Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Support Group

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a urinary bladder disease of unknown cause characterised by pelvic and intense bladder pain, urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), and pain with urination. It is not unusual for patients to experience nocturia and pain with sexual intercourse. IC is also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS), particularly outside of the USA.

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Kidneys & Bladder
/ Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Support Group

Cipro or NOT

lateedah
lateedah
I have been having some urinary symptoms off and on(first time in my life and I'm 63) my family Doc said it was probably IC;wanted to give me a tricyclic anti depressant(my urine test stated no UTI.

When I refused the drug he sent me to a urologist who retested my urine and did a CT scan of abdomen and pelvis(he said all looked o.k. )When my urine culture came back the nurse stated it showed E.coli and she called in a 7 day dose of Cipro.

When I picked it up there was a 2 page med info attached. WOW this drug reads like weapons of mass destuction. I am not comfortable with all of the side effects(2 pages worth). I will call the office Mon. and request a different drug. Can anyone give me some info on what I can request?
Thanks for reading
lateedah
lateedah
Guess no one can support me on here...I would delete this thread if I knew how
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm sorry you didn't get a quick response, don't give up on us. I know for myself, I don't always get a chance to check into the site on a daily basis. We are here to support each other in that we all have issues with ic. I have had UT's with E Coli also, not a good feeling at all. I couldn't take the cipro because of drug interaction but the other antibotic has some of the same side effect like the tendon thing. Sometimes you have to ask yourself if the risk is larger than not taking anything at all. The pain will tell you" help me now". I hope this helps and you check in with us again, feel better
noranna
noranna
I think Cipro always releives my symptoms for a few months. I know taking antibiotics is a risk- but when you are miserable you will do anything sometimes to fee relief. I am beginning to feel convinced that IC is actually a bacteria not being caught in a regular urince sample. Why else would I feel relief after taking antibiotics?
lateedah
lateedah
Cipro is for heavy duty things;like anthrax. If you go to the Mayo clinic web stie or UCLA epidemiology web site ;they give clear reasons why this should not be the first line of defense and more risk to those over 60(I am). Because this very strong med is over percribed there will come a time ; this bacteria will not respond.

I researched antibiotics for UTI and found numerous others to try first. Less seious side effects.Agree with you Noranna about not caught. The first two cultures were done at my primary care doc and they showed nothing. A few days later the urologist did a culture and BINGO!
Thank you for your reply...latee
deleted_user
deleted_user
It was crazy cuz Cipro worked for me 4 years ago when I had a kidney infection , like no problama, but when I took it this time, (at an even higher dose!!) 6 months ago, it did nothing!!

Antibiotic resistance is becoming more and more of a problem, its very concerning.
lateedah
lateedah
Just to update this post. I had the urologist give me amoxicillian: 250mg. 3 x a day for 7 days. I have no symptoms and there is no microscopic blood in my urine anymore. I told the doc : why use a bomb(cipro) when a hand gun will work as well. At my last appt.(Mon) he said, "Good old amoxicillian; who would think it".