Cipro, Ever take it?

[zipper]

I was just prescribed Cipro by my doctor...I have decided NOT to take it. I was having some pain down around where I thought my bladder was. Soooooooooo, the doc took some urine, checked it out, it was all clean. She proceeded to poke around me for a bit, said everything was good to go. Then she prescribed me 500mg of Cipro, twice a day for 3 days. Why would she prescribe something to me....when she didn't find anything wrong?

I did some research on my own and Cipro can have some nasty side effects. Has anyone had any experience w/Cipro?

[raeanna74]

Are you still having pain? How long has it gone on? Do you or have you had a fever? The only thing I can think of is that she thought perhaps you have a bladder infection and just wanted to be sure it didn't get worse. I would be leary of taking Cipro myself is she wasn't absolutely sure you had an infection. Not only are there the side effects to consider but it also will kill all the bacteria in your body good and bad. If you are exposed to a bacterial infection soon after finished the meds then you will be more susceptible to it. It can also make the bacteria more antibiotic resistant. I agree I wouldn't want to take it either. I suggest you call her though and ask if she really thinks this is necessary. If she didn't find anything then you shouldn't need it. If she did find something and that's why she prescribed it for you then she needs to make sure you know all the results and why she made her decision. She needs to communicate with you though. She shouldn't be handing out antibiotics randomly as it may seen she has. Don't just not take it though. Check with her too. Good Luck.

[SiphonX]

i've taken cipro many times! aside from it's god awful taste (swallow it real quick), i didn't experience any side effects.

[thingstodo]

Nasty stuff but effective for gastro bacteria problems. You need a certain level of bacteria in your gastro system but if something is out of whack, cipro and flagyl or the drugs of choice. She may suspect a problem in that area.

Diverticula (spelling?) is a problem where your colon gets some spots like a weak tire inner tube. Shit - literally, collects and sometimes creates an infection.

Here are two things to consider that won't hurt and can only help:

1. after the meds are done, eat yogurt for a weak to get the good bacteria thriving again in your gastro tract
2. go on a high fiber diet - 20-30 mgs/day, which will help your shit move through your gastro tract and avoid creating or exacerbating any diverticula spots.

Last, I would never just not take something your doctor prescribed unless you discuss it with them. If you don't trust or can't do this, it's time to get another doctor! But looking things up and asking questions - like you're doing - is a good thing.

[VitaminH]

Three days is often a bladder/UTI type dose. Even if your urine didn't have any bacteria in it, doesn't mean there isn't something devloping. Cipro can have some side effects, but most people experience none.

I'd take it. If you're really having anxiety about it, call her back and ask her exactly why she wanted you to. Frankly, she should have told you why she wanted you to in the first place. Makes it a whole lot easier for me when I fill your prescription and have to counsel you on it.

[zipper]

Well, I am allllllll better. I still have no clue what was going on down there. I ended up not taking the Cipro. I am in the military...so getting another opinion isn't an option (just getting an appointment took me 2 days). For some reason I usually wait to go to the doctor until I am almost well anyways...I was feeling much better the next day.

Thanks for asking how I was doing!!

[thingstodo]

Glad to hear things worked out!