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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Hi Sammy, ciprofloxin is a fluoroquinoline. There's many different names of this particular antibiotic. Levaquin, ciprofloxin, and more names.
It's not your imagination if that is what you are experiencing with Cipro. When you look at the top left anxiety and insomnia are a side effect and the side effects list goes on as they get more serious.
http://fqvictims.org/fqvictims/index.htm
They come under many names so one would have to google to get the names of these antibiotics in the same family.
http://www.antibiotics.org/resources/side-effects.pdf
People on benzos z-drugs should never take fluoroqinolones due to them working on the central nervous system. There's much safer antibiotics without their history. Dr. Ashton that studied this has it listed. They call it "floxed" when someone gets side effects from fluoro's. In working with people tapering benzos, I've met a couple people who unfortunately were new to these meds new to these med, and they had to heal from 2 cns deals, benzo, and flouroquinolones together.
In point #3 and excerpt of Dr. Ashton's with benzos
http://www.benzodocs.com/ashtonmanual/bzcha00.shtml
runner, or anyone else, is there a reason why the antihistamines Atarax or Vistaril might work better for insomnia than Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCL)? Are any of these better in terms of the side effect of more brain fog the next day?
Hi Sammy, yes, it seems you do have the effects from the cipro.Hi Runner64,
I do see my side effects on that list - insomnia/anxiety
The question I now ask is - What do I now do about these long term side effects???
As you know, being Benzo dependant isn't an option. Have tried many other pills. TCA's, Old School Anti-Histamines etc
Hi Sammy, yes, it seems you do have the effects from the cipro.
As far as what to do with the long term effects? Are you still on cipro and have the effects or you're off cipro and have the effects? I met 3 people with fluoro side effects. Two had tendon rupture and one more central nervous system. I am pming you the name of one of the woman you can contact who HAD, (not anymore), the cns problems from it, and ask her a question if you are off of it and concerned about long term side effects from this. From my knowledge if you get the insomnia or panic from it discontinue and do NOT take a fluoroquinolone again as your cns will be more susceptible. It says that on the link I gave you too. But from what I know the sooner you catch it, your system will then calm and they will then leave.
I know, same benzos are no option for me either. I am questioning like yourself how to more forward with sleep. I may try Atarax again to see if it will help sometimes. But, it sounds like you tried that if you say "old school antihistamines". What are TCA's?
Ivana, donnie thanks guys appreciate your help. And yeh donnie I do weights/gym twice a week, Branched chained amino acids help more(in regards to adding muscle mass)then protein powders or foods. I think like a couple of O/S's doctors beleive(names fail me right now)most of us are in a catabolic state and would benefit from this form of supplementation.
Sammy, have you looked into testosterone replacement therapy. I think a possible cause of us men being in a catabolic state from cfs/me could be low testosterone and TRT could help. The longer i have had cfs i see a pattern in my hormone tests of my dhea and free testosterone levels dropping, so i have been working on my dhea levels slowly, get test results back soon for all my hormones and if free testosterone is still low im going to look into TRT.
cheers!!
Cheers Heapsreal!!! Is it sunny where you are right now? Maybe that will put me too sleep. I'm getting on a flight!
You got it. She's got the nail on the head Tania! Switching out. I might add, 5 - 7 days has been known to be enough time for the brain to change with a benzo and z-drug. 3 days in a row might be a safer bet and jumping to something else. Back and forth that way. Many benzo people tapering as I said, use Atarax and Vistaril to help them sleep coming down. They are the older stronger prescription anti histamines that were very successfully used for anxiety and insomnia back in the day.
Heapsreal said:Sometimes alternating between different antihistamines every few days or weeks can help u to avoid tolerance and most u can buy over the counter. One called periactin has studies showing it improves deep stages of sleep and is also used alot for migraines and nausea.
Although vitamin B12 is fairly innocuous, some patients report side effects. The most common side effect is lassitude.