Knowing About The Serious Cipro Side Effects

Way back in 1928, when Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered Penicillin, the father of present day antibiotics, he never knew that one day the ever increasing toxicity of antibiotics would spell disaster to these miracle drugs. True, an antibiotic can bring a patient back from death’s door but at what price? Continued use of certain types of antibiotics can result in permanent loss of vision, irreversible nerve damage or ventricular tachycardia which itself is potentially life-threatening.

 Cipro Side effects are no less hurtful

Since Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) is a synthetic chemotherapeutic antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone drug class, it manifests numerous side effects that are associated with this group of therapeutics. Even though Cipro Side effects usually occur when the drug is used for a considerable period of time, the FDA, on realizing the extent of inherent hazard and risk  that this drug carries has advised its manufacturer (Bayer A.G.) to warn users about the drug’s harmful side effects on cartons and boxes that contain Ciprofloxacin tablets.

Types of Cipro Side effects commonly encountered

Dizziness and Headaches: The initial reaction to the use of Ciprofloxacin 500 mg often relates to a feeling of becoming unbalanced as also of a state of movement even when the patient is in a stationary condition. Although, it may result in stumbling or fall, causing injury, the patient is known to recover gradually and resume normal activities (??). Cipro Side effects also cause some forms of headache with many users but this problem is supposed to go away after the drug gets adjusted within the system.

Diarrhea: It is a common issue with most antibiotics and Ciprofloxacin is no exception to this. While Mayo Clinic stresses on detailed investigation about Cipro induced loose stool and abdominal cramps, Drugs.com quashes this theory by insisting that it is a non-serious side effect of ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablets that entails a temporary phase of Cipro treatment. Meanwhile patients remain perpetually confused.

Musculoskeletal side effects resulting from use of Ciprofloxacin 500 mg often include arthalgia (stiffness of the joints). Incidentally, a 51-year-old woman on Ciprofloxacin 500 mg who developed arthalgia, myalgia and tendinopathy was brought for investigation in a recent case study. However, her symptoms disappeared after the discontinuation of Cipro. While tendinopathy is a well-documented side effect of quinolone therapy, muscle symptoms are rarely met with.  

Impaired vision is also one of the common Cipro Side effects. This is especially true with patients using Ciprofloxacin Eye Drops. Common occurrences include corneal perforation as also damage to the corneal surface – a fairly critical issue to deal with.