What is it about Cipro?

[Polly]

Hi All,

Yesterday I just finished up 6 weeks of Cipro for a chronic sinus infection. The entire time I took it I had absolutely PERFECT bowel function. Of course my MC has been in remission for years now with diet, but I have never had such consistently good BMs as I have just had on the Cipro.

Specifically, the BMs were large, full, in one piece, NOT "puff-poopies", and occurred only once a day - every morning. There was never any bowel urgency at any time during the day, even if I had eaten some of my offending foods (like tomatoes, corn, chocolate). In fact I have been eating some of my more minor intolerances because I found I could tolerate them on the Cipro. Haven't tried gluten or dairy though. I have had no bloating, gurgling, or any other kind of gut symptom.

What do you suppose is at work here? Is the Cipro wiping out bad bacteria that chronically resides in the gut as a result of MC? What other factors could be in play, do you think? It seemed as though the Cipro completely "regulated" the gut - transit time was slowed down - even after eating foods that are usually problematic for me.

I know that others have found the positive effects of Cipro to be short-lived. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for its good effects to diminish. I almost wish I could take it continuously (and you know how much I detest taking medications).

Love,

Polly

[starfire]

Polly, that is really amazing. Please keep us informed about the duration of the good effects.

Love, Shirley

[tex]

Polly,

Yep, Cipro worked the same way for me, too. I wonder if it might play a part in the suppression of zonulin production, or somehow provide a mechanism to help maintain the integrity of the tight junctions.

Love,
Tex

[mle_ii]

Polly, I've been wondering the same thing with the Neomycin and Xifaxan that I took. After finishing the various courses I would feel great for days, in fact the very first day after taking Neomycin I felt great, though while taking Xifaxan I didn't feel good until the medication stopped.

So far so good with this last bout of antibiotics.

But I'm even more inclined to say that this a treatment for a symptom. Mainly in that it doesn't seem to help everyone, that it comes back (at least for me). Unfortunately most of my Drs aren't up for the experiment to figure this out.

I have a lot of theories as to why antibiotics seem to help, but they are all just theories. Though I bet they all play a role somehow.

Mike

[annie oakley]

I myself just finished a two week course Of Cipro and had no Ill effects at all. I have more trouble from the sinuses. I had good Bowel function too. I have been in remission for awhile. Love Oma

[Polly]

Tex,

I suspect you are correct - that something in Cipro tightens those gates. Similar to the peptide that Dr. Fassano is currently testing on celiacs as per Dee's memo. I think I will try to touch base with him and see if he has any thoughts as to how Cipro works. His peptide might turn out to be the best treatment for us multiply-intolerants. If it closes the gates in general, then NO foreign proteins or fragments will be able to slip thru. Wouldn't that be wonderful?!

Love,

Polly

[tex]

Polly,

If he has any insights into the mechanics of how Cipro stops D, (and he's willing to share them), that should prove to be some very interesting information.

Love,
Tex

[m]

Polly,
That's interesting. I had considered at one time that Cipro may have triggered my MC. My symptoms began after 2 courses in a row of antibiotic, the last being Cipro. Of course, it also could have been 5 years of chronic stress taking care of my mother.
m

[grannyh]

I got a very similar result with Levaquin. Poopies were larger than usual...quite NORMAL for most people but went back to the smaller ones within a couple of days.
grannyh

[JJ]

Hi...I am on Levaquin right now and am experiencing looser movements. On Cipro, I had perfect movements. JJ

[grannyh]

I wonder if it makes a difference if you are on cipro or a generic. So many times now my prescriptions are changed to generics. There is no generic for levaquin so when that is prescribed that is what i get. The last few times I had cipro prescribed I got something else...
grannyh

[Moosely Immune]

Polly, remember me always happy whenever the doctor put me on Cipro for a sinus infection! I don't think anyone on the board ever believed me when I touted how well the Cipro controlled my MC. You might want to check the site for UC & Crohn's disease. I believe I read somewhere that there is some new research that links IBD's to a bacteria related to E.Coli that they think might be part of the trigger for IBD. I know of more than one person with Crohn's that was treated with erythromycin type antibiotics & remember that post over two years ago on the other site from the gal that was finding relief from an antibiotic tx for her MC?

One has to be careful with Cipro though. It can cause achilles tendon ruptures as a side effect. I had a partial tear of my achilles tendon after one of my last tx's with the drug. Levaquin is in the same family as Cipro which you probably know. I am still amazed at how well Humira which is used to treat Crohns & rheumatoid arthritis has brought my MC into remission. I think they are getting closer to finding answers to treating many of these auto immune diseases. Hope you are over your sinus infection.

Love, Moose

[starfire]

So glad to see you post, Moose!!!

Love, Shirley