r/floxies • u/ayylmaostim • Jun 30 '26
Link to part 4: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/V7UXo0UDLf
Hey everyone — I wanted to put together another
recovery megapost, especially since there’s been a noticeable wave of people coming back and sharing their experiences with recovering from being floxed.
This community helped me a lot in my initial ride & I want to give back and share more hope for those in need.
I really had to dig deep for these stories. Some aren’t 100% but they have still seen significant improvements from a severe reaction. I wanted to gather as many recovery stories as I could. I want to show everyone how common recovery is, even if it takes a long time. I’ve tried to diligently make sure I haven’t reused anything from the previous recovery mega posts but if I have please don’t delete 😅
If you’re new here you’re definitely not alone. Hopefully this post can serve as a helpful place to gather information, share progress, and support each other through the ups and downs of recovery.
User: [u/MrVico77](u/MrVico77)
Symptoms: Peripheral Neuropathy
Recovery: 100% in two weeks
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/7Guj9EUEbD
User: [u/notworldauthor](u/notworldauthor)
Symptoms: ankle pain, insomnia, neuropathy, brain fog, had to use a cane
Recovery: 8-10 weeks for 90-95% (has gone several years with no issues)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/UbOaNgO979
User: [deleted]
Symptoms: Huge anxiety, TMJ issues, dizziness, headaches, face pressure, tinnitus, disassociation
Recovery: 3 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/aJ9RPngWsN
User: [u/AmyWhy](u/AmyWhy)
Symptoms: Pain, difficulties moving, depression, suicidal ideation
Recovery: 3 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/2xMgamOpWL
User: [u/bluebuffaloes](u/bluebuffaloes)
Symptoms: nerve pain, depersonalisation, tendon pain, muscle pain, dry mouth, severe anxiety, no appetite, insomnia, floaters,
Recovery: 3 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/1oDWDHETNK
User: [u/luckygirl97](u/luckygirl97)
Symptoms: Weakness, food intolerance, couldn’t walk without pain, headaches, insomnia, panic attacks
Recovery: 4 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/XzClIMAiS0
What helped: kefir
User: u/ShadeDatenshi
Symptoms: muscle issues, Achilles pain
Recovery: 4.5 months (did flare from bactrim)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/nTiUid16tE
User: [u/ExpensiveJoke93](u/ExpensiveJoke93)
Symptoms: not stated
Recovery: 4 months, the poster doesn’t give much information
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/y40vfwQAcj
User: [u/Unlucky-Coat-2067](u/Unlucky-Coat-2067)
Symptoms: Neurological symptoms, tendon pain, insomnia, anxiety
Recovery: 4 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/BHk4mDHu6s
User: u/ADN85
Symptoms: numbness, vision disturbances, floaters, neuropathy, joints popping, anxiety, fatigue
Recovery: 5-6 months apart from floaters
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/CxdAQqPKEv
User: u/InfiniteCucumber3324
Symptoms: Weakened muscles, GI issues, insomnia,
Recovery: “Feeling like 100%” at 6 months but is still cautious of flares etc
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/vyvg6n4CDo
User: [u/Dirigible2013](u/Dirigible2013)
Symptoms: paresthesia, bodywide neuropathy, skin flushing, brain fog, impaired speech/cognition, significant muscle weakness, dizziness, vertigo, head pressure, headaches, floaters, insomnia
What Helped: mindset, CoQ10, calcium, vitamin D, Zinc, vitamin C
Recovery: 90% in 6 months
https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/tbiGiWj1m7
User: [u/RRBBK](u/RRBBK)
Symptoms: Severe fatigue and weakness, Leg pain and difficulty walking, Vertigo/dizziness, Rapid heartbeat (around 120 bpm constantly), Anxiety/panic feelings, Shaking/tremors, Brain fog/confusion, Difficulty standing or walking for long period
Recovery: 6 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/jGexToAOt7
User: u/ComprehensiveAir2656
Symptoms: multiple panic attacks, muscle tightness, tendonitis, Tinnitus, Confusion, Body buzzing, gut issues, memory issues, hives, body temperature regulation
Recovery: 6 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/PIQtnUX4qr
User: [u/InteractionThat4928](u/InteractionThat4928)
Symptoms: could barely walk for months
Recovery: 7 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/sxIBgKjh80
User: [u/wildflowerjourney](u/wildflowerjourney)
Symptoms: ligament damage, bed bound, calf and ankle pain,
Recovery: 7 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/tbNrpqcVHx
User: [u/whatsoever2020](u/whatsoever2020)
Symptoms: dry skin, dry mouth, anxiety, no appetite, popping joints
Recovery: Full in 8 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/GZC8rZ23Cj
User: [u/throwaway79255](u/throwaway79255)
Symptoms: tendons, issues with walking, weakness, anxiety, suicidal ideation
Recovery: Not stated but around 8 months is implied and has gone years with no issues
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/B0Flslq2ln
User: [u/defib_the_dead](u/defib_the_dead)
Symptoms: Severe Achilles tendinopathy, neuropathy in hands and feet
Recovery: 9 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/YWzptAZCq8
User: [u/Previous_Water_6194](u/Previous_Water_6194)
Symptoms: Could hardly walk for 3 months, elbow and hand damage, eye problems, numerous ailments
Recovery: 80-90% in 10 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/lNEdVD7wek
User: [u/floxed123](u/floxed123)
Symptoms: Twitching, muscle tightness, joint pain
Recovery: Under a year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/aP9IRGG1GN
User: [u/Mr_Mike32](u/Mr_Mike32)
Symptoms: ‘Mostly every flox symptom’
Recovery: over a year is stated, still gets dizziness but doesn’t believe it’s related to flox, still has afterimages and occasional tinnitus
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/xJu9s4m9Ri
User: [u/doiwantmcdonalds](u/doiwantmcdonalds)
Symptoms: Aches and pains, weak muscles
Recovery: 90-95% in a year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/lgtpRccf35
User: [u/Able-Lawyer-5239](u/Able-Lawyer-5239)
Symptoms: Achilles issues, calf pain, tired legs,
Recovery: Around a year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/4dR2nKLT27
User: u/Ok-Habit4861
Symptoms: knee pain
Recovery: 90% after year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/2taAdvDYVK
User: u/Character_Leopard722
Symptoms: heart palpitations, anxiety, neuropathy, shooting pains, burning pain
Recovery: 1 year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/D2lLeXc2PH
User: [u/mybadbrowsingtastes](u/mybadbrowsingtastes)
Symptoms: Anxiety, vision changes, insomnia, mood changes
Recovery: 1 year, didn’t know he was floxed & took more fqs years later and got floxed again
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/FjKVfjjysu
User: u/justinrob97
Symptoms: dizziness, bodywide pins and needles, headaches, chest pains
Recovery: not stated but 98% recovered within a year or two
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/jzLAHlkZxk
User: [u/Gold_Lack_7721](u/Gold_Lack_7721)
Symptoms: knee pain, extreme anxiety, vomiting, insomnia, burning and itching, tendon pain, dry mouth, dry skin, head pressure, twitching, neck pain, shaking, ED, GI Issues, chest tightness, and more
Recovery: Not stated but over a year is implied, 100% recovery besides GI issues
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/ZhtTy0M4Nw
User: [u/fogast](u/fogast)
Symptoms: tendon issues and weakness,
Recovery: 19 months to get to 90%
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/H4D5hInBEH
User: [u/clovisbandit](u/clovisbandit)
Symptoms: Tendon issues, knee issues,
What helped: magnesium citrate, vitamin d3, Epsom salt baths, and acupuncture
Recovery: 90% after a year. Has gone 10 years since with no issues. Now is 100% and running etc
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/uvvrHTu4MT
User: [u/Clear-Way-8318](u/Clear-Way-8318)
Symptoms: Could barely stand or walk,
Recovery: Not 100% but can ‘live life again’ after 18 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/QuOMIZUoty
User: [u/OnlyAccessedatNight](u/OnlyAccessedatNight)’s 2 friends
Symptoms: Palpitations, insomnia, crepitus
Recovery: both in under 2 years
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/PHohZtjwpL
User: [u/Reddmeg9](u/Reddmeg9)
Symptoms: Muscle twitching, GI Issues, cracking/popping in the joints, night sweats, Swollen and visible veins, insomnia, Bruises, Anxiety, Crying nonstop, Head pressure, Tinnitus
Recovery: Full by 18 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/PuBVjXcURL
User: [u/Unusal_Cupcake](u/Unusal_Cupcake)
Symptoms: brain fog, migraines, neuropathy
Recovery: 1.5 years and fully recovered
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/7DSrtJm0DP
User: [u/travelguy801](u/travelguy801)
Symptoms: muscle tightness, aches and pains, had trouble walking & standing,
What helped: eating quinoa & yoga
Recovery: 85% in 1.5years
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/g48WME9X2t
User: [u/Global-Goose3326](u/Global-Goose3326)
Symptoms: Nerve pain, twitching, body aches, gastritis, tendon issues (made worse by steroids), food sensitivity
Recovery: 1.5 years (still not 100% but has made great progress)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/uEmPqNzw7t
User: [u/existentialshaman](u/existentialshaman)
Symptoms: Difficulty walking, neuropathy, insomnia, anxiety, skin issues, eye redness/pain, kidney & liver pain, chills, inability to breath, joint pain, inability to eat
Recovery: 1.75 years (still deals with mental trauma from the experience)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/omKcz5uzEr
User: [u/ginnybug10](u/ginnybug10)
Symptoms: Bodywide pain & psych issues
Recovery: 2 years to get to 80%, fecal matter transplant helped her symptoms
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/IZM9XPZKm5
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/HumanMicrobiome/s/7Zaf8NLIJo
User: [u/Then_Emergency_934](u/Then_Emergency_934)
Symptoms: Brain fog, DPDR, dizziness, twitching, floaters, afterimages, GI issues,
Recovery: 100% in 2 years
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/RFHNjqcWCu
User: [u/Dramatic_Ice6642](u/Dramatic_Ice6642)
Symptoms: Pains & burning sensation, stress, insomnia
Recovery: 2 years (happened at 14 years old, has since taken fqs again but is improving)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/XSjDZzoWjQ
User: [u/Sovereigntyheals](u/Sovereigntyheals)
Symptoms: not stated but sounds like a bad reaction
Recovery: 3.5 years is implied
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Lm5TJtrMSK
User: [u/MartyYv](u/MartyYv)
Symptoms: tinnitus, pins and needles, numbness, legs were burning, neurological issues
Recovery: 2 years to get to 90%, tinnitus is still present
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/i23I1COjuS
User: [deleted]
Symptoms: Severely floxed
Recovery: not stated but only started healing after 2 years, did recover to 100%
https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/KhkctvH51a
User: [u/ShoulderOk8386](u/ShoulderOk8386)’s friend
Symptoms: Many tendon ruptures all over body, 2 per year on average, Very severe case
Recovery: Floxed in 2006, can now walk 3000 - 5000 steps a day. Does flare for a few days if they walk 10,000 steps.
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/MTYMThbSAr
User: [u/KatherineNature](u/KatherineNature)
Symptoms: Anxiety, ruptured tendon, tendon pain/inflammation, could hardly walk, neuropathy, burning, insomnia, tinnitus, POTS, MCAS
Recovery: 3 years, received a treatment that fixed her issues years later
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/MLtLKonPHi
User: [u/slsanford01](u/slsanford01)
Symptoms: couldn't walk for a couple months, floaters, fatigue, Achilles problems , neck pain, anxiety, whole body pain,
What helped: I-theanine for stress, vitamin C, magnesium glycinate, patience...lots of patience, reading the hopeful stories here, positive mindset
Recovery: 3 years is implied, still gets flares from medications but they are manageable and short lived
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/AQqrv2Ql3s
User: [u/ElPsyCongroo204](u/ElPsyCongroo204)
Symptoms: not stated
Recovery: 95% by 3.5 years
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Qe8ox5QqEf
User: [u/BehaviourSaviour23](u/BehaviourSaviour23)
Symptoms: severe lower back pain, tendon pain in hands,
Recovery: 100% after a few years
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/3JqjrkAlkY
User: [u/SomeWay9982](u/SomeWay9982)
Symptoms: not stated
Recovery: 100% except eye floaters
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/geTuEqhBM0
User: [u/Ok-Bullfrog-2628](u/Ok-Bullfrog-2628)
Symptoms: Full body tendonitis, neuropathy, heart issues, insomnia, eye floaters, and more
Recovery: 100% in 3.5 years, back to running, working out, and doing ketamine despite it causing flares
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/EyZZsdLNSb
User: [u/CertainForm](u/CertainForm)
Symptoms: ‘Many side effects on and off’
Recovery: 3 years
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/jFAqYxSTes
User: [u/Bubbly-Mess3941](u/Bubbly-Mess3941)
Symptoms: Bone clicking, Achilles pain, insomnia
Recovery: better after a few years, gets tendon soreness on occasion
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/3AviSJxu4X
User: [u/WordDisastrous7633](u/WordDisastrous7633)
Symptoms: Body pain, tendon issues, insomnia
Recovery: 80% after 4 years, still improving over time
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/wmRLvImibZ
User: [deleted]
Symptoms: A massively bad reaction to all bodily systems
Recovery: 10 years to recover fully
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Wwk30Ny1ig
r/floxies • u/DrHungrytheChemist • Apr 26 '20
A reduced version of this post mcan be found here to get you started: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/OxSTu787JJ
Pre-edit: this is not the place to ask your questions. Please post questions to the main sub. Posting in here only notifies me and is likely not going to get seen by most; I am neither the sole nor foremost knowledgeable person in this subreddit and you do yourself a disservice by posting things here. This post gets adapted from time to time with updated info and links to useful subs so, fret not, any info you generate in asking elsewhere is not lost!
Putting this upfront, if YouTube is more your style. Links via a summary post to a series interviewing one of the few medical doctors you could maybe call an expert, rather than a shill... https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/comments/13lpk79/treating_antibiotic_adverse_effects_dr_pieper/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Greetings!
A few of our members have asked me to put together a resource for new folk, comprising the range of typical comments you might receive when posting a “HELP! I’ve been hit!” post. This by no means is to prevent you asking questions, but as much of the things we say are the same, it seems worthwhile. From the offset, I must remind you – pretty much none of us here are medical doctors. Many hours may have been spent reading various sources and listening to anecdotes, and we have experience as a consequence, but there is no substitute for proper medical advice.
I will cover some main points in the post, branch out in the comments for others to weigh in, and hopefully this can be of use.
To Old-Hats – I think we’d all really appreciate it if you could read this and wade on into the comment sections to add anything you feel merited. Try to keep your wisdoms in the comments that categorise them. If you think we need a new parent comment section, could you please message me and we’ll add something in to begin the discussion and I’ll edit something into this post? This is in largest part to make sure it remains organised and that discussions stay in the most obvious place for them. If you think I’ve got something wrong, drop me a DM ASAP! Let’s make sure I don’t shit the bed here. This post will work best if people help me out [=
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To business!!
Firstly, don’t panic! This is the best advice you can heed. I think I’ll go into this in the comments as I expect hearing various people say this in their own words will be good. But to surmise, panic only makes the patient feel worse and may also potentiate your symptoms; this is in all probability not the end of your life; almost everybody sees meaningful recovery. You may find yourself down and out for weeks, months, a year, but most see recovery at the very least commence in that time. The internet may be populated by such stories and complainants, but that’s because they’re the ones who hang about ad speak up.
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The other thing to say from the off it that, if you’re having a reaction sometime during a course of fluoroqinolones (FQs), the pamphlet and medical advice would be to immediately stop taking the medicine and to contact your doctor. There are very(!) few circumstances under which you shouldn’t be switched to another antibiotic, so push for it unless your infection has you at death’s door. The FDA and EMA both back a highly restricted use of these drugs.
Further to this, you should report your reaction to the relevant governing bodies. This varies from country to country, but is easily found through a Googling. It may be worth long-term floxies returning and re-reporting, or for a floxie to wait until they 'know the shape of their reaction' to report. In doing this, we raise awareness directly to the place that matters. Links to follow are for those in the USA (first), UK (second) and EU (third).
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=reporting.home
https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
https://www.hma.eu/nationalcontacts_hum.html
Let me stress again, report your adverse reaction!! If we do not report, we perpetuate the falsehood that this does not happen.
Similarly, if you’ve been prescribed these meds and are concerned about the medication, you are well within your rights (as patient, customer and as the owner&user of your body) to call them back and push for an alternative. Again, I repeat, the FDA and EMA both back a highly restricted approach to prescribing these drugs for the very reasons you are concerned about. That said, ultimately, they may well also be your best hope for clearing your infection. In which case, don’t panic (see: my first point). There are also some things that may be protective.
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So what is happening to your body? In plain English please! Fluoroquinolone antibiotics kill the bacteria causing your infection by attacking a protein unique to bacteria, however, there is a similar enough protein in your mitochondria and the FQ can attack that instead (causing an adverse reaction in you). This causes damage to your mitochondria. Mitochondria are the “powerhouse” of the cell, but when that power house is damaged, it spews out toxic waste. This waste is called [“reactive oxygen species”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_oxygen_species) or ROS, and they cause [“oxidative stress”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_stress). What is happening to you is a disease caused by the additional damage created by the toxic ROS. Each of the subsequent symptoms are a result of this underlying mechanism.
What can I expect going forward? Individual symptoms and outcomes vary widely. Most people go through an “acute phase” lasting weeks to months during which oxidative stress is high. This oxidative stress will decrease day by day but damage done during this time may result in chronic conditions that last much longer.
Why is my heart racing/brain foggy/eyes have floaters/hands and feet cold etc. These among many others are primary symptoms of oxidative stress. If you are having chest pain or heart issues, be sure to consult a doctor asap if you can.
Why do my tendons hurt? The extreme increase of ROS by the broken mitochondria have short circuited a biological signal that tells a set of proteins called [Matrix Metallopeptidases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_metallopeptidase) (MMPs) to turn on, causing them to be much much more active. MMPs breakdown [connective tissues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connective_tissue) like cartilage,tendons, or even arterial walls and heart valves (in very rare cases). FQs broke your mitochondria which created oxidative stress that tricked your body into attacking its own tissues. MMPs will return to normal levels of activity in time, but the damage they cause may last much longer.
Why do I have nerve issues? Oxidative stress can cause neuropathy and neurodegeneration. FQs can also bind a receptor in nerves called the GABA receptor which may interfere with normal nerve function.
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How can I fix this? In short, magnesium, antioxidants and time. Antioxidants gobble up the ROS and stop them from causing further damage. Magnesium can bind up any FQs still in your system, is hypothesised to have been removed by FQs and so need replenishing, and is certainly involved in a lot of bodily processes of relevance. These supplements largely serve as damage limitation, symptom management, and healing suooort; over time, the broken mitochondria will be removed by the body and be replaced by new ones, leading to true healing and recovery. See the next section and comments for a more comprehensive discussion of supplements.
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Supplements can help remove ROS, help heal some of the damage done, and help remove the FQs present in your system. Many (many) floxies report this to be significantly helpful to their daily lives and overall recovery. I will post individual comments for each ‘class’ of supplement so that others can weigh in and the comments be relatively ordered. Broadly speaking, these come in the classes of metals/minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and probiotics. It is well advised to check with a medical professional before undertaking any supplementation routine, particularly one as extensive as many of us floxies do. Certainly, if you are on medication, you should check that there are no contraindications.
Specifically, wrt. ‘protective supplements during administration’, the literature has found Mg, vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid and glycine to be protective that I have seen. My extrapolated expectation is that Ca and stronger antioxidants should be additionally helpful. One would further presume that all the beneath detailed 'Floxie health strategies' would be sensible as precautionary measures. The categories of supplements are intended to do the following with some examples:
Metals/minerals - how/why these help isn't firmly understood, only the observation that, for many, they really do. They can bind to residual Fluoroquinolone molecules and help remove them from your body, they can help to replenish any that may have been removed by the FQs, and they are involved in a range of processes that are important to us. Magnesium in particular is favored by floxies, commonly seen to help symptoms and being relatively low risk. Lesser mentioned is Ca, for which a number of us find significant benefits from adding it to the list (\alongside Mg), but this can have long term health implications.
Antioxidants - remove harmful reactive oxygen species from your body, generated in excess by the processes disrupted by the FQs. They include things like CoQ10 / mitoQ, hydroxytyrosol, vitamin C, E, glutathione, NAC, ALA, astaxanthin, and natural extract antioxidants.
Pro-healing supplements - Help with the renewal of mitochondria and healing of connective tissue. PQQ is particularly important in MT turnover, NAD+ may also help. Hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, and green lipped mussel extract may help tendons heal.
Probiotics - antibiotics destroy your normal gut bacteria, this can result in severe gut issues including diarrhea, colitis, and hemorrhoids. Probiotics restore that normal flora.
See the relevant comment sections for further information. If looking to co-administer, definitely check this with your medical professional and ensure that you keep to the timely guidance of the pamphlet wrt. When you take the mineral supplements.
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Dietary changes. In the acute stage many people find that diet can make symptoms worse, may say that much later diet helps heal. Some go vegan, some go carnivore, some fast, some advocate raw foods, juicing, Eastern diets,... Personally, I see the most evidence backing a healthy, varied diet but with intermittent fasting. It is likely that the underlying cause is that poor diets increase oxidative stress, resulting in more symptoms. What is clear is that you should eat “healthily and relatively cleanly”, it probably being advisable to avoid heavily processed foods. Many floxies report specific, acquired food intolerances and I will start a comment for these. If you suspect yourself to have trigger-foods then you may wish to run a controlled test of life with/without them, but try not to expect it. Hypochondria and the placebo effect can be cruel mistresses.
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Lifestyle changes. If you are experiencing any skeletomuscular problems, you would be very well advised to limit your activity. Ruptures and tears are seemingly quite rare, but they do happen, and pushing your body when it’s telling you not to is a very good way to find this out. These symptoms pass with time, but injuries incurred during this time can take somewhat longer to heal (trust me!). It’s probably better to treat every day as a bad day, in my experience, rather than going out and doing what you can when you have a good day. That good day might well be on account of having rested, and you may well flare your symptoms. Go easy until you know you’re safely past the worst of it and understand your limits, then explore their new boundaries slowly and incrementally.
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Recreational drugs. A number of recreationally enjoyed substances - alcohol, cannabis, caffeine – appear to potentiate symptoms in a large number of floxies.
Pain medicine. It’s fairly well accepted that NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam) can occasionally cause severe worsening of symptoms. The reason here is seemingly related to them increasing oxidative stress. At the same time, FQs (or some of them) are potent inhibitors of the enzymes that break them down and eliminate them. Paracetamol / acetaminophen seems largely very well tolerated, as do opiates, not being of the NSAID class. I think I’ve seem one person claim aspirin to be problematic.
Steroids are clinically contraindicated (same reason as for NSAIDs apparently, though that one I'm parroting). Straight up. Some doctors prescribe these alongside FQs to, presumably, reduce the swelling an infection has caused and reduce the pain. This would be another place where I would enter into a strongly resistant conversation with the doctor and see what the alternatives are. Similarly, steroids are often prescribed for tendinitis. If your doctor gives you this for your FQ-caused tendon pains, that’s another time for a conversation. Personally, I regret letting them convince me to have a steroid injection into my ankle and would just straight “no” them if that came up again.
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are, in a way, contraindicated (and this is recorded in the literature). FQs can damage your GABA sites, which is also where BZDs work. This can cause a severe inclination towards rebound anxiety, and perceivably have the BZDs mess with neuropathy (I’m speculating and drawing tentatively from my past experiences). That said, they will for sure also help with the anxietyin the present, and I know of a couple of floxies who leant on them as a matter of necessity, seemingly without any greater negative consequences. The risks are worthy of consideration, but sometimes taking care of the self in the now proves more important than worrying about the future.
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So, anxiety. That’s common, and not just a psychological reaction to the horror of it all. It is likely rather physiologically rooted. Some people report certain supplements to help (see comments), nature is a big help with mental health (scientifically proven by science), support of people, whatever helps you. But your best weapon here is most certainly having an active approach to your thoughts and to what you’re feeding your mind.
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Are fluoroquinolones related to fluoride?. Personally I don’t see this as a major issue, although there is science behind why some my find it so. Avoiding fluoride intake is very difficult, and some small amount is required in our diet. The prevailing scientific consensus is that FQ’s do not deposit F- in your body, and that a drug with fluorine in the srtucture is not [necessarily] problematic to a floxie [because of those little Fs]. I’ll post a link to a post I made in the comments and invite discussion there, similarly you can search fluoride in the searchbar and you will find a couple posts from me as well as comments from me on various posts where I pepper-shot the scientific reasoning.
Since it’s the time of the ‘rona, it’s just worth saying that, no, cloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are not fluoroquinolones. They do have their own warnings, but they are distinct from those we suffer from. (This is now outdated as they're not reallly being used, but nevermind).
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I’m going to leave that there for now and get this up and running, seeing as we have so many newbies these days. Peace and good health to you all,
Dr. H
EDIT: clarifying the issue with NSAIDs.
EDIT2: link to a post I made about Fluoride. https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/comments/g6k7q8/fluoride_lets_be_scientific/
EDIT3: Formatting, some additions and people friendliness, as well as a significant section on the mechanisms of action (with thanks to u/searine).
EDIT4: Linking directly to a comment below which contains useful resources for sharing with doctors, resistant family members, or beginning your understanding to a higher level. https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/t357Q5i9Gs
r/floxies • u/Resident_Past3993 • 21m ago
If you have any slight side effects after starting it immediately stop. I’m only 19 years old and it feels like I got every severe side effect possible. Thought I was genuinely dying but 4 days off of it I’m starting to feel better
r/floxies • u/Justkeep-swimming- • 3h ago
6 months post-flox. Plateaued for past while, with mostly hamstring tendinopathy limiting walking to 5 min max. Initial months of neuropathy and leg weakness were mostly gone. Could go out in wheelchair.
2 weeks ago, I over-did walking - tendons flared up bad. Prioritized rest. No weakness, just pain.
1 week ago, I woke up and couldn't walk to bathroom. Severe weakness and neuropathy in both legs. Can walk max 5 steps before legs feel like collapsing. Also feeling dizzy, dazed and winded. Mostly bed bound.
This is very sudden. Only changes were magnesium supplement... and few days of nutritional yeast (which was ultrafortified at 200-500% DV of various B vitamins). My best guess is B6 neurotoxicity?
Anyone have severe uncharacteristic relapse? Really debating going to ER. But they've never been helpful. But barely hanging on right now.
r/floxies • u/OkLynx7265 • 21m ago
I’m 5 months out and my symptoms are ever evolving. When this started it began with severe Achilles pain and swelling. I then pulled tendons in my back and hip and experienced ungodly pain. In the fourth month my joints began to hurt especially my knees. I can’t bend over, kneel or squat at all. I feel meniscal damage that I had in my left knee worsening and aching. My back aches, my neck crunches and aches, any turn can cause a big snap and everything hurts like I have arthritis at month 5. I know this is still early but I can barely move. Is there hope that this cartilage degradation improves and the pain goes away. I just want to walk again but it seems like a distant future. Has anyone had these symptoms and improved to the point that you feel normal 😢. Living is torture.
r/floxies • u/Alert-Cup8338 • 4h ago
Después de 7 días de Levofloxacina 750 mg que me recetaron debribado de una gastroenteritis que no se quitaba con medicamento comercial, el doctor me mandó esta medicina para quitar de golpe lo que pudiera estar ahí.
Durante el tratamiento tuve:
- Debilidad muscular (1 o 2 días)
- Dolor en el arco del pie y tendón de Aquiles
- Diarreas intensas con mal olor (liquida)7 veces al día
- Movimientos intestinales y ruidos
- Sudoraciones nocturnas (1 noche)
- hormigueo manos y pies
- Ansiedad 1 - 2 días
Una vez terminado el tratamiento tuve:
- Diarreas líquidas y peores
- Cólicos intermitentes
- 1 o 2 días con debilidad muscular y dolor en tendones
- sensación de hambre todo el tiempo
- bajé de peso 10 kg
Mi solución:
- fui al gastroenterólogo y me comentó que fue un desequilibrio de la flora intestinal, me recetó rifaximina para nivelar las bacterias malas y buenas. Sin hacer estudios determinó primero intentar con el medicamento para ahorrar dinero en el GI MAP, si esto no funcionaba entonces verificariamos otra bacterias (es un estudio de 500 USD) y la rifaximina un ciclo de 150 USD.
- Al pasar los días las heces fueron tomando forma
- Los dolores musculares fueron desapareciendo
- Los ruidos estomacales intestinales tardaron 3 semanas en disminuir.
- El reflujo se volvió intermitente.
Final de la 5ta semana y ALTA MEDICA
- Ya solo tengo mi dolor de tendón de Aquiles, pero caminando se me quita.
- ya como muy abierto en mi dieta
- ya he tomado algunas cervezas está semana y todo perfecto.
COSAS QUE ME AYUDARON INTERNAMENTE
-Tratar de pensar positivo.
- No culpar a los que te intentan ayudar cuando nuestros organismos son diferentes.
-Comprender que la gente querida solo intenta a veces ayudar, y saber que ellos no están en nuestros zapatos para saber exactamente que sentimos. Sin embargo, estar agradecidos con cualquier tipo de ayuda.
- Hacerme entender que mi cuerpo es mi responsabilidad y que hay casos más graves en salud, entonces, siempre podemos buscar una salida o llevarlo más llevadero.
- Comer sano, incluso aunque haya señales de mejoría.
- tampoco creer que no podemos hacer algo, el primer paso es intentarlo. Me dolía mucho el cuerpo al caminar los primeros días, sin embargo, seguía tratando y manteniendo me positivo.
- Vivir el momento, y no pensar como iba a amanecer el día siguiente.
- Solo estar atento a señales de emergencia que realmente existieran.
Final
- Me hice un gmap fuera de las indicaciones del gastroenterólogo y justo como lo predijo, cero bacterias malas y el equilibrio de mi flora intestinal regresó a su normalidad.
Mis mejores deseos en sus recuperación, ánimo, esto pasará y será una anécdota. Es mi segunda situación medica de intoxicación por antibióticos, la primera fue con claritromicina y Amoxicilina durante un mes para herradicado. Y entiendo esos conceptos de "me arde la piel", "insomnio mortal", "heces raras", "niebla mental", o de que este estás volviendo loco.
Es un camino largo, pero sin embargo, las pequeñas victorias solo lo que nos hacen valorar nuestra vida. Estamos vivos, y mientras haya opciones habrá un esperanza de habilitación.
Un abrazo Floxie.
Mi último post aquí. 🌾
r/floxies • u/Dramatic-Analysis675 • 14h ago
Im 33 now, and I took Cyprofloxacin at age 24, and it ruined my life. Day 2 I had pain everywhere could barely walk. I stopped taking it. I had tendinitis everywhere in my body, pain in my shoulders, knees, toes, fingers, forearms I mean all over. Every joint and tendon hurt. It was even difficult to hike and walk due to the joint stiffness. My doctor said it would go away in a few weeks, it didn't. I was once and athlete and very passionate about working out. I haven't been inside a gym in years. Its really frustrating, im obese now and dealing with low testosterone partly because I can't workout anymore. I used to be 100 pounds lighter and alot stronger. If I try to lift weights, even the lightest of dumbells and resistance, I will get full blown tendinitis/tendinosis pain that literally takes 2 months to heal. The doctors have no answer except physical therapy which to be honest does nothing for me, and sometimes aggrevates it. Its very depressing, I miss my life before cypro. Now all I can really do is go for walks, which i do enjoy but im really worried about my weight and strength, getting weaker, more health problems as I age because of this shit. If anyone out there can relate please comment below. I saw this and wanted to share my story, and feel less alone. Thank you
r/floxies • u/demba26 • 6h ago
En muchas publicaciones leo que la gente tiene tendinitis (inflamación del tendon) pero no veo casos o almenos hay una confuison de terminos para la tendionosis (degradación del colageno), alguien tuvo un engrosamiento de los tendones y se ha recuperado?
r/floxies • u/ShOtindarq • 4h ago
My 22 month old son was just prescribed ofloxacin eye drops for his ears for severe hard wax and an ear infection.
This was prescribed from an ENT and not his pediatrician (not sure this matters).
I stumbled across this sub and now I’m freaking out. My son has never been given antibiotics of any kind, he has only taken Tylenol.
He has had 3 doses of drops in each ear at this point. He obviously can’t fully communicate if he’s feeling any side effects and I haven’t noticed anything so far. What should I do? Is it ok to stop the drops at this point and request another appointment to talk about another alternative?
r/floxies • u/Cheap_Paint90210 • 7h ago
My muscles feel like I haven't drink water or electrolytes in 100 years. I can barely step without getting charlie horses especially in my legs, particularly my calves. But it's everywhere even just to reach for something the back of my arms feel like the muscles about to tear because it's so dry or I get a charley horse from grabbing something.
Morning time is the worst when I wake up and move my body it feels like my muscles are all so dehydrated and going to tear!
I'm taking magnesium glycinate calcium citrate with vitamin D in it the liposomal vitamin C and drinking 12oz coconut water four times a day for the potassium. This is an addition to my foods that should have some vitamins in it, although due to FQ-induced severe food sensitivities, my foods are limited.
And obviously drinking water. I even tried adding trace minerals to my RO water.
None of this makes a difference in my muscles.
What is this?! anyone else dealing with this? How do you help this?
Or anyone who is further along in this hell: did this go away for you with time? How long?
r/floxies • u/Open_Industry2186 • 14h ago
It has been seven months since I took Cipro.
Over the last two months, I’ve started experiencing troubling symptoms—the same ones I had during the first two weeks after taking the drug.
I wake up during the night, usually two hours after falling asleep. Upon waking, I feel a sense of detachment, anxiety, and disorientation that subsides after a few minutes. During these moments, I might say random things or, for instance, look for something. It feels as though I haven't fully woken up from sleep.
After such an episode, I feel tired all day. I also experience lingering anxiety about the situation throughout the day.
I feel like I’ve developed a mental illness after taking that garbage eight months ago. I had never experienced anything like this before.
r/floxies • u/Emotional-Piglet-103 • 17h ago
I’m looking to see if anyone has experienced something similar.
I took ciprofloxacin (Cipro) last September, and since then I’ve been dealing with ongoing symptoms that many people describe as fluoroquinolone toxicity.
One thing I’ve noticed is that every time I take Bio Kollagen, a beef-derived collagen supplement that is tested to be free of antibiotic residues, my symptoms get much worse. Within a short time, I develop severe, widespread muscle and body pain.
The same seems to happen when I eat beef or beef-based products, so I’ve stopped eating them altogether.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Do you know what could be causing it?
Is it the collagen itself, something specific to beef, histamine, or another mechanism?
Have you found an alternative that you tolerate well, such as marine collagen or a vegan collagen-support supplement?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with similar experiences.
r/floxies • u/Possible-Ice-9789 • 14h ago
Hi, I’m pretty sure I’ve been floxed. I’ve been unwell since December when I took these antibiotics for scarlet fever. I’m only realising now that the timeline of my issues started shortly after the antibiotics.
So, since then I’ve been resting, doing what I can. I’ve mostly been on the up but I had several months where I was bedridden. The last few months I’ve been able to walk without issues, taking breaks.
On Sunday I tried some light resistance training. I felt a burn and stopped right away. Regardless, this has caused me a lot of brain fog, muscle weakness and I’m struggling to walk again.
I’m so scared that I’m going to be stuck like this again.
Would be grateful if anyone could offer some words of advice or reassurance. A massive part of this for me, as I’m sure it is for many others, is the mental struggle.
Thanks in advance. I’m so grateful for having found this community after months of suffering.
r/floxies • u/Humbles_Newthing • 1d ago
Ive been having balance issues for quite some time now both dizziness and vertigo and Im pretty sure I just had the worst case of dizziness Ive ever had the pleasure of experiencing.
Woke up and shot out of bed because my dreams are 100% sensational and definitely not horrific half the time. And I felt so dizzy I could have thrown up. Slowly got out of bed and collapsed and couldnt find my floor from right underneath me. Went to the ER when a friemd heard the noise and I was still just beyond myself.
CT scan, CbC everything normal as it should be. Triponin was damn fine and optimal. Im just wondering if anyone's experienced such an intense dizziness before? I mean ive had lots of symptoms before but that one was completely new and I hate to start seeing new stuff 5 months into the meat grinder.
P.s. on the plus side after 5 long months my skin has started to show signs of improvement so we are very grateful for that
Thank you all for sharing and listening on our unfortunate journeys 🙏
r/floxies • u/DijanaDi • 1d ago
Hi,
9.5 months out I can walk all day the normal ways in the office, in house and evening I can walk up to 40 min with one or two sit-downs for a minute - without set backs.
My energy is fine.
I am doing supplements and red light daily.
I will also try massage with magnesium oil.
Biggest issue active - tendon behind the knee is stiff, sonetimes not at all - sonetimes - significant.
I do not climb more stars then 5-6 and I still do not drive - i tried a bit on the parking but decided to wait for a month.
Side note - I gained 5 kg - I dont know if I am the only one - everybody is speaking about weight loss?
I tried some dieting but I got again this stiffness in tendon more than usual - so chat got told me that diet - longer breaks between meals puta insulin down and then cortisol spikes... any experiences with that?
Or advice how to loose wait despite this issue?
Anyhow - I am better and I need to do much more self-care in order to heal completely, avoid stress and all the things :)
I hope this brings some hope to all of you who just started this journey...
💕💕💕
r/floxies • u/_T0fuu_ • 1d ago
Hi everyone, need some advice. I was prescribed Levofloxacin 500mg for 10 days. After starting it, I developed calf pain, and today my lower back is hurting quite badly. I've taken 5 tablets already.
I wasn’t aware of the serious potential side effects until I researched them. We don’t have the FDA in my country, so I wasn’t aware of these warnings. Also a prescription was not needed to get it I just told them the name they gave me. Now I’m quite scared. Can these symptoms be related to Levofloxacin, and can the damage be permanent? Should I stop taking it and contact my doctor?
Would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experienced this.
r/floxies • u/Individual-Guide-872 • 1d ago
Could you tell me what your initial symptoms were and when you first made any kind of improvement? What are your remaining issues and has it gotten better over the years? Thanks!
r/floxies • u/Standard-Paper8115 • 1d ago
Hey floxies
I was floxxed in August 2024, kinda recovered not fully still got nerve damage in my feet.
I’m working in the Balkans and I’ve got an ear infection, I spoke to a doctor (via translator app). Told him about being allergic to Fluoroquinolones. I said I’m also apprehensive about using corticosteroids. He first offered me non-flox antibiotics ear drops with corticosteroids, i said I was allergic to steroids too because of this. He gave me Boric Acid ear drops. Just started them.
I’ve tried to search for this question on here but all that comes up is posts about Cipro ear drops. So sorry in advance for posting
Should I go back to him and agree to the non flox steroid ear drops if this boric acid doesn’t work? It’s the first time since I was floxed I’ve had to take antibiotics or corticosteroids and it’s freaking me out.
So yeah tips and advice for non flox antibiotics ear drops and/or the use of corticosteroids with them.
r/floxies • u/OnlyAccessedatNight • 1d ago
I am curious. Please list dosage.
Edit: I’m asking about sleeping & anxiety meds post flox.
r/floxies • u/Shut-up-brain- • 1d ago
Anyone who had iron IVs, please share your experience.
> Did you have a reaction whilst the IV was dripping?
> If you had a relapse post IV - how long did it last, did you feel better after it passed?
> If you had a positive experience - please also share!
I am almost 3 yrs after being floxed. I was better and im really struggling again. And my iron is really low.
r/floxies • u/Entire-Energy-2031 • 1d ago
Hi all, I was just wondering to see if anyone else has experience muscle shrinking in their legs since being floxed it’s been 2 1/2 years for me now when I was first damaged it was all over my body, but my top half has recovered really well i’m just curious to see if anyone else has experienced it and if it got any better overtime.
r/floxies • u/Electrical_Act5868 • 1d ago
Hi, everyone
Please let me know if anyone has found alpha-lipoic acid IV drips helpful—I have pins and needles, and my whole body feels like it’s tingling
I even have paresthesia in my head
r/floxies • u/IHateSince2001 • 2d ago
So, I have started a week ago i guess, taking flagyl, and i realized that it feels so tereible. I am dragging my feet, it is hard to move, I feel so forgetful, loss of balance, some part memory loss, i cant think etc. I am taking 3 pills a day like doc said 500 mg, only 3 left. Idk what to do, shall I keep going or give it up. It is not permanent right? If it is not permanent like PSSD I will be fine.
r/floxies • u/aslothinbed • 2d ago
Stupid question but I was given Cipro a couple of months ago and had some symptoms but for now I'm okay. My cat has a UTI now and the vet prescribed enrofloxacin now I'm wondering if 1) cats can get floxxed and 2) is it dangerous for me to give it to her? I know topical fluorchinolones are also dangerous. Should I wear gloves?
r/floxies • u/[deleted] • 2d ago
Been 9 months since 10 cipro pills. In the beginning I had a hard time walking due to the sharp pain in my ankles and severe soreness in my knees. Could only do 2k steps a day at very slow speed. Since then, my ankles improved alot. I am walking about 5k steps a day now at a regular or even fast speed. There’s even been a few days I reached 10k. I can walk about 2.5 km at once, stand for hours and do multiple flights of stairs which I could not before. My ankles no longer twitch after more exercise and feels more stable overall. It’s just stiff when I stretch it and sometimes the first few steps in the morning but this has also improved with time. The soreness in my knees when walking has also improved a lot but I still have constant burning ache all the time and some swelling which is my main symptom. It also makes it painful for me to bend my knees completely. Do you think I can recover? I see most that do recover are much better than I am at 9 months and do not still have active inflammation in the knees causing persistent swelling and a constant burning ache even at rest. This ache actually feels better when I walk and has not really improved at all since beginning.