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Because so many of us take Sotalol, I do have to add that had I checked - like I usually do - I would have read the warning in www.drugs.com/cons/Cipro_I_V_.html
Sotalol was listed specifically, which is not a good sign. 
This is a risk I should have known about, and my doc should have expressed the caution. Worse than that is I should have known better. A number of years ago a dentist tried to prescribe a fluoroquinolone, and I told him I couldn't take it with sotalol. It was in my prescription literature. Oh well, age ...
From now on, it's like Ronald Regan once said, "Trust, but verify."
Thanks for everyone's support!
Original Message--------------------------------------------
Just in case this happens to someone else . . .
Quick background: I have HOCM, had a surgical myectomy at the Cleveland Clinic in 2003; have had AICDs since 1995, take 240 mg sotalol and 10 mg lipitor a day. My Medtronic device has fired for the wrong reasons several times before. Once the lead wire went bad and double-counted heartbeats (I just can't describe the thrill of getting 3 shocks while fully conscious
). Anyway, after 3 days of taking CIPRO (for a prostate infection), I mowed the lawn (power -driven mower, not too hot of a day, I was well hydrated) and finished in an an hour. Rested 5 minutes, then thought I would hose the mower off. I was looking for the spray nozzle , got light-headed and felt the AICD start the pacing therapy for my heart. I couldn't believe I was getting paced, but I stopped and dropped to one knee to lower my heart rate. I came to, lying on the grass, when the device shocked me. Found out later that the first shock had not brought me out of v-fib, so it was actually the second shock that woke me up. Needless to say, I was upset. I haven't had a "true" shock since 1997. I didn't really think that an antibiotic like CIPRO could be the culprit, and foolishly continued to take it. I had a 14 day supply, and you know, you're supposed to finish it all. I kept feeling extremely anxious - like 3 expressos - (waiting for the next fainting/shock), but attributed it to my recent heart shock. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, stopped the CIPRO on day 12, and saw my family doctor about the anxiety. He told me had heard the same complaint from other patients, and prescribed an anti-anxiety med until the effects of the CIPRO wore off, which it did after a week. Medline lists anxiety, agitation, and nervousness as possible side effects. It also particularly warns that caffeine can extremely worsen these effects, including heart pounding. I don't blame my family doc. There weren't any real red flags waving in the "drug interaction" department. I never used to pay attention to the "possible side effects warnings," but I will from now on! Guess I'll update my Medic Alert records too - NO CIPRO!
One last thought, had I not had an AICD, the CIPRO and HOCM with Arrhythmias would have been my epitaph!
Just thought I'd share this , in case some other poor soul goes through this.
LISA - Thanks for keeping this site going! Where else would we go to share this stuff?
*Other medicines—*Although certain medicines should not be used together
at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even
if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are
taking a fluoroquinolone, it is especially important that your health
care professional know if you are taking any of the following . . .
at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even
if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are
taking a fluoroquinolone, it is especially important that your health
care professional know if you are taking any of the following . . .
This is a risk I should have known about, and my doc should have expressed the caution. Worse than that is I should have known better. A number of years ago a dentist tried to prescribe a fluoroquinolone, and I told him I couldn't take it with sotalol. It was in my prescription literature. Oh well, age ...
From now on, it's like Ronald Regan once said, "Trust, but verify."
Thanks for everyone's support!
Original Message--------------------------------------------
Just in case this happens to someone else . . .
Quick background: I have HOCM, had a surgical myectomy at the Cleveland Clinic in 2003; have had AICDs since 1995, take 240 mg sotalol and 10 mg lipitor a day. My Medtronic device has fired for the wrong reasons several times before. Once the lead wire went bad and double-counted heartbeats (I just can't describe the thrill of getting 3 shocks while fully conscious
). Anyway, after 3 days of taking CIPRO (for a prostate infection), I mowed the lawn (power -driven mower, not too hot of a day, I was well hydrated) and finished in an an hour. Rested 5 minutes, then thought I would hose the mower off. I was looking for the spray nozzle , got light-headed and felt the AICD start the pacing therapy for my heart. I couldn't believe I was getting paced, but I stopped and dropped to one knee to lower my heart rate. I came to, lying on the grass, when the device shocked me. Found out later that the first shock had not brought me out of v-fib, so it was actually the second shock that woke me up. Needless to say, I was upset. I haven't had a "true" shock since 1997. I didn't really think that an antibiotic like CIPRO could be the culprit, and foolishly continued to take it. I had a 14 day supply, and you know, you're supposed to finish it all. I kept feeling extremely anxious - like 3 expressos - (waiting for the next fainting/shock), but attributed it to my recent heart shock. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore, stopped the CIPRO on day 12, and saw my family doctor about the anxiety. He told me had heard the same complaint from other patients, and prescribed an anti-anxiety med until the effects of the CIPRO wore off, which it did after a week. Medline lists anxiety, agitation, and nervousness as possible side effects. It also particularly warns that caffeine can extremely worsen these effects, including heart pounding. I don't blame my family doc. There weren't any real red flags waving in the "drug interaction" department. I never used to pay attention to the "possible side effects warnings," but I will from now on! Guess I'll update my Medic Alert records too - NO CIPRO!One last thought, had I not had an AICD, the CIPRO and HOCM with Arrhythmias would have been my epitaph!
Just thought I'd share this , in case some other poor soul goes through this.
LISA - Thanks for keeping this site going! Where else would we go to share this stuff?
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