cipro and bactrim - side effects?

[KrazyKat]

ok, now i'm in a bit of bind here and would love to hear some
advice.....<br>
<br>
there are two oral antibiotics that my bugs are still sensitive to,
so obviously i want to be able to continue to take them, but at the
moment i'm suffering from what i THINK is side effects to one/both
of them, but i can't be certain and i just dont know what to
do.<br>
<br>
The symptoms i am having are:<br>
anxiety<br>
pounding heart - slight palpitations<br>
dizziness<br>
weakness<br>
panic<br>
slight shortness of breath<br>
<br>
Now to further complicate matters i have  also in the past 18
months or so, started suffering from anxiety and panic attacks and
have recently (about a month ago) gone off my anti-anxiety meds
(aropax - paroxetine) because i THOUGHT i was so much better
now.....<br>
<br>
so i am unsure if what i am experiencing at the moment, is plain
old anxiety as a result of going off my aropax - or if it is a
reaction to one or both of these AB's. And if it is a bad reaction
- which one am I reacting to? The Cipro or the Bactrim???<br>
<br>
Have any of you ever had this type of reaction to either of these
drugs and if so, what did you do about it?<br>
<br>
I've spent that much time at Emergency lately with this problem
that i'm beginning to get depressed about it

 

[Jane]

what else are you taking? Lots of meds have those side effects:

Prescription medications that may cause anxiety include:

Medications that contain amphetamines, such as Benzedrine, Dexedrine, and Ritalin.
High blood pressure medications, including clonidine, beta-blockers (such as atenolol and propranolol), and methyldopa.
Hormones, such as oral contraceptives and thyroid medications.
Steroids, such as cortisone, Hexadrol, and prednisone.
Respiratory medications, such as albuterol, salmeterol, and theophylline.
Other medications, such as phenytoin, levodopa, quinidine, and some antidepressants.
Nonprescription medications that may cause anxiety include:

Medications that contain caffeine, such as Anacin, Empirin, Excedrin, No-Doz, and cough medicines.
Decongestants, such as phenylephrine, including Sudafed PE.

My son gets some of those w/ albuterol. Also Cipro can increase the effects of caffeine.

 

[JazzysMom]

Bactrim is one of my regulars & Cipro I pull out as least as possible so I have it to fall back onto. I cant recall any real problems with either, but quite honestly I think I overlook a lot of things unless it cripples me!

 

[Landy]

I'm wondering if you have a little of both things going on here OR possibly low blood sugars. Do you ever get low blood sugars that you're aware of?
Some symptoms of that would be dizziness, heart palpitations, feeling shaky, disorientation, sweating. Does any of this ring a bell?
Some antibiotics tend to make me dizzy. It seems as if Cipro is one of them. I'm not dizzy all the time when I'm on it, just once in awhile I notice being dizzy. I usually try to sit down or something until it passes.
Are you dizzy all the time or just sometimes?
It does complicate things when we're prone to having anxiety, doesn't it? Even if the symptoms aren't from anxiety in the first place, they can mimic anxiety symptoms, then we worry....am I having an anxiety attack and then that causes more anxiety. Vicious cycle. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
Hang in there!

 

[anonymous]

You're having anxiety.

And it's definitely time to go back on your anti-anxiety meds.

Neither of these antibiotics is doing to cause those side effects that you spoke about.

And a note about side effects.

When Phase III clinical trials are conducted, everyone who is in the clinical trial is brought into the trial site and asked "are you having any side effects?"

ANYTHING that the patient mentions is put in the package insert. So if for example you suffer from chronic back pain, and you happen to mention "my back hurts" when discussing medication side effects, it will appear as a side effect of the med. this isn't to say that these are no side effects of meds because clearly many medications have legitimate side effects because they do! but take everything with a grain of salt because you now understand how side effects of medications are determined.

 

[NoExcuses]

.

 

[Diane]

Sounds like anxiety to me as well. I am on Zoloft for the exact same symptoms you are experiencing . Whats worse is Anxiety will put the THOUGHT into your head that it could be the medicine and next thing you know, you start getting scared and panicky about it and then the full fledge all out panic attack comes. Take a deep breath and count to ten slowly.......................
Neither of those antibiotics is known for those side effects, not thats its impossible because everyone is different. Is this the first time you have been on them? I've used that combo many time and never had any side effects from them. One way to know for sure is to skip a dose, and see if the symptoms ease up a little , If they do it may be the medicine, if they dont you know for sure it is just good ol anxiety. From what you said it sounds like you are just experiencing anxiety and may need to go back on meds for it.

 

[NoExcuses]

.

 

[Diane]

Oops wrong thread

 

[coltsfan715]

Kat,

The first thing I thought of when I read your list of symptom is you really only have 3 symptoms:

Anxiety
Dizziness
Weakness

You said
"The symptoms i am having are:
anxiety
pounding heart - slight palpitations
dizziness
weakness
panic
slight shortness of breath"

When I have problems with anxiety I get slight palpitations, panic, and shortness of breath, so to me that was all bunched into one thing.

Did your docs take you off your anxiety meds or did you do it yourself? If you did it yourself I would try taking the meds again and see if that alleviates the symptoms you are getting. If your doc took you off the meds I would call them and see if you can get a new script for some meds until you can get in to see them again. Hopefully those meds will help with your anxiety and any anxiety related symptoms you are having.

Also with the dizziness and weakness I also thought of low blood sugar. I know I am told when taking Cipro not to take it with food. I am told to take it either an hour before food or 2 hours after. It helps it to absorb better. Were you told the same thing? I ask because if you are refraining from eating to take your pills you may simply need to eat a snack or something. If you start to feel weak or dizzy and you have just taken your med, try having a small snack - not a huge meal just something small like peanut butter crackers and water or something. See if that helps at all. That way eating won't interfere too much with your meds absorbing, but you are also not having to hold off on eating for the med to absorb.

Like Amy said I would try not to skip a dose of the oral antibiotics just yet. I would try the other options first and see if they help. Unless your symptoms get unbearable or are continuing to worsen. If that is the case I would call your doc because they may need to put you on another med.

Just a thought too, I do not know how you have been feeling and how sick you are exactly to be taking Cipro and Bactrim, but maybe some of your symptoms are from you being sick. I know when I am sick I tend to feel weak and can get dizzy on occasion. Also I can get heart palpitations because I work double time to breath and such. How long have you been on the meds? When did the symptoms start? I hope you are able to pinpoint what the problem is.

Also to add ... KarenB started a thread yesterday about drug interactions and googling to find sites about such things. I went to google and did a search and came across this site
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Interaction/ChooseDrugs">Drug Digest</a>
You can scroll through the serach results or type in the drug and then add the drugs you are on to the interaction list. Once you do that you can check the interactions by hitting the "check interactions" button and it wil give you a list of possible interactions and such.

Hope that is helpful for you.

Take Care and I hope you start feeling better,
Lindsey

 

[KrazyKat]

Thanks you've all been really helpful. I have read up on possible
side effects of both meds now (it's 4:30am over here and i'm so
anxious/nervous i can't sleep so have been on the net) - whaddya
know, they BOTH can cause dizziness and anxiety and cipro can
apparently also cause shortness of breath.<br>
<br>
But - i did have a huge coffee, a nicorette chewing gum (stopped
smoking years ago but still have gum...sheesh)...both of which are
stimulants and as somebody mentioned, cipro can enhance the effects
of caffeine...and i therefore assume nicorette gum is just wrong
(SPIT!!!)<br>
<br>
I'm on no other drugs at all except for combivent inhaler, which i
think has salbutomol in it.....oh dear - hang on - is there any
other stimulants i can find in  the house to make this even
worse!!!! Go Kat ya winner at least i can see the funny side of
it now that i've read all of the good advice....believe me NOTHING
was funny 3 hours ago....death seemed like a pleasant option.<br>
<br>
You've scared me now about stopping the cipro and cotrim. I have
had them both in the past and have also had similar symptoms...but
again, was drinking large coffees, chewing nicorette gum and
suffering from anxiety (although still on aropax at this stage) but
i don't believe it has ever been this bad before....and the
frustration from all of this ends up making me cry uncontrollably
at very inappropriate times....oh blargh! But i did stop taking
them after one week a couple of weeks back due to the constant
panicky visits to Emergency. I will NOT stop taking them ever
again!<br>
<br>
I've also just been reading up on Aropax withdrawal and OMG!!!!!
This must also be related and I will NEVER go back on that again,
would highly recommend nobody else does either, coming off it is
absolutely lethal!!<br>
<br>
Sorry for the novel guys i'm just incredibly relieved to know that
in part it is the Aropax withdrawal, but more so, i believe it is
the Cipro combined with the coffees and the nicorette. So the
 coffees and chewing gum go and  the cipro and cotrim
stay.<br>
<br>
Thank you SO much everybody, you're lifesavers....literally!

 

[Diane]

did you just suddenly stop taking the Aropax ? Arent you supposed to wean off of that ? If you just stopped taking it all at once it could just be withdrawl you are experiencing. And all those stimulants ........... yikes

 

[KrazyKat]

haha...i know!! any wonder i'm awake at 5am with eyeballs like
saucers??? Haha<br>
<br>
No i didn't just stop the aropax...i was a good girl and weaned
myself off slowly over the course of a month or so.<br>
<br>
But apparently it makes little or no difference. i'd always heard
that Aropax was the hardest one to come off but being bullet-proof
as I am of course......i when 'pfffftttt to that!! i can handle it'
but after reading up on the web about other peoples experiences
trying to come off this stuff, i think it should be made
illegal.<br>
<br>
Seriously if anybody on this site is taking aropax (paxil,
paroxetene and some other AKA's) for either depression or anxiety i
urge you to do some reading on it.....scary scary stuff and i for
one will NEVER go back on it again....if i absolutely have to go
back on some sort of anti-anxiety meds i'll try something
else....won't touch aropax again after reading what i read
tonight...I can't believe they prescribe it so frequently and
without sufficient warning to people either.....<br>
<br>
<br>

 

[mare]

I have seen people have your symptoms with Combibid.

Also, I dont know how old you are, it does not matter actually, but hormones can do the same stuff too. Just cause we have CF doesnt mean we cant have the old peri-menopause , menopausal, etc. symptoms. I am going through it now.

 

[anonymous]

Hiya Eileen

Tell me what is Fluclox???? It's not one i've heard of before....and certainly isn't on my list of antibiotic sensitivities.....and do you know what bug you take it for? I assume the Cotrim is for Cepacia......is Fluclox for Pseudos?

Also, did you say you are on these antibiotics permanently? If so, at what dosages and what are the side effects like? Are you able to keep weight on ok?

So many questions.......you don't do any inhaled meds such as tobi or colistin or HS normally do you?

Hope you are feeling way better after your last stay in hospital and hope hubby's still feeding you good old pumpkin soup!!

 

[Diane]

I used to take Flucloxicillin years ago ( looooooooong befor i had cepacia ). I am assuming that might be what Eileen is referring to. Correct me if i am wrong Eileen. When i took it , it was a pink liquid and didnt taste too awful . Cotrim is one i have never heard of . . . .

 

[Diane]

wow, a man who bakes bread, he's a keeper !! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[KrazyKat]

whoops sorry Eileen I just assumed.......doh <inserts rather
large foot in mouth> :-o<br>
<br>
a great reply as ever and typically yes i always have more
questions........<br>
<br>
<br>
The bleeding you experienced using HS - do you think this might be
because of the cepacia? Because i have recently been talking to my
CF nurse about trying this - and i was considering azythromicin x 3
a week also for inflammation, as I don't seem to get really serious
infections, so I suspect i am instead 'stuck' in the inflammation
part of the cycle for most of the time. I thought maybe your doctor
may have linked your reaction to your being infected with
cepacia?<br>
<br>
And sheesh......fresh bread as well????? This tells me two
extremely important things....1) you are SPOILED and 2) i
definitely pick the wrong men!!!! haha<br>
<br>
NZ Kat (don't think i'm logged on)