A very important drug reaction to know!!!!!

[KathrynPInk]

I have always had terrible anxiety and depression when I was Prescribed any Quinelone antibiotic, such as Cipro, Floxin, and Levsin, others in that family,.....I have talked with someone that also thinks that for some folks who take these antibiotics should be careful IF they also take a benzodiazapams, such as valium, xanax, klonopin, ativan, etc.. I have wondered that those two drug combinations could possibly cause panic and anxiety when used together...b/c they react on the same portion of the brain, the limbic system. I am NOT saying this is true for everyone....It is true for me, for sure. I ONLY have my own personal experience, but I will never take a Quinelone antibiotic-- never. These drugs are very successful in treating UTIs, but for me, the horrorible anxiety and depression was not worth it, so I always ask for other antibiotics. I am already allergic to sulfa drugs, so I pray I do not need much of an antibiotic.
Has anyone else on this board had a reaction to the two drugs together? It could be me and maybe just a few others, but if this ever happens, and then stops when you get off the antibiotic, think, could it be the combination? Could it be? I think so, in my case after several attempts at being treated with both meds together. Maybe i just have a strange body!! Well...NO maybe about that.
I used to be a nurse years ago, and even though I am not the most up to date, these reactions are interesting to me. Now as a social worker, I deal with my patients who are on Benzos and antidepressants for panic, anxiety, depresson, etc, and I have to wonder if they get worse if taking some antibiotics if treated wtih the Benzos too. I wonder too, if anyone else had anything to say about this subject; if not, then yes, I am supersensitive.
Only my experience, may I speak, but just use caution, just in case.
Love, Katheryn

[ICNDonna]

I know that some medications can interact. When we pick up a new prescription from our pharmacist, there is always a sheet with it that lists any potential problem combinations. If you are concerned, it's a good idea to ask your physician or pharmacist.

Donna

[Sarojini]

In addition to asking your doctor or pharmacist (which you should do first), you can also look up drug warnings and precautions at http://www.rxlist.com.

Please do not "guess" about these things or take the advice of non-physicians who "think" something is true. It's very dangerous and can lead to serious problems with your medications. Only follow your doctor's advice.

[meme]

That just reminded me, there are some meds you can't take w/ migraine meds either. When we were deciding on an anit-anxiety med, we had to be careful that it wouldn't interact w/ my Maxalt. Some antidepressents mixed w/ migraine meds can cause Seritonin Syndrom and can cause seizures. My uro didn't even know about it, luckily I had just read an article on it, and sure enough what she was going to give me could've interacted.

[KathrynPInk]

My concern about this is..there are times when a Physician is not aware of the "rarely reported" side effects that can happen to only a few. I have had this experience and had to go to one of my prescription Meds books to point it out. I am very fortunate that my current and forever Uro is a respecter of patient's concerns about their meds, but sometimes, if a Physician has not been told about rare contraindications by the drug rep, well, I am just a believer in knowing what one takes and if unusual side effects occur, you can report them, otherwise the Dr. will not know. After all, there are so many new meds out there. I am certainly not implying that patients "should believe" what non medical individuals say!!!!!! I say that one needs to be an advocate for themselves and read about meds and their interactions.
I hope I have not overstepped my boundaries with this concern, only sharing what has happened with me, and the list of side effects can be daunting...my "take" is be educated about what we take and have a good communicative relationship with our Docs. if one knows something is hurting them, be proactive and know your body and your head...and thus how certain meds might interact. As a long time patient, I know this is good advice. Share your concern with your physician and do not hesitate to bring up any concern you have about a medicaton. Know thyself as well, and make it a point to know what you are prescribed, and its side effects.
Thanks for responding~
Katheryn

[KathrynPInk]

Exactly!

That just reminded me, there are some meds you can't take w/ migraine meds either. When we were deciding on an anit-anxiety med, we had to be careful that it wouldn't interact w/ my Maxalt. Some antidepressents mixed w/ migraine meds can cause Seritonin Syndrom and can cause seizures. My uro didn't even know about it, luckily I had just read an article on it, and sure enough what she was going to give me could've interacted.

I am glad you were well informed and thus helped out your Dr. and patients to come! Good for you, and good for him for being open and responsive.
katheryn

[meme]

HER!!! and she's an awesome uro!

[KathrynPInk]

Of course! I fell into the old "gender assumption"! I am very happy there are more women going into uro.
I hope you are doing well. I have had a history of migraines as well, but with the IC diet, they have actually improved. Mine must have been food related; ya think?
Katheryn

[meme]

Mine are hormonal. The only non-med that makes them any better is (of course) a chocolate bar and a Mt. Dew, so its like which is the worse of two evils. My Maxalt works really well though.
My uro is amazing. She's done wonders for me. I've just had too many bad experiences w/ male docs-not as sympathetic. Plus, they just don't have the same parts as me, so how do they know how it feels?

[mary124]

I know that yesterday I went to the doctors yesterday (neurologist) and he ask about my migraines, I told him they were coming back, and he wanted to put me on something; I told him that I couldn't due to the coumadin - he said that I should be able to still use it- that I should talk to the pharmist or the cardio doctor anyway, he then listened to my heart and he heard my heart valve and he changed his mind--said he didn't want to be responsible if anything happened. So he told me to keep taking what I taking which is the topamax (at night) and the hydrocodone, but he told me to be careful --don't get addicted to it.

[ihurttoo]

Kathryn,

I totally agree with you that although we hope out pharmacists and Drs. remember to tell us of all potential side effects and interactions, it is still a good idea to look them up ourselves as well. I have found several on my own this way. Most notably, for several months while I was working on diet modifications, I had high cholesteral so my PCP put me on Lipitor. Within a couple of weeks, I had SEVERE leg and back pain. He ran numerous tests and sent me to an Orthepedic as well. Finding nothing new, they both attributed it to my Fibromyalgia. However, having had fibro for years, I had never experianced this particular type of pain before, so I continued to research on my own and found out it is a side effect of Lipitor. Now, it is a side effect that is so common for it that they actually mention it in the commercials for it, but at the time, they didnt. So, for 4 months, I suffered, since my Drs just didnt know. As soon as I found out it was the possible cause of my problem, I called my Dr and asked what he thought. He told me to go off of it and see what happened. So, I did, and sure enough, it was the culprit!! That was when I began to realize that I needed to be an active participant in my health education, rather than a passive one. (Thank God I learned that lesson prior to my IC d/x! LOL!)

By the way, speaking of interactions with Cipro, it also interacts with Zanaflex. My Rhematologist told me last year that anytime I have to go on it, I need to go off the Zanaflex while I am taking the Cipro, since there is a potential for a danagerous interaction. I was lucky she had told me, since my PCP and pharmacist both knew I was on the Zanaflex when I got the Cipro, and neither said anything to me about it. I had already taken them together several times, and was fortunate nothing happened. But, someone else might not have been as lucky.

I feel for you with getting frequent migraines! I used to get them a few times every month, (when ovulating, and then right before I started my period.) They were horrific! I usually had to go get a shot to get thru them. Like Meme, I think mine were definately hormonal, not only b/c of the timing of them, but also since I have only had a couple since having a total hysterectomy last year. I hope that your cardiologist will come up with an idea for a med that will help that wont interfere with things on his end. It's so complicated when there is more than one disease/illness involved!

Thank you again for reminding us to keep an eye on the side effects and potential interactions. Though I am usually pretty good about it, I admit that every once in a while, I dont check, and that's usually when I should have! So, thanks for the reminder! I definately needed it!

Hugs,
Amy