This site is to give HOPE to those who are suffering from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome as a result of being poisoned by fluoroquinolone antibiotics – Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox, Floxin, etc. It contains stories of healing.
Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and all other fluoroquinolones are dangerous drugs that can have devastating effects that cumulatively I’ll refer to as Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome or Floxing. Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome/Floxing includes damage to connective tissue (tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, etc.) throughout the body, damage to the nervous systems (central, peripheral and autonomic), and more. The damage done by fluoroquinolone antibiotics can destroy a person’s quality of life or even kill them. Certainly, there is a time and a place for drugs with dangerous side effects. If you find yourself in a septic shock induced coma, fluoroquinolones may save your life. Unfortunately, these drugs are not being reserved for life or death situations. People are being prescribed them for urinary tract infections, suspected prostate infections, upper respiratory infections, as a prophylactic for travelers’ diarrhea, ear infections, pink eye, etc. Thousands of people have suffered needlessly from the devastating effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, when another, safer antibiotic could have, and should have, been used.
The damage done by fluoroquinolones is largely unacknowledged by the medical establishment and an accurate diagnosis, compensation and relief are difficult to come by. There is no known cure for Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome/Floxing. However, many people continue to LIVE after being poisoned by fluroquinolones. They find healing, recovery, perseverance, compassion and hope. These are their stories.
This site is meant to give hope for healing to those who are adversely effected by fluoroquinolones. It is no way meant to disregard the pain of those who are chronically suffering from the horrifying effects of Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox or the other fluoroquinolones. There are people who don’t recover. Their stories are real and they matter. There are also people who are able to recover and I share their stories with the hope that they inspire others, or at least give hope that recovery is possible.
Here is a New York Times article about the dangers of fluoroquinolone antibiotics – http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/popular-antibiotics-may-carry-serious-side-effects/?_r=0 – more news stories, research papers and other resources can be found on the “Links and Resources” page.
Here is a Facebook group that is a great resource for those going through Fluoroquinolone Toxicity – https://www.facebook.com/groups/floxies/
Featured post – I’m floxed. Now what?
The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Solution Ebook has helped many Floxies to recover, including Daniel, Cindy and Ruth. As a bonus, you will also receive The Floxie Food Guide – a book of diet guidelines to help you through fluoroquinolone toxicity:
If you would like to support Floxie Hope, contributions are greatly appreciated! Thank you for your help!
Hi all,
Not sure if any of you were aware or whether it was already mentioned on this site, but the WSJ reported last week that HRC was given a course of Levaquin for her pneumonia. Politics aside, anyone adversely affected by a quinolone would be in serious trouble if handling a lot of responsibility….
Is it good to start using green tea?
While green tea has a lot of health benefits for most people, it is contraindicated for floxies. For one thing, there is the caffeine. Also, most have a lot of fluoride in them. Jason also posted about how they negatively effect neurotransmitters.
Hi L
You say:If you meant fluoroquinolone toxicity it can made you more susceptible to many diseases like Parkinsons, alzheimer’s, ALS, and yes even cancer. I believe it has to do with mitochondrial death.
If we fullrecovery100% from flouroquinolone toxity it does mean that now we are normal human with all repair damage like DNA, Mitochondria, muscle etc etc and this will not affect other diseases in future?
Hi all
Has anyone tried green tea?
Is it make feel better or worse?
A good link in regards to researching anything to do with fluoride.
http://fluoridealert.org/issues/sources/tea/
I see that fluoridetoxity can cause cancer, it really can cause cancer(i’m floxed, i think i’m floxed with mild reaction with 10days “i used in different time” 1000mg)and can it really cause cancer after you’re recovery 100%?srryforeng
Hi Ahmdi….did you mean fluoride toxicity or fluoroquinolone toxicity? If you meant fluoroquinolone toxicity it can made you more susceptible to many diseases like Parkinsons, alzheimer’s, ALS, and yes even cancer. I believe it has to do with mitochondrial death.
I’ve tried green, black, and many herbal teas- all are very helpful from my own experience. I was always a tea drinker, but even more so now. Drink decaf if caffeine is a problem for you- it can make my vertigo worse if I have too much. Overall, herbal teas have been an amazing help. Also, chamomile tea truly does have a calming effect. Worth a try..hope this helps
Does cipro toxicity cause permanent damage with regards to magnesium utilization/depletion? I understand that while someone currently taking cipro will have problems with magnesium depletion, but what about post-cipro: 6 months, 1 year, 5 years later will magnesium loss still be a problem if you’ve been floxed?
In other words, should a floxed patient be on a permanent magnesium supplement?
Specifically to treat cipro damaged magnesium issues and not for reasons such as “magnesium is good for you” or “soil levels of magnesium have decreased in the past 40 years” etc..
Unfortunately everyone’s different. If you’ve read through the recovery stories, I’m sure you noticed how some people felt they could cut back on magnesium after recovering and others felt like they needed to continue taking it after they felt recovered. Lisa has commented in the past about how difficult it can be to replace lost cellular magnesium, and I’m sure that plays a large part into everyone’s individual journey. My thinking is that most people should probably continue taking the things that helped them long after they start feeling better. How long? Well, I don’t think anyone really knows. Now in the case of magnesium, it’s fairly safe to take long term. One just needs to make sure they have a doctor monitor their blood levels.
Hi Jake,
That was a question that I always wanted to know because I don’t like taking supplements.
Well, in June I was feeling sooo good I thought I no longer needed my supplements (colostrum, magnesium and probiotics) so I stopped taking them. I was doing great for 1 1/2 months, but eventually all my symptoms came back! I’m almost 2 1/2 years out, and that was the 4th time I tried to stop magnesium, and each time I got sick all over again.
Here is an interesting article concerning magnesium and candida, which I believe is a source of a lot of our long term issues, OR is a lack of magnesium causing the candida?? Who knows-it’s a constant guessing game.
JANUARY 25, 2015 by LISA RICHARDS
Candida and Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium tablets
Are you one of the millions of people who are deficient in Magnesium? This common mineral is essential for your energy levels, bone strength, mood, and much more. Yet the majority of us are not getting anywhere near enough in our diets. Chronic deficiency leads to a number of different diseases and conditions, and it can worsen the symptoms of Candida too.
The average American male gets around three quarters of the recommended daily amount of Magnesium – a paltry 310mg vs. the 400mg that our bodies require. Seventy five percent of us get less than we need. This is important because deficiency can lead to a variety of chronic health problems.
Magnesium is required for more than 300 essential biochemical reactions in the body, including helping us to produce energy, maintain a healthy nervous system, and regulate blood sugar. It also plays a vital role in removing the toxic byproducts of Candida.
Magnesium deficiency can worsen Candida symptoms
A lack of Magnesium can worsen your Candida symptoms for one simple reason: Magnesium is needed to break down the toxic metabolites of Candida Albicans. Without enough Magnesium, your body is simply unable to do the job of removing these substances from your body.
The byproducts of Candida Albicans include ethanol, uric acid and ammonia, but the most important is acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a neurotoxin that affects your brain, nervous system and many other internal organs, as well as damaging your red blood cells and reducing the capacity of your blood to carry oxygen around your body. If your body is unable to effectively process and remove it, this toxic substance can affect numerous different systems and cause a variety of symptoms. Acetaldehyde is also produced when you drink alcohol, and it is thought to be the primary cause of the next morning’s hangover!
Although Magnesium is not the only nutrient needed to break down acetaldehyde, it plays a major role. There is one particular enzyme that your body needs to turn toxic acetaldehyde into harmless acetate. This enzyme is named Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, and it requires Magnesium to function properly. Without enough Magnesium, your body is unable to activate the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, which is therefore unable to break down acetaldehyde, which in turn can lead to symptoms like headaches and fatigue.
Candida causes Magnesium deficiency too
I just explained how a lack of Magnesium can make Candida symptoms worse, but you should know that Candida can also prevent you from getting enough Magnesium in the first place. Health issues are rarely a case simply of one thing leading to another, and this is a great example of how cause and effect are often inextricably linked. In this case, Candida Albicans actually prevents you from getting enough of the very mineral you need to combat its effects. This is why Candida sufferers are often even more deficient in Magnesium.
In the early stages of a Candida overgrowth, your body copes relatively well with the extra waste products that need to be eliminated. Your liver and kidneys are working effectively, your digestive system is functioning well, and your body’s various elimination pathways are doing what they should. The acetaldehyde, uric acid and other Candida metabolites are being efficiently removed. However, as your gut flora become more compromised and the yeast-bacteria imbalance starts to grow, your body starts to become overwhelmed.
As increasing amounts of the Candida metabolites begin to appear, more and more of your Magnesium is used to break them down. If you started with a healthy surplus of Magnesium, it might take some time for you to become deficient. If you were deficient already (like most of us), then the onset of the typical Candida symptoms might happen very quickly. Without changes in diet or supplementation, your body simply runs out of the nutrients that it needs to process these toxins.
As if that weren’t enough, we also need to factor in the effect that Candida has on your digestion. When the balance of gut flora in your small intestine is compromised, your gut loses much of its ability to extract and absorb nutrients from your food. A primary role of the small intestine is to absorb the micronutrients that you eat in your food. When it is unable to perform this role adequately, you can become deficient in many of the vitamins and minerals (including Magnesium) that you need to recover your health.
So, as you can see, the development of a Candida overgrowth can lead to Magnesium deficiency in two ways. Firstly, it depletes the (probably limited) stores of Magnesium that you already have. And secondly, it interferes with your body’s ability to absorb more Magnesium from your diet. Add in the fact that most of us barely have enough Magnesium to start with, and it becomes apparent how easily the Candida yeast can benefit from a lack of this important mineral.
Are you getting enough Magnesium?
Why are we deficient in Magnesium? At first, it doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. If we evolved in an environment with low magnesium, surely our bodies would have adapted to it over time. So why is it such a modern day problem, and where has all this Magnesium gone? The answer lies in the way that our diets have changed.
The first culprit is modern-day farming practices. Although intensive farming has been around for less than 100 years, that has been sufficient to strip farmed soil of many of its nutrients. Studies have shown that the Magnesium levels in today’s vegetables are at least 25% lower than they were before 1950. Depleted soil leads to less nutritive food, which contributes to lower Magnesium levels in your blood and tissues.
Meanwhile, the way that your food is processed has a huge effect on its Magnesium content too. According to some sources, refined pastas and breads contain 80-95% less Magnesium than the whole grain equivalent. If you needed another reason to avoid refined grains (and there are plenty of reasons!), there it is.
The content of our diets is different now too. We eat more refined grains, fewer vegetables, fewer nuts and seeds. In other words, we eat more of the foods that contain little Magnesium, and much less of the foods that are rich in it. This has become such a problem that many in developed countries get a large part of their Magnesium from foods like French fries and beer — simply because those are the foods that they consume the most!
Lastly, the epidemics of diabetes and obesity that are sweeping the world might be playing a role too. There is a close relationship between low Magnesium levels and high blood sugar. Just as a high sugar diet can contribute to a Magnesium deficiency, so a lack of Magnesium seems to disrupt blood sugar regulation.
Getting your Magnesium levels back to normal
There are plenty of ways to restore your Magnesium levels. Supplementation is obviously one route, but adding the right foods to your diet can be a powerful tool as well. In general terms, nuts and seeds contain the most Magnesium. Fish and vegetables are also good sources, while meat and dairy products tend to contain very little. See below a small table showing the Magnesium content of a few sample foods. Men should be aiming for around 400mg per day, and women for around 320mg, depending on your age and health.
Food Serving Size Amount of Magnesium
Pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup 317mg
Brazil nuts 1/4 cup 133mg
Almonds 1/4 cup 109mg
Wild salmon, cooked 2.5oz 92mg
Pine nuts 1/4 cup 86mg
Cooked Spinach 1/2 cup 83mg
Halibut, cooked 2.5oz 80mg
Mackerel, cooked 2.5oz 73mg
Okra, cooked 1/2 cup 50mg
There are some who will tell you that Magnesium ‘feeds’ or stimulates Candida in some way, or promotes the formation of biofilms. There is a kernel of truth in this, in that Candida does actually need Magnesium to survive. But then so do all living organisms! Restricting your Magnesium intake to combat Candida, and deliberately making yourself Magnesium-deficient, would be about as effective as trying to breath less oxygen. On the other hand, eliminating sources of excess sugar (like the Candida diet does) is a much more practical and effective goal.
It is relatively easy to get tested for Magnesium deficiency, but often a quick look at someone’s diet is enough. Given that the majority of us are lacking in this essential nutrient, only those who eat a diet rich in vegetables, nuts and seeds are likely to have acceptable levels. If getting enough Magnesium from your diet is too difficult or impractical, consider supplementation. There are lots of different forms, but Magnesium Glycinate is generally considered to be the best. It is very bioavailable (meaning that your body can actually absorb and use it), and it doesn’t tend to cause the diarrhea that other Magnesium supplements can.
https://www.thecandidadiet.com/candida-magnesium-deficiency/
Jake,
I asked the same question to Kerri, from the book ” Levaquin toxicity Solution” Her answer was YES you will probably need to take magnesium for life.
I see that fluoridetoxity can cause cancer, it really can cause cancer(i’m floxed, i think i’m floxed with mild reaction with 10days “i used in different time” 1000mg)and can it really cause cancer after you’re recovery 100%?srryforeng
Hi all
If we fullrecovery100% from flouroquinolone toxity it does mean that now we are normal human with all repair damage like DNA, Mitochondria, muscle etc etc and this will not affect other diseases in future?
Ahmdi,
These are questions no one can answer, because there is no research to see what happens after recovery.
The best thing to do is to do everything you can to help your body heal and to enjoy your life as much as possible.
Giving yourself time and being as positive as you can will all help.
Has any one ever woke from their sleep with a racing heart. My hear rate goes up to 165 and I do some deep breaths and it comes down. I’m so tried of feeling this way. I have two small and children and I feel like all this is keeping me from be the best I can for them. Im almost one year out, I was doing better and then out of no where this starts happening.
Hi lee
I go to hospital 5 time with high rate 165
No one can help, the said take some xanax no one belve me this happin after avalox, now after 8 monthe my heart rate also high but not like before now from 70 to 120
Has anyone had a ct abdominal scan with contrast dye and if so did you experience negative reactions to it. I have to have one done pretty soon. Thanks for any and all feedback.
A, I have not personally had a CT with contrast done since taking FQ’s, but I’ve read about others who have. Most people will say to avoid CT scans for two reasons. One, they use radiation, and two, the dye can cause problems in a floxed person. Ask your doctor if you can have a MRI of the abdomen instead without the contrast.
I would have to agree with Ryan. Is this something that could be diagnosed with ultrasound or MRI?
Personally I would never get a scan carried out using contrast unless I felt i was seriously ill & this dye was necessary in order for them to see what needed to be seen i.e. enhancement of what they were looking for . These dyes are very often NOT needed, they can see well enough without them, & where I live in fact I have been advised myself more than once by radiographers that these dyes are basically now being used just as routine for scans, & if you do not have this literally written down as an allergy in your medical records, if ever you are ever unable to advocate for yourself ( i.e. unconscious for some reason ) & they think you need it for a scan you will get it. Unbelievably I have been booked in for a scan more than once, & when receiving the appointment letter found this was booked with with contrast & I have chronic kidney disease ( CKD ! ) which should never be done. There are in fact serious concerns over deposits of gadolinium being left in the body including the brain & recently bone, the FDA is actually now investigating this situation re these gadolinium deposits .
Having done years of research myself into Big Pharma i do not trust them, & especially their pals at the Federal death agency to do this research . I am highly suspicious myself that we are not being told the the whole truth, imo I do not think this just applies to gadolinium either but potentially could apply to other contrast dyes as well .
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/09/gadolinium-mri-contrast-agent.aspx
http://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=ser&sub=def&pag=dis&ItemID=113767
For anyone who thinks they may be experiencing problems resulting from contrast, support is available .
https://gadoliniumtoxicity.com
Thanks Ryan and L. I have myoscopic blood in the urine and they want to check for kidney stones and etc.
Mayo clinic lists the options I mentioned. It may just be that your insurance doesn’t want to pay for one over the other…and sadly, some doctors/hospitals who are affiliated with imaging companies will push one over the other for profit (or to get their money’s worth from the machine.) IF it were me I would demand ultrasound. Who needs radiation on top of the FLQ toxicity? http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-stones/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20024829
I recently had a Urogram which is CT with dye to check kidneys, bladder and such. Unfortunately I did have a bad relapse immediately afterwards. The first 3 days afterwards were the worst! I personally will not have another CT w/dye unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Thanks Desiray. Those are exactly the areas that they want to check. Are you better now from it? I’m going to use Ryan’s advice and ask her if I could do an Mri instead. I don’t need nor want any added problems on top of everything else.
L also mentioned Ultrasound, and that’s a very safe method as well. So if your insurance doesn’t want to do an MRI, Ultrasound should be a safe test.
The first 3 days after the CT were miserable with a lot of relapse symptoms. I was so upset and discourage but each day after got A bit better. I will say that I have noticed that I have more mini flare ups now to since having the CT I know everyone is different but if you are able to do a MRI I would definitely try that first. If it’s not necessary it’s not worth the risk! We suffer enough! God bless
L, Ryan, and Desiray I greatly appreciate each of you for the information that is beneficial to me. L I will surely ask her about the ultrasound. You guys are great. Again thanks, I do not want to add unnecessarily to what I’m already going through knowing that there are less invasive options. L thanks for the link also very informative.
You’re welcome. Hope you can do something without radiation. We certainly don’t need any more burdens placed on our systems. I currently only see NDs or will plan to see an integrative MD. Keep us posted!
What are the best ways to repair the damaged mitochondria/DNA ?
Hi all,
I’m getting vitamin b12 100mcg,
I’m 17y and is it safe to take this vitamin daily?
Ahmdi…it really depends. You might want to have your levels checked. for most people it is ok, but it is possible that your levels do not warrant taking it. (I personally do take b12 daily.)
Hey L
How much mcg do you get daily b12 my friend?
Can you suggest me something, i think you know much about fqtoxity, can u tell me what u eat, what supplement get, what to avoid etc etc any helpful information is welcome!!
Peace and love my friend
well, right now I take a sublingual tablet 2000 mcg. Once I finish I will go off of it because I don’t think it’s a good idea to take it permanently. In addition to naturopathic IVs and glutathione, what has helped most is magnesium supplements, probiotics, supplements to help repair mitochondria, like alpha lipoic acid, coq10, NAC, and removing fluoride from my water, and eating only organic meats, wild fish and removing GMOs, gluten and dairy from my diet (except goat’s milk kefir and cheese.)
Ahmdi,
I agree with L. You should have your b12 levels checked before supplementing it. If you do supplement it, I’d recommend using Hydroxy b12. Methyl b12 is very popular, but if you have a genetic issue (MTHFR or COMT mutation), you want to avoid methyl forms of b vitamins (You can find out what genetic mutations you have through a 23andme test that is then translated through a site like nutrahacker. Please note that everyone has genetic mutations, but which ones and whether or not their mutations are active very from person to person). How much b12 to take and how often to take it? I’d ask your doctor for council on that. Too much b12 or b6 can actually cause nerve problems. It may take a long time for those problems to mannafest, but they have been reported. I hope this helps.
I have a UTI and the doc wants me to take Bactrim. I was floxed because of a UTI in Aug 2014. The cipro did not get rid of the UTI then and Bactrim did. However, I’m afraid to take any antibiotic. Any suggestions?
Find yourself a female ND. There is a protocol of all natural substances. I used it and got rid of my UTI.
I asked her if a UTI every two years is too often and she says that is “not often” as you age. So I guess the older you get there’s a higher chance for UTI? I will look into your suggestion L. Thank you
L, I bought d mannose and cranberry juice to start heading this off tonight. I will find an ND tomorrow, they are usually booked out a month or so. Do you know of a method to finding one quick?
I would suggest to make sure you find out exactly what bacterial strain you are dealing with LWD. Personally I would suggest avoiding Bactrim if humanly possible, as this one has a serious toxic profile, & in the UK its use was severely restricted many years ago because of this & the fact it was injuring so many people. we now use Trimethoprim alone . I personally avoid antibiotics for UTIs if I can, & treat naturally whilst a culture is done & keep a close eye on the symptoms. I only use an antibiotic ( the culture shows which antibiotic/s it will be susceptible too if one IS eventually needed ) if treating naturally is not effective.
https://chriskresser.com/treat-and-prevent-utis-without-drugs/
http://briandeer.com/bactrim-septra.htm
Deb thank you for the information. I’m looking into the natural remedies. I appreciate your suggestions.
My 8yo DD was prescribed Ciprofloxicin for complicated UTI pseudomonas. She was prescribed 10 days 500mg twice daily. Here is what happened:
Night 1- 1 pill- sleepwalking this has never ever happened.
Following morning- 1 pill- nothing noted.
Evening- 1 pill- 1 hour later tingling (she says buzzing) in her left hand. Mentions later that her chest feels sick. Both resolve after a few hours.
Morning- 1 pill- no noted incident
Evening- 1 pill- complains of pain behind left knee
Morning-1 pill- schools calls and says her right foot and ankle hurt (she says they are buzzing) she has pain behind right knee.
We call dr. He admits her to do iv antibiotics and says stop cipro.
2 days in hospital on iv antibiotics only complains of mild knee ache 1 time.
Told to resume normal activities including swimming a gymnastics.
3 days after home from hospital she goes to gym. Has foot and ankle pain which subsides that evening.
The following day she is sent home from school with swollen heel complains of achiellies pain and can’t put weight. Ice, wrap, and naproxin for the night. It is sore but better the next day.
That night says she feels like she is sick in the chest like she was being hit and loosing breath. It subsides after 30 min.
So what are your thoughts?
all potential cipro side effects. what antibiotic IV was she given?
Ceftazidime 2g every 8 hours
We attempted to swim tonight as she is on a team. Left in tears after 2 laps. Her left achiellies was very tender to the touch and painful. She limped to the car, and the could barely get I. The house. I’m at a loss. Her pedi told me to give ibuprofen!!! I don’t know what to do.
Miriah,
For starters, I’d have her avoid sports for a while. If she is having a reaction, she needs to avoid unnecessary stress on her body. Next, avoid ibuprofen and all NSAIDS. These can make her condition much worse. Instead, make sure you have a good multiviamin, a good probiotic, have her take extra magnesium (Like magnesium bisglycinate), and go to an organic and gluten free diet.
There is much more that can be recommended, and the best place to start is to visit the link below.
https://floxiehope.com/2015/10/12/im-floxed-now-what/
Read the recovery stories, and be aware that everyone is different. Hopefully this helps.
The achilles is the most common tendon damaged by these. Do NOT give her ibuprofin. That can exacerbate things. Doctors are mostly, sadly, clueless. I would try to find an integrative dr or an ND. Also, make sure she is on probiotics and I would also add magnesium. Avoid fluoridate water. So sorry this is happening.
My 8yo DD was prescribed Ciprofloxicin for complicated UTI pseudomonas. She was prescribed 10 days 500mg twice daily. Here is what happened:
Night 1- 1 pill- sleepwalking this has never ever happened.
Following morning- 1 pill- nothing noted.
Evening- 1 pill- 1 hour later tingling (she says buzzing) in her left hand. Mentions later that her chest feels sick. Both resolve after a few hours.
Morning- 1 pill- no noted incident
Evening- 1 pill- complains of pain behind left knee
Morning-1 pill- schools calls and says her right foot and ankle hurt (she says are buzzing) she has pain behind right knee.
We call dr. He admits her to do iv antibiotics and says stop cipro.
2 days in hospital on iv antibiotics only complains of mild knee ache 1 time.
Told to resume normal activities including swimming a gymnastics.
3 days after home from hospital she goes to gym. Has foot and ankle pain which subsides that evening.
The followin day she is sent home from school with swollen heel complains of achiellies pain and can’t bare weight. Ice wrap and naproxin for the night and sore but better the next day.
That night says she feels like she is sick in the chest like she was being Hut and loosing breath. It subsides after 30 min.
So what are your thoughts?
Sorry to hear.. No one here can give medical advise of course. If it were me however, I would not take NSAIDS or steroids since these are contraindicated with cipro. Hope she recovers quickly.
A fellow floxie recently told me that lots of floxies end up w cancer!!! I have never heard of this before, and of course am very concerned😦
Does anyone know if there is a link between flouroquinolones and the dreaded C??
Tricia,
I’d recommend reading the following story written by Lisa. It’s very informative and will help explain things in better detail.
https://www.hormonesmatter.com/cipro-levaquin-avelox-fluoroquinolones-chemo-drugs/
No it is possible that FQ’s can cause cancer due to the destruction of mitochondrial DNA, but that doesn’t mean you will get cancer. I’d suggest that you try not to think about something like that, as stress will only aggravate the symptoms you do have. Medical doctors are pretty good at detecting cancer, and most floxies are always reporting about how frustrated they are that their bloodwork didn’t reveal anything. In fact, many will state how their doctor said their bloodwork “looks great.” We all want the doctor to see something and go, “there’s you’re problem,” but typically most doctors will only find things like low Vitamin D when they do blood panels. So rather than spending time focusing on the things you don’t have, I’d focus on the symptoms you do have as you work on your recovery.
Thanks Ryan…
I just read the article. Very informative, yet very scary at the same time😦
Currently I’m doing well, recovering again after a down cycle, almost sympton free at the moment. However, the cancer link is still causing me very high anxiety:(
Cancer already seems to be running rampant in this country, i hate that I increased the odds even moreso by injesting fq’s😦
It’s great to hear that you’re “almost symptom free.” That is truly awesome, and you should be very happy about that. Focus on the positive, and try to kick the negative thoughts to the curb when they arise.
Hi all,
Thanku for answer L, Ryan L🙂
Is it really help to cut gluten and dairy products from diet?
I think i can’t live without these two thngs i eat these everyday every meal.
Wheat / gluten sensitivity is actually very common. I personally feel it can only help to at leat cut down dramatically in the amount we eat, floxed or not, especially nowadays when so many pesticides etc toxins are in the food . I cut down a lot myself although I do still eat just a little bit this is always organic. I eat far less than I used to, before I did the research on it . http://www.greenmedinfo.com/page/dark-side-wheat-new-perspectives-celiac-disease-wheat-intolerance-sayer-ji
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/page/opening-pandoras-bread-box-critical-role-wheat-lectin-human-disease
Knowledge is power as they say, I decided it was best to cut my consumption of wheat down dramatically at the very least, I also keep in mind the fact it is also a hidden ingredient in many food products
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/200-clinically-confirmed-reasons-not-eat-wheat
yes—I would say especially gluten. I know for me that was the hardest. I love bread. But I got used to not having it. You can buy gluten free bread, but it still does not have a lot of nutritional value. still, I found one good brand I like and everything now and then I will get that. There are cereal grains that don’t have gluten as well
Hi
Thanks Deba and L for answer
I understand why is good to remove from diet or to cut gluten(wheat)
But why someone say to cut dairy products?
I know that dairy productc are good for our healthy!!
Ahmdi,
According to Dr. Mark Hyman, “about 75 percent of the world’s population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products.” So the thinking is that most floxies are likely to do better if they can eliminate dairy products. Some people have greater digestive issues post FQ’s than others, but most develop some food allergies they didn’t have (or weren’t really aware of) after their floxing. I’m sure there are other reasons to avoid dairy that some people may chime in on as well. You can always test yourself by removing dairy products for a week to see if it makes and difference in how you feel. I did that by switching to Gluten free oatmeal instead of regular oatmeal, and I noticed that it did make a difference (I wasn’t as tired afterwards and my digestion improved a little).
In addition to what Ryan said, you also would need to be careful about it being organic so you don’t accidentally get something that has been treated with antibiotics. For me, I find I do OK with goats milk kefir and cheese. (and plain goatsmilk kefir is GREAT for its probiotic effects.)
Does anyone have helpful info. on Biotin? I know what it is & what
it’s used for, but I wonder has anyone ever taken it?
I have been taking biotin religiously for ages pre floxing. It was okay, but i didnt see a huge difference in anything, may be my nails and hair grew a bit faster.
Anna,
I planned to take it to help my hair loss. Sounds like you had no major negative side effects? Are you still taking it? I’m always worried to take anything new post floxing. Thanks in advance for any info.!
Jane, i take it occasionally now and have had no side effects from it. However, going back in memory, i remember that omega 3 made my hair thicker ( my hair was getting too thin at the ends) and healthier, but that was years ago (pre flox time). I didnt take any fish oil post Flox though. Give it a try for each one at a time for a short period and see.. especially the biotin since it is from the b family and always recommended for floxies.
Hi all
I want to know which types of magnesium for the floxed people is the best?
I buy today magnesium and i see that is mg oxide but i don’t believe that this form of this mg is the best!!
Love all
You’re right, that probably is not the best. Citrate is fine but can have a laxative effect. I like glycinate or orotate or taurate.
Hi all
Is it good idea to start with exercices?
Like running or stretching?
I would be very careful with running. I think walking, and light stretching. Unfortunately, it is hard to know when your body is ready. Some will never experience things like ruptured tendons, and others will have them right away or even months down the road. I didn’t have that problem but then over a year later found out I had a torn meniscus, and I had been doing nothing at the time. I would say just listen to your body and take it slow.
I agree to take it slow. I had sore muscles & aches while on Levaquin. For months afterwards if I tried to exercise or do too much on the days I felt ok, the bouts of aches would intensify. Just be careful, if your body isn’t ready you’ll probably know or feel it.
I have several comments on the previous page relating to the mechanism of damage of FQs & approach to exercise /exertion Ahmdi, you may be interested in them ( see my comments sept 17th onwards ) The mechanism of damage, subsequent effects on connective tissues / mitochondrial issues connected to potential risk of causing further injury & mitochondrial issues also relating to our actual ABILITY to exercise ( see my comment & imo a very good link to an article relating to mitochondrial dysfunction & exertion on the previous page ) are imo all very important when it comes to how this should be approached, particularly when we are still in the acute stage of floxing ( generally thought of as the time when symptoms are still appearing, & we have not yet stabilised ).
Some of us cant even sit up, walk, let alone exercise, & imho, whether we are floxed or not , our bodies are just NOT the same after taking FQs , whether we have visible / noticeable symptoms of floxing or not.
The FQs have a class effect ADR of causing degenerative damage to the connective tissues, which can vary from a slight softening ( thus knock on weakness ) of these connective tissues, which might not be even noticeable to the person, or visible on scans etc, right through the spectrum to the other end of the scale, ( potential devastation of these tissues ).
In the acute stage of floxing in particular, I feel it is extremely important NOT to push ourselves too far too fast, & I personally feel it is SO important in fact imperative to ALWAYS keep the above in mind, & always keep a weather eye out, & stay in tune with our bodies & how they react to exercise / exertion, no matter HOW far out we are, OR how fully recovered we might FEEL we are .
I have seen SO many people over time suffer further damage to these tissues & /or be knocked back in their potential healing journey, sometimes for a very long while, often via either further damage to the body, & / or relapse, triggered by trying to push themselves too far, too fast, particularly in the acute stage of floxing, but not exclusively so. ( note : If seeking therapy for the connective tissues, make the therapist aware that our damage is on the whole NOT TendonITIS ( inflammatory ) but TendonOSIS ( degenerative ), as for us to get therapy for tendonITIS is NOT recommended, this can also cause us further injury ) . My own worst relapse happened when I was put on a graded exercise routine for my ‘ CFS / ME ‘, this set me back for a very long while .
Be aware that these connective tissue problems can potentially lurk ‘ under the radar ‘ & might only arise noticeably / visibly later on down the floxing timeline, / or in subsequent floxings, HOWEVER, the injury, the softening / weakness to varying degrees caused by the mechanism of action of the FQ on the connective tissues IS invariably there, the damage to our DNA / mitochondria begins from the very first dose .
My own connective tissue damage did not noticeably cause me serious major issues until my last most damaging floxing of 7, the symptoms were lurking, but they were put down to other things.
Hi Dabs
Thank for you answer
I want to know how much is your dosage of fqtoxity and what antibiotic of fq us?
I use 2tableta of cipro about 2montha ago and i see an pdf(floxed) and i’m thing i have been mild reaction floxed!!!
Love all you people hope that one day we make stronger than people how don’t take these antibiotic!
Now you’re asking Ahmdi lol ! .In a nutshell I have been floxed 7 times in all, prescribed FQs 9 times including various FQs . I Have taken Cipro both brand & generic versions, IV Levofloxacin , Norfloxacin, various doses of FQs, I have been in our parallel universe over 26 years in all . I eventually reached a place where I FELT fully recovered after many years after my first floxing, that one cost me no less than 12 years of my life, complicated by other dangerous mitochondrial damaging psychotropic drugs. That first very nasty floxing was triggered by just taking 2 doses, & happened within hours of taking the first one.
I also eventually in retrospect FELT around 80% recovered from another subsequent floxing. I did not know what had happened to me at the time , so I unfortunately got floxed 7 times in all before i finally joined the dots, via obtaining copies of my medical records.
Intriguingly, AFTER my first floxing, at least according to my medical records, I then subsequently apparently took FQs not just once but twice more, where i had NO noticiable reaction to them whatsoever, & this with a less damaging floxing in-between. My most damaging floxing was with Cipro described with a concurrent NSAID, whilst I was using a steroid inhaler, that one trashed me both physically & cognitively.
Imho, It is better not to try to put yourself into ANY category of severity of floxing, OR set yourself timelines in regards to improvement / potentially feeling recovered, one important reason being that symptoms of FQ toxicity can be insidious in their presentation, Some can potentially be delayed, & this can be for many months. ( another reason also to be careful with the exercise ). On average in my floxings I had new symptoms popping up & multiplying for around 18 months before I finally stabilised. imo it is far better not to do this at all, as there are NO set timelines, that can be based on particular symptoms, severity of these symptoms, or when they might appear in regards to floxing.
Everyones floxing is completely unique to them & nothing in floxing is set in stone. If we do put ourselves into categories we might then feel very despondent, even despairing IF we do NOT start to improve ( for example, maybe when the literature we have read on the category of floxing we have placed ourselves in, or perhaps the person we might have taken advice from says we should.) .
The only honest answer I feel I can give when I’m asked the questions : how severely have I been floxed ? or how long will it take me to improve / potentially get to a place where I might feel recovered ?, is in my own experience of being around more than a little while simply the following : ‘ How long is a piece of string ? ‘ .