. Laid awake the last few days with an odd headache and because of that discomfort. I can't attribute this change in health to anything but the Cipro. Deploying in 30 days, so no time to do testing. Hoping this will go away."

• Bet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2018

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I have a pretty mean case of cellulitis. I was prescribed Cipro 2x daily. The first day I took it, some of the redness seemed to lighten up, my body had aches all over, but I was still willing to proceed to get rid of the deep, nasty pain of the infection. Cannot use NSAIDs on Cipro - so Tylenol 4 times daily it was. Tylenol only worked about 2 hours, and the pain was back plus. 3 days in, the redness was growing and an ulcer had now formed. I kept taking it. I called my doctor on the 6th day and was told to keep taking the Cipro. 8 full days and 1 half day later, I was in the ER. They scanned my leg, an abscess was forming. WBC is higher than the previous week - it is doing nothing but making more pain all over my body. D/C Cipro and now on to Cephalexin 500 mg 4 times a day. Man, I hope something works fast!"

• acv...
• July 26, 2011

For Bladder Infection "It made my whole body hurt, especially my joints and my ankles."

• bob...
• October 21, 2013

For Bronchitis "Pain in my leg and lightheaded, but it's helping."