I was prescribed Cipro for a minor prostate infection and ended up getting poisoned by it "floxed" as so many others term it. Cipro and Levaquin and other Floroquinolone anti-biotic drugs cause Peripheral Neuropathy as a side effect. (as well as other well-known drugs) This is known as Toxic Neuropathy Secondary to Medication according to the Center for Peripheral Neuropathy in Chicago as well as others.

Basically, it's generally said that most PN caused by drugs does go away in time, but in really "EXTREME" cases it MIGHT be permanent.

Of course, the big question is what is determined "Extreme" as most people suffering from PN will certainly feel they are extreme cases due to the pain they get. But there doesn't seem to be an answer for that. Below is my personal blog-case and how I ended up with PN, though I don't know if I'm an extreme case (I certainly hope not - that would lean towards a permanent damage, and frankly, I don't feel like that now-a-days)

I have Peripheral Neuropathy from a prescribed, 21-day treatment of Ciprofloxacin (500 MG twice a day) back in June 2012 for a case of prostatis. After 3 weeks, I first noticed the pain and then I quickly stopped taking it after noticing very severe pains. Now, 3 months later in October, I still have frequent pains though they are far less painful.

At the time, I was taking Cipro I was also taking the NSAID Naproxen (1 pill per day and my 1 MG of Clonazapam twice a day). I have discovered afterward that taking NSAIDS and benzos such as Clonazapam/Klonapin while taking Cipro augments Cipro Toxicity. I have had many tests done – I do NOT have diabetes or MS. So this suggest further that my Neuropathy is from taking Cipro.

I had regularly drunk less/or about one 6 -pack of beer on the weekend – so alcoholism seems a very unlikely cause. Now, in October of this year, I still suffer from daily pains of needle and pinpricks and cramps, especially in my feet, toes, and fingers. What has changed is that I no longer feel the hardcore stabbing pains in my toes or the prolonged cramps.

I even have days where I feel “Almost Normal”. Basically I’m afraid of what most Cipro poisoned people are of – that this pain will last for the rest of our lives. Still, I feel much better then I did 3 months ago, especially after taking the four vitamins I’ve been taking daily since august. (Vitamin C 120 mg, Omega 3 120 mg, Magnesium 250 mg and B-12 500 mcg).

The thing is, my urologist did NOT tell me the dangers of the drug, and even told me to take it with NSAIDS and my Clonazepam! I'm was also told to take it for another three weeks, which luckily I did NOT!!! 2 ER doctors told me the PN was most likely from Cipro which is very rare for doctors to admit. 1 doctor told me to stop taking Cipro immediately and the side effects will fade away in time. Which seems true, at least to a certain extent. --Of course the time to heal probably varies from person to person.

I asked why they thought this and they said: "You have no history of any ailment that would give you PN - it would be astronomical, a million to one, that you'd get PN by any other means at exactly the same time you've been taking a drug well-known to cause it."

Basically they said all they could without getting into trouble that Cipro caused my PN -still, my neurologist doesn't believe it, despite all the tests that I took that eliminate other causes.

I told my neurologist that I still have frequent pains daily, especially in my hands and feet (fingers & toes mainly) and truthfully they are fading away, just very slowly, as they are clearly not as severe as before.

She simply told me -" if they are fading away -then you don't have anything to worry about then."
As condescending as she sounds, I hope it's true.