Ciprofloxacin and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Bal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "58-year-old male. Self-diagnosed epiglottitis via Google... all the classic symptoms (headache, bodyache, fever, inflamed upper throat -> actually, the area of the epiglottis, painful swallowing, some difficulty breathing when trying to sleep)... and when I saw on a Saturday that it could possibly be fatal (asphyxiation)... but treatable with antibiotics, I reached for the first antibiotic I saw listed for the condition (although I do not have that reference handy). Cipro 500 mg, 2x day, 5-day course (expired 5 years ago, 2011). 12 hrs (after 1st dose) - fever gone, 18 hrs - headache/bodyache gone, 24 hrs - epiglottis still inflamed, but less so? Pain swallowing. 36 hrs - epiglottis less inflamed? Less pain swallowing? 48 hrs - epiglottitis resolved!!!"

• gue...
• September 1, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "Many of the symptoms described in these posts can be a result of the urinary tract infection itself. I had fever, the chills, nausea, vomiting, headache, and tender abdomen. As soon as I went on Cipro, most of those symptoms subsided. I took a couple of days to knock back the fever."

• No ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2017

For Prostatitis "Was prescribed this medicine for my own self-diagnosis of prostatitis since I told my doctor that my symptoms related mainly to it, so he called me in cipro without any further testing. Don't remember the dose, but I think 250-500 mg twice a day for two weeks. At first, I felt fine until like 5 days into it I got diarrhea, sharp stomach pains, headaches, dizziness, itching, or pin-like feelings, and today I called and asked if I could stop it because of the nausea, and I can't sleep well, and it makes me feel weak. So I've officially stopped it. Had feelings of anxiety as well. First time taking it, and I hope I don't have to ever again."

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

Ciprofloxacin 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."

• I H...
• July 8, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "Ok, so I had pain in my right testicle and groin area, went to A&E to check it all out, as I've been having this pain for 3 days. When the surgeon checked out my problem and did an examination on my testicles, he said there are not many signs of torsion, so he prescribed me these awful tablets (CIPROFLOXACIN) as he thought I had an infection. Him being a surgeon, I thought he knew his stuff, so I agreed and got my prescription for 2 weeks. After a few days, the symptoms I had from the medication were so bad. I had a lack of hunger, awareness, a massive headache, loss of concentration, feeling sick, and black tar-like stool. Since I had these symptoms, I immediately stopped, as I felt in a better state when I was not on Cipro. The next day after being off CIPROFLOXACIN, I'd regained my appetite, didn't feel like rubbish anymore, and my stools are back to normal."

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

Ciprofloxacin 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."

• Pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2022

For Kidney Infections "I was given these from the hospital for a severe kidney infection. The dosage was two 500 mg for 5 days. Worst tablets I've ever been on, they made me want to self-detonate. They have even given me jaundice, which is a 1 in 1,000 chance. They were very fast-acting towards the kidney and kidney pain, which is good, but side effects were very, very nasty. Side effects I experienced: - severe nausea - dry mouth - vomiting - dizziness - abdominal pain - headache - muscle aches - confusion - extreme fatigue - fever and cold sweats - jaundice (yellowing of skin, eyes, and urine). I've been off the tablets for about 48 hours now (thank God), but now need time to be treated for jaundice. The only good thing I can say about these is that they are very fast-acting. I wouldn't recommend these at all, even if you are desperate, please ask for something else."

• Lau...
• October 9, 2016

For Bronchitis "This antibiotic worked wonders for my cough/bronchitis. After 4 days of being on 250 mg every 12 hours, my chest feels clear and my cough is nearly gone. But, on the other hand, I developed a severe sinus infection. I can barely breathe through my nostrils and haven't been able to taste food for 4 days now. Even with over-the-counter decongestants, I have had no relief. Neti pot, nasal spray, nothing is relieving the pain in my head. Time to quit Cipro."

• Bar...
• December 30, 2015

For Kidney Infections "I cannot work anymore. The pain in my feet and especially my heel is excruciating. I get dizzy spells. I have constant headaches. I get dizzy. My vision is cloudy on occasions. I have a flash of light in the right corner of my eye when I look far right, then start to look left. I can no longer work. I can't hardly walk. I used to do heavy labor type jobs, like carrying 80-pound bags of salt. My life is pretty much gone. I feel worthless because I can no longer work. God have mercy on the people who gave me this medicine."

• mid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2015

For Prostatitis "I had chronic prostatitis for years. Took ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily. The first few days it worked like magic, all my symptoms almost completely gone. By the end of the first week, symptoms returned somehow. After 2 weeks of treatment, symptoms were all there back again. Completed 45 days (over 6 weeks) of treatment and then stopped it. Don't know exactly why it didn't work. Side effects included some headache, dizziness, anxiety, and lack of sleep."

• Jla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "I took one ciprofloxacin 500 mg pill after being diagnosed with a UTI. An hour later, my ears started ringing so loud. Fast forward two weeks later and my ears are still ringing. I also have pressure in my head and headaches ever since I took it."

• Jla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "I took one ciprofloxacin 500 mg pill after being diagnosed with a UTI. An hour later, my ears started ringing so loud. Fast forward two weeks later and my ears are still ringing. I also have pressure in my head and headaches ever since I took it."

• 25...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "I wish they had me something with fewer side effects, since I haven't had a UTI in 5 years and this is the 2nd one I've ever had. I'm not immune to antibiotics because I'm never on them. I have a headache, muscle and joint pain, and I feel very nauseated. I'm now on my 2nd dose, and my urinary tract feels 85% better, though. I'm praying I don't get tendinitis or nerve damage, as it says in the warnings. I have to take this for 5 days."

• cho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "Started taking Cipro for UTI two days ago, 2 x 500 mg per day. Side effects include headache that won't go away. Tingling, burning sensation - couldn't sleep 2nd night and had to take a PM Tylenol for headache and sleep. It worked. I have a call into Dr. for next steps."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2017

For Crohn's Disease "OMG! I was given this for colitis and had the worst side effects ever! Initially, I just had bad headaches, dizziness, and vomiting. The doctor prescribed anti-nausea medication for nausea and said to take Tylenol. By day 4 of a 10-day course, I am having crazy thoughts, nightmares, and even hallucinated a super scary being. Scared my husband and child, screaming my lungs out in terror. Off the scale anxiety, agitation, and hysterical crying, which caused me to melt down at my job of 30 years! This has been a complete nightmare. The side effects are heinous and can have long-term consequences. For your sake and sanity, stay far, far away from this dangerous drug! I took it for colitis and still have pain, so not sure if it even helped."

• Xpa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "47-year-old male. I took Cipro for 10 days straight for a UTI - 1 x 500 mg tablet twice a day. I followed instructions, taking one every 12 hours. Cut dairy out of my diet. Bottom line is that it did not work at all. There was a marginal improvement after a couple of days. Then things stayed the same for days. By day 9 and 10, my UTI felt a bit worse, and more worrying was that now my prostate was beginning to feel inflamed as the infection was backing up and spreading. This drug did not work for me. I researched and found out that Cipro is no longer considered a 'front line' drug for UTIs, and there is quite a lot of bacteria that is simply immune to this drug. I did not have some of the terrible symptoms other people had, apart from some morning headaches. I did generally feel a bit icky, and it's clearly a heavy-duty drug. My low review is based on the fact that it simply didn't work!"

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "Not long after taking this antibiotic in the hospital ER, my pain subsided. Before that, I had my first-ever UTI at 29 years old, probably due to dehydration from failing to drink enough water on the Keto diet. Before that, I was urinating blood and chunks of white tissue. I was prescribed 2 weeks of this antibiotic twice a day at 500 mg each. I have one day left, and while I have had bad headaches, more importantly, I still sometimes feel burning when urinating, so I don't even feel like it's totally working. I got off the Keto diet and have been drinking plenty of water since starting the antibiotics, and I have avoided dairy like the plague around the time I need to take the pill. I never take antibiotics, so I don't think I'm resistant."

• nof...
• January 28, 2016

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I had this for pelvic inflammatory disease. I immediately experienced fatigue and was extremely sick to my stomach for weeks afterward. Soon after that, I got crippling leg pain and migraine headaches on a regular basis. The headaches continued to get worse till they were every day. I also have pain in the tendons around my eyes and pretty bad stomach issues from this medication. I've been on a downward spiral that keeps getting worse because of the mitochondrial damage I've endured. I hope to recover, but it's been 7 years since taking it and haven't been the same since, just keeps getting worse!!!"

• Dun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "Was given this to treat epididymitis, which hurts like a mother. Within two hours of taking the first tablet, the ache in my scrotum had gone! Outstanding result. However, as I continued with the course, I began to suffer side effects - the first two doses were fine, but after taking the third tablet, I began to feel nauseated - sick, dizzy, sensitive to light, headache, drowsy, and some strange cramping in my fingers. I contacted my GP, who said he wasn't concerned and added that surely this was preferable to the pain I had been suffering prior to taking the medication? Well, yeah, but... y'know... the side effects are horrid. I rate the drug highly for doing what it's supposed to. It's early days in my treatment, but the pain is gone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2023

For Sinusitis "I have a splitting headache, am nauseous, and having episodes of sweating and shaking after taking 6 doses of oral Cipro. My ENT wants to have the Cipro compounded so it could be added to nasal rinses twice a day for 30 days to avoid systemic problems. Has anyone else gone this route?"

• Tha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2021

For Traveler's Diarrhea "Got food poisoning at the beach. Was vomiting and diarrhea for a good 24 hours. Went to Emergency. Doctor prescribed ciprofloxacin 500mg twice daily for 3 days. Felt much better the next day and back to normal on day 3. Only side effect was a headache, but can't really know if it was the medicine or food poisoning symptom."

• Daz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2021

For Prostatitis "I’ve had one course and have chronic fatigue symptoms, heart pounding, shaking, and burning in my left arm through to my thumb, and if I stand up, I feel like throwing up. I break into tears every few hours and asked my misses if she would help me do a will. My head hurts, and I can’t remember things, and my eyes hurt, and I have a constant humming in my head and can’t sleep as I’m in a constant panic attack with a pounding heart. That was 4 days ago, and only two tablets 500. Imagine how you would be after a course of 28, two a day. I've never been so sick and scared. Read the reviews and take note of the percent that it helps. You have one body and one life, and everyone reacts differently. I hope this makes you do your research as it’s not the only antibiotic, but it’s pushed first and has the most severe side effects."

• Jai...
• February 1, 2017

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "This drug, like so many countless victims before me, has so effectively degraded my quality of life that I simply lack words to describe how important it is to be cautious before the consumption of this deadly poison. I had a simple UTI at the age of 17; two weeks later my head began to throb and tingle. My hands were in so much unexplainable pain. I had never experienced anything like this at all before in my life. Also, I had just recently triumphed over a five-year battle with anorexia, going from 76 lbs to 105 lbs - looking forward to a healthy future. Now, I experience this nonstop, chronic pain all over my body. I am only 18. Definitely a 0.5 out of 10, to be quite honest with you all."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2010

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "Cleared up the infection but caused dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and headaches."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2011

Ciprofloxacin for Bladder Infection "Caused me violent abdominal pain, flank pain, nausea, and headache. After 3 days, I called my doctor for a different medicine."