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Doczilla · 07-09-2008, 20:10

Thanks Dutch! A good reminder that some meds have side effects we don't often think about.

Angelsix, I wouldn't chunk the cipro just yet. The risk of this particular side effect is higher in certain populations, as the FDA memo says. If you don't have liver or kidney disease, or aren't over 60, this side effect is less likely. I have treated hundreds of people with these medicines safely, and with any particular side effect, YMMV. The black box warning does remind us and patients to watch for the side effect, but I don't think it's worth throwing the baby out with the bathwater on this drug.

Having a supply of this can be helpful in consultation with a physician by phone when you are unable to easily reach a pharmacy or medical facility (I keep it in a travel kit, and recommend it to friends and patients for their travel kits as well). I agree that it's not a good idea just to pop it "whenever", but again, it might be helpful if you have a good relationship with your physician. It is useful in treating a wide variety of infections.

Cipro is also a good treatment for some bioterrorist and epidemic agents such as yersinia pestis (plague), anthrax, cholera, and tularemia (rabbit fever). I'm not a "worst case scenario" kind of guy, but it doesn't hurt to have it safely sitting around in a cool dark place out of the reach of children, even if expired. Having participated in regional disaster drills with public health agencies simulating just such a scenario, I don't want to be completely at the mercy of the shambles of a health care system at that point...

'zilla

07-09-2008, 20:10	#6
Doczilla Guerrilla Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio, West Virginia Posts: 137	Thanks Dutch! A good reminder that some meds have side effects we don't often think about. Angelsix, I wouldn't chunk the cipro just yet. The risk of this particular side effect is higher in certain populations, as the FDA memo says. If you don't have liver or kidney disease, or aren't over 60, this side effect is less likely. I have treated hundreds of people with these medicines safely, and with any particular side effect, YMMV. The black box warning does remind us and patients to watch for the side effect, but I don't think it's worth throwing the baby out with the bathwater on this drug. Having a supply of this can be helpful in consultation with a physician by phone when you are unable to easily reach a pharmacy or medical facility (I keep it in a travel kit, and recommend it to friends and patients for their travel kits as well). I agree that it's not a good idea just to pop it "whenever", but again, it might be helpful if you have a good relationship with your physician. It is useful in treating a wide variety of infections. Cipro is also a good treatment for some bioterrorist and epidemic agents such as yersinia pestis (plague), anthrax, cholera, and tularemia (rabbit fever). I'm not a "worst case scenario" kind of guy, but it doesn't hurt to have it safely sitting around in a cool dark place out of the reach of children, even if expired. Having participated in regional disaster drills with public health agencies simulating just such a scenario, I don't want to be completely at the mercy of the shambles of a health care system at that point... 'zilla __________________ You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you'll find me in a pile of brass. -Tpr. M. Padgett Last edited by Doczilla; 07-09-2008 at 20:11. Reason: EDIT: my apologies to TR and RF1. I was composing this reply as you posted your replies.
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