Ciprofloxacin and Insomnia: What Users Say

• HL3...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2020

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "Prescribed Cipro every 12 hours for a urinary infection, but only took 3 doses as my side effects felt terrible. I had the worst headache I've ever felt. It felt like there was so much pressure in my head that it could explode. My muscles started to ache, and my body would tingle. I had absolutely no energy, and felt like my brain wasn't even working, and like I was in a different body. Complete disconnect from reality. Trouble staying asleep at night, and just laid awake in pain. Back pain, neck stiffness, and my vision blurred. Worst thing I have ever experienced. Called my doctor before I was supposed to take the next dose to get something new and instantly felt better. Hoping this new one works without the side effects as I'm terrified to feel that way ever again."

• Son...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "NO ONE SHOULD BE GIVEN THIS MEDICATION CIPROFLOXACIN UNLESS IT IS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION! Horrible drug! I was given this medication 10 months ago for a simple UTI from kidney stones and my life is a complete nightmare now. It has put me in constant debilitating nerve pain, caused severe muscle atrophy, and central nervous system issues. I can no longer drive a car, or even sit more than a few minutes, cannot walk without tremors or risk of falling, it damaged my knees and caused severe spine pain, anxiety, insomnia, and dizziness. It has stolen my life. At 54 years old my independence is completely gone! They list these side effects as rare but there are hundreds of thousands of us out here with the same heartbreaking story..."

• Max...
• November 8, 2019

Ciprofloxacin 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."

• Rec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2015

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "I've taken this medicine about 7 times. It works well for the UTI, and prior to taking it this last time I had little side effects. This last time, however, was horrible. I couldn't sleep (not even a wink!) was shaky, felt like I couldn't walk, sore everywhere, headaches from hell... all of these effects started to happen on the 5th day... the 7th day (last day) was the worst and continued for the next week. I like this medicine because it works for the UTI, but I will not take it again. The side effects are scary."

• her...
• September 22, 2016

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "Cipro works well for me without incurring any noticeable negative side effects. Strangely, though, I get many of the terrible side effects described by some here when taking levofloxacin - the insomnia, the crippling panic attacks, etc. It just goes to show, I suppose, how differently these meds affect different individuals."

• kar...
• June 7, 2015

For Sinusitis "Terrible problem with sinus issues and drainage for many, many years. This year, almost one infection per month on average. Resistant to most antibiotics, according to ENT. My internist prescribed Cipro on a flare-up (drainage, headache, green discharge). Tried this, and on the 2nd day, remarkable improvement. Also, achiness in joints, trouble sleeping the next night, anxiousness. Cut back to one pill in the morning instead of the prescribed two. Side effects are about 80% less, and I do believe it is still very effective. Shortly after taking the pill, it seems to make me want to cough phlegm like Mucinex D (phlegm almost non-existent after 3 days), and it gave me an unbelievable dry cough. Seems very effective medicine, but has very strong side effects."

• can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2018

For Diverticulitis "This drug is not a joke. I foolishly did not read the patient information before taking these pills. Read the patient information before you take this. This drug should come with a warning, and it should be illegal to dispense it without a huge warning. After 3 days, I had such severe panic attacks I thought I was going to die. Insomnia and the worst panic attacks I have ever felt in my 52 years of living. Then came the nausea, vomiting, retching with an empty stomach, and more abdominal pain, which I already had when I started this. My feet were on fire, and I had shooting pains in my legs and horrible muscle pain. I could not drive, I could not focus, I could not remember anything from one minute to the next. I have been 'floxied,' and from what I read, that is very serious. I feel it will take months for me to repair the damage done to my body after 3 days of this drug. It was not worth the risk, and I completely regret it."

• Raw...
• March 20, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "Tremors, anxiety, panic attacks, brain fog, insomnia, intolerance towards many foods, medicines, vitamins, and supplements, concentration issues, light sensitivity, heart palpitations, difficulty in reading and understanding, spells of severe depression, weakness, fatigue, delayed and slow reactions to situations and questions, spells of memory loss - despite taking it 14 months ago! It has destroyed the abilities and the intelligence of a poet, an intellectual thinker, a guy known for witty replies and unmatched sense of humor and timing. This poison has changed the personality of a guy named Rawal Afzal - myself, that is! I'll never, ever take it again, or any drugs in the class of fluoroquinolone or quinolone, even as eye or ear drops."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2020

For Diverticulitis "Stay away from this poison called CIPRO. The side effects are horrible. You might not get one, but if you do, like me, you will be fighting for your life for the rest of it. I had diverticulitis and was given CIPRO. Doctors later confirmed that in my case, I did not need it. Now I have: systemic Candida, leaky gut syndrome, gastritis, permanent nerve system damage, insomnia where I cannot sleep at all. Some nights are nightmares. Chronic indigestion, chronic constipation, gallbladder stones, compromised immune system. And this is not a complete list. From a totally healthy person, I became chronically ill in a matter of 14 CIPRO pills."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2021

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "Please don’t take these pills, the damage it causes is irreversible! I took two pills, one in the morning and another in the evening, and I started feeling tingling and burning in my lower arms and legs that night. The next day, I couldn’t walk and had to crawl to the bathroom and had pain in all my joints. In the weeks and months following, I experienced neuropathy in my hands and feet, blurred vision, tendinitis, tinnitus, insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, unable to regulate my body temperature, cracking joints throughout my entire body anytime I moved, my hair got very coarse like brush bristles, my nails became deformed and brittle, and many of my teeth broke or cracked. Cipro combined with NSAIDs, steroids, and other drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier are deadly."

• Dan...
• January 30, 2020

For Bladder Infection "I took Cipro for prostate infection twice a day, and the course was supposed to be for 7 days. By the 4th day, I had pain in my back and legs, constipation, insomnia, foggy mind, and tremors in my hands. Now, I'm always tired, lost about 20 pounds, I'm very susceptible to cold weather, no longer working. I was a very healthy person before I took Cipro, awful pill."

• Leg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2018

For Prostatitis "I was prescribed this by my doctor 4 only days ago, after another antibiotic failed to work (that's another story). To be honest, in my 65 years, I've taken a lot of prescription drugs-but this is the worst. The problems that I had are: burning while urinating (the original problem), terrible anal pain, heavy sweats, burning gullet, horrendous headaches, burning skin, lack of sleep, feeling like I'm going to die, not being in control, bowel control lost, leg & joint pains. I could go on and on, believe me. The worst drug ever-that is honest."

• lua...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2019

For Kidney Infections "This was a rough go for me. I couldn't sleep, I was anxious and totally out of it. I continued to take it because I know you are supposed to finish the whole round, but I would wake up my partner every 45 minutes asking him to feel my chest and to check to see if I was dying. This drug really messed me up, so I went to the ER and they switched me to amoxicillin. I refuse to take this again, it was the worst."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2017

For Bladder Infection "This drug is very dangerous too many and should only be used when there are no other options. I took it several times for back-to-back UTIs. It caused tremors, insomnia, burning, tingling, numbness, and severe muscle twitching in my legs. These symptoms lasted for months!!!!"

• Dm3...
• May 13, 2017

Ciprofloxacin for Kidney Infections "I was prescribed this medication for a kidney infection. On the third day, I developed breathing problems similar to asthma, a rapid heartbeat, a burning sensation in my chest, and found sleep to be very difficult."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 14, 2017

Ciprofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "Took Cipro for a UTI twice a year for a couple of years. First time got a UTI, and it was gone quickly. Then got another six months later, continued frequently, the whole time acquiring other issues. When telling my doc, they said I was getting older. The issues I was experiencing weren't from drug toxicity, as they weren't going to stop writing the scripts. Tinnitus, neuropathy, small nerve neuropathy, vicious detachment, tremendous stomach issues, insomnia, depression, loss of memory. Nerve damage or neuropathy has destroyed my life. I can't pick things up anymore without pain. The burning, freezing feeling in my legs, feet, hands, and fingers is so painful at this point I'm losing the battle. The horror continues daily. Help me!!!!! Please."

• sno...
• March 8, 2017

For Bladder Infection "On holiday in Florida (from Canada) and got UTI after many years with no problems. Cipro was prescribed, and although it has helped, the side effects are almost unbearable! My joints ache, I'm dizzy and nauseous, can't get to sleep, and had terrible abdominal and vaginal pain. Also, you can't have dairy or any vitamins 2 hours before to 4 hours after taking the meds. If this had been my family doctor instead of the doctor's PA at the walk-in clinic, I'd certainly give him an earful!! I'm only halfway through the course of meds (required a full 10 days) and will make note of this medicine so that I will NEVER take it again!"

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

Ciprofloxacin 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."

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

Ciprofloxacin 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."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2012

For Prostatitis "I was on Cipro for 4 weeks for prostate, kidney infections. It cleared up the kidney infection in a week, but I still had prostate problems till week 3. I felt fine for 3 weeks, but that last week of Cipro was tough to take, and my body was getting tired, and I was having trouble sleeping."

• pdf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2018

For Prostatitis "This is one of those drugs where the cure is almost as bad as the disease in my case, but it does work. I was prescribed a two-week course of Cipro (500 mg twice daily). Four days into treatment for prostatitis, I'm finally able to urinate again without standing around for what feels like forever, and most of the major symptoms are fading. However, the side effects of Cipro are a little ugly. Brain fog, dizziness, fatigue, increased heart rate, and insomnia are the ones I've been going through. I'm rating Cipro fairly high because it is working for me, I'm just going to have to slog through the side effects for another 10 days."

• NHS...
• December 5, 2017

For Bladder Infection "DANGEROUS. Prescribed this for a very painful bladder infection and was given no warnings. I suffered nearly all the side effects (nausea was the worst), but the 500 mg every 12 hours only had an effect for about 6 hours, the infection would return before it was time to take the next dose. Three days of 40-degree Celsius fevers, being worn down, very little sleep, uncontrollable shaking twice each day, and I was in a bad way. I'm 59 and have taken antibiotics all my life-yearly in fact-until about 25 years ago when I gave up smoking. Since then, I have taken antibiotics maybe four times. The last time was about a year ago for a cat bite down to the bone. Don't recall any side effects. I went private yesterday and got the pills changed."

• 12k...
• September 26, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Began taking this medicine when I was in pain for a strong UTI. This medicine has made me feel the worst I've ever felt in my life. Constantly throwing up, extremely high fever (104), dizzy, confused, blurred vision, chills, insomnia, and the most painful back, ribs, neck, and leg pain. As well, it makes you urinate less frequently, and that put together with not being able to hold down water, how is this supposed to make me 'better'? I have never been one who is sensitive to medication, but due to the amount of dehydration and pain I've been caused, I'm currently sitting in a hospital hooked up to an IV. I wouldn't suggest this medication to anyone, ever."

• Fra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2022

For Urinary Tract Infection "This drug ruined my life. I became anxious, then developed insomnia, which led to terrible depression. I didn't sleep properly for 90 days and started to feel suicidal. That was 10 years ago. Ten years of living nightmare. Don't take this drug."

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

Ciprofloxacin 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!"