I was a loaded gun and Google pulled the trigger

[novangel]

My GAD started when I had a UTI back in 2008. I started taking Cipro which didn't work...I experienced for the first time out-of nowhere horrible anxiety symptoms and paranoia. I started imagining horrible thoughts of death and having to leave my son while I had to go to a hospital because I possibly had a kidney infection. Then they switched me to Levaquin (a sister to Cipro) which finally stopped the infection after 7 days. I was a hot mess at this point. I am convinced the anti-biotics were giving me crippling anxiety as a symptom (which is a real possibility) but normally once you stop a medication the symptoms subside...well not me. I ran with it to Google and found an article written about meds like Cipro and Levaquin leaving people with permanent anxiety and worse things which I won't mention. I blew my anxiety door WIDE open and haven't been the same since. I figure I have to have permanent damage considering I was on these meds for over 12 days total. I know..not likely.

Rationally I know that once you stop a medication the symptoms normally subside, but my brain won't allow me to let go of the thought that I have permanent nervous system damage..that article is stuck in my mind all of these years...and the spiral of anxiety continues 3 years later, and meds for 2 1/2 years. There are also countless of other people on the net describing the same thing I went through, they say they stopped taking Cipro/ Levaquin weeks/months ago and they're still having anxiety symptoms....so that has to be me too. Who knows....

Please everyone stay off Google..

Thoughts??

[renaed]

Interesting.

I had a terrible reaction to Levequin and won't take it. It was more a sick feeling and I couldn't get up. I would say it did make anxiety worse but I thought it was b/c of the physical feelings.

I try not to take ABs unless it is absolutely neccesary.  I would believe anything, but most likely in your situation I imagine you have a predisposition to anxiety. Many ppl take those drugs withOUT having affects like that.

Who knows, though?

[sixpack]

Cipro is first line defense for UTIs in most cases.  Do you know how many people have taken that?  I've had two UTIs and on cipro and never an issue as a result.

We all read articles and other such things and our thinking just goes squirrely.  It is highly unlikely you have permanent damage to your nervous system from those meds.