Here is an interesting account from DR. Cohen's website.

http://www.medicationsense.com/artic...ity070508.html

This article suggests Vit E may be protective in people using fluroquinolones. (it was protective in rats so far)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

Vit E protective in humans:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12540033?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez. Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.P ubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles& logdbfrom=pubmed

Great avatar photos, mrsd!

I really felt as if you were writing this just for me!

Two months ago I was prescribed Cipro....I asked three times: ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO PRESCRIBE THIS TO SOMEONE W/A NEUROPATHY? Yep...
Well, it was a 5 day course and I am now suffering those arthritis-like consequences. I did see my neuro a few weeks ago and asked him if he could write a no-no letter, I'll find out when I see my Gp later this month.
I'd Attributed the arthritis issues to another med I'd been on[notorious for this s/e] but had stopped just before taking the Cipro... and well, it's not gone away, just getting worse.
There is only so much Vit E one can take, you know?
In the meantime? You all can call me 'Grumpy'! - j

supplements you can try to increase glutathione, without resorting to IV treatments. This site lists them:

http://www.ei-resource.org/treatment...r-supplements/

SAMe will definitely help in the "grump" department, as it also works on mood.

sorry - this posted twice

Cipro for 5 days during the first year of PN oneset (the PN required leaving work but still had some senosry nerves) - caused C-Diff for six months which then required oral vancol and flagyl to treat for six months and very ill from the combo of meds and infection (of course flagyl a neuro-toxin which I didnt know at the time) to beat and then no sensory nerve conduction at the concousion of treatment... now I'm beginning to wonder - how much did all of these play together to "get" me - was it the cipro, the infection, the other meds? (I'm sure the flagyl did its part) - its never stopped - believed to be genetic - but how much did these little gems contribute... thanks mrs. d for the info - i wonder if years later any actions can help?

It is really hard to say. If the mitochondria have not died...are just not working properly...the interventions would be useful.

Research into mitochondrial damage, is still very primative.
It is heating up some with autistic research, aging research, etc. We have just seen that statins cause their damage thru mitochondria attack. So do chemo and AIDs drugs.

In your case I would think the drugs were serious players.
It takes many many years for the truth to come out about
drug damage. In the case of fluroquinolones, many of them have been taken off the market. One really terrible one only lasted a couple of weeks--Omniflox-- caused liver failure/death.

I am seven weeks out from a cipro rx for recurrent uti, but cut short by my reactions of tingling (everywhere) burning feet, the feeling of electric shocks, anxiety and digestive issues. I am so fortunate in that I am doing much better, but still have some tingling (especially when fatigued). My anxiety is about gone. Intestines still off. Two physicians believe this isn't due to cipro because I'm no longer taking the drug. My bloodwork was fine except for high levels of immature RBC (?) After spending some time on this forum, I began supplementing with B-12- M) E, B-complex and a chelated cal/mag, and omegas. A very grateful thank you to all of your collective knowlege, experience and willingness to share.
My questions- will I need to continue this regimen forever, or will the side effects eventually subside, or grow worse? I'm not feeling positive about my doctors right now, but am not sure which direction to go. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

The B12 I think is a life time commitment since as we age we don't absorb it well past about 50.

If you don't eat the omegas daily in your food (and now we have many "smart" foods to choose from), you need them also.
They are essential, like Vit C. We cannot live without them.
You may not need high doses anymore, but you cannot do without them in some way.

You may be able to lower your Bcomplex, with time.

If you eat well, you may be able to drop the cal/mag. Most people do not eat foods with good magnesium levels, so if you do that with your diet, a supplement will be necessary.

Many foods have calcium added. My Lactaid milk has 50% of the RDA in it/serving. There is OJ with calcium, breakfast cereals, etc.

If you are improving, then you are lucky. I don't think you will deteriorate unless you get another course of Cipro or its cousins. Now that you know you react to them, you can take the Vit E before any future treatments. I'd reserve those to situations where they are the LAST choice for you. You know they were intended from the start to be 3rd line drugs. Meaning, used when others fail or don't work, or because of allergies etc. The drug companies were aggressive in promoting them as first line to doctors, so they could make more money. That just exposed more people to the neuro side effects. The drug Floxin actually caused epileptic seizures which were permanent for some. There is a book written about it called Bitter Pills.

I am grateful for your advice, will continue to read this forum, and learn about the best supplements to use, and how and when to use them. Who knew there was a sublingual B-12? I am just angry with myself for ingesting a drug which has the capacity to poison, without educating myself beforehand. The physician who prescribed cipro mentioned nothing about possible side effects, and of course, I didn't take the time to read the fine print, because I just wanted to feel better, making the assumption that medications are safe. What a rotten lesson. But, on a brighter side, the information I have gained from you and this site is invaluable as I try to locate a physician I can trust, will listen, and educate . . . . Julie