Latest news with #Ciprofloxacin
Newsweek
12-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
I Was Diagnosed With a UTI, Months Later I Was Planning My Own Funeral
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the priest read me my last rites at just 41 years old, I was heartbroken and in disbelief. I couldn't believe I was dying. Just months earlier, I had been healthy. I ate well, worked out often, and took care of my husband, a disabled Marine Corps veteran who became paralyzed after an injury in 2011. I was also a stepmother to his two children and had a career in IT for a large healthcare corporation until April 2021. Then, all of a sudden, I couldn't do anything for myself. It started with a urinary tract infection (UTI)—not uncommon for women, affecting 50 to 60 percent of adult women in their lifetime. UTIs are often treated with antibiotics, or sometimes clear up on their own. I regularly worked out and now I am bedridden. I regularly worked out and now I am bedridden. TikTok/@taliasmith2021 I asked my doctor for a urinalysis and culture. The results confirmed a UTI, but with a small bacterial count. Because I was symptomatic, the doctor prescribed Ciprofloxacin—a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that kills the bacteria causing infections. Before starting it, I asked if there was anything I should know, since I rarely took medications. I was told it was "safe and effective" and frequently prescribed for UTIs. I was instructed to take one pill every 12 hours. But after my third dose, I began having severe pain throughout my body, especially in my legs. It felt like the flu—but I wasn't sick. As the day went on, it worsened. I developed tingling and numbness in my extremities, zapping pains in my head and face, like electrical shocks. I skipped my fourth pill that night, convinced my symptoms would vanish after sleep. When I woke up, I couldn't walk. It felt like a bomb had gone off in my body. At the emergency room, I explained that I had lost the ability to walk overnight. The first thing the doctor asked me was whether I had been taking Cipro. I was terrified. I need around the clock care and need to use mobility aids. I need around the clock care and need to use mobility aids. TikTok/@taliasmith2021 He explained that Ciprofloxacin carries one of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s highest safety alerts—a Black Box warning. These warnings highlight major risks for consumers and can be added, updated, or removed over time. More than 400 drugs currently carry them. According to the FDA, potential side effects include: Disabling and potentially irreversible reactions : CIPRO can cause serious, lasting side effects in multiple body systems, even in healthy people. : CIPRO can cause serious, lasting side effects in multiple body systems, even in healthy people. Tendinitis and tendon rupture : It increases the risk of tendon injuries, especially in older adults or those on steroids. : It increases the risk of tendon injuries, especially in older adults or those on steroids. Peripheral neuropathy : It can cause nerve damage with pain, tingling, or weakness that may become permanent. : It can cause nerve damage with pain, tingling, or weakness that may become permanent. Central nervous system effects: It may cause seizures, confusion, hallucinations, or suicidal thoughts. I had read the label before taking the pills, it mentions Stevens–Johnson syndrome - and minor stuff but nothing that was on the FDA website. In my state, there was no mention of a Black Box warning for permanent side effects. I trusted my doctor and the medical system—but that doesn't make it my fault, or anyone else's who has had a similar experience. I was sent home, told to take ibuprofen, and assured I'd be better in a few days. That didn't happen. In fact, I got worse. Unbeknownst to me, I was having an adverse reaction known as fluoroquinolone toxicity—also called "floxing." In 2016, the FDA warned doctors and patients that fluoroquinolones should generally not be used for uncomplicated UTIs if there are other good treatment options available. Newsweek has contacted the FDA for comment. An FDA spokesperson told PEOPLE that "patient safety is paramount at the FDA and we continuously review available sources of data and new information on potential risks of drugs, including fluoroquinolones, and take action as needed to protect the American public." "The agency continues to believe that for some serious bacterial infections, the benefits of systemic fluoroquinolones—including the use of higher doses, when appropriate—outweigh the risks," the spokesperson said. I loved my life when I was working and caring for my husband and his kids. Now, it's all been taken from me—and I'm left feeling utterly lost. I loved my life when I was working and caring for my husband and his kids. Now, it's all been taken from me—and I'm left feeling utterly lost. TikTok/@taliasmith2021 My condition deteriorated rapidly. I experienced constant electrical shocks, the sensation of bugs crawling over my skin, excruciating bone and joint pain, debilitating neuropathy, vision and hearing changes, difficulty swallowing, stomach problems, and severe stiffness that left me unable to bend and sit. My body felt like it was shutting down. About two months later, I developed mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a disorder in which the immune system reacts inappropriately to perceived threats. Alongside difficulty swallowing due to the toxicity—and severe reactions to food, supplements, and medications from MCAS—I was unable to maintain my weight. Within five months, I lost over 50 percent of my body weight. By September 2021, I weighed just 60 pounds and was admitted to hospice care. I was sure it was the end for me. I asked my father to choose my burial plot near my grandmother. I picked the dress for my casket and the readings for church. It was terrifying. I hadn't eaten in four weeks, couldn't sit up, and was even struggling to breathe. After starting mast cell stabilizers, I managed to eat a few foods to survive. I transitioned to palliative care in May 2022 and remain on it to this day. I now require 24/7 care. I am bed-bound, leaving home only for doctor's appointments in a wheelchair. I live with constant pain and still have nearly all my symptoms, though some have lessened slightly. After a recent health setback, my father started a GoFundMe to help cover my enormous medical expenses. So far, more than $24,000 has been raised to pay for treatments and to explore alternative options. This has devastated us. What are the odds that first my husband ends up in a wheelchair, and then 10 years later, I do as well—from taking an antibiotic? I lost my career, my independence, and my quality of life. Now, I am using TikTok and Instagram to raise awareness of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity (@taliasmith2021) and started a petition for informed consent for fluoroquinolone antibiotics. I also run a website that has heaps of information on "floxing" and to help others who also have been affected.
The Print
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Print
IIT-Guwahati develops sustainable solution using mushroom waste for wastewater treatment
The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Management. The technology — BHEEMA (Biochar-based Hydrological Enzyme regulated Efficient Mechanism for Antibiotics removal) employs laccase-mediated degradation to remove antibiotics from wastewater, preventing the formation of toxic byproducts commonly associated with conventional treatment methods. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Researchers at IIT-Guwahati have developed an eco-friendly alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods by combining biochar derived from Spent Mushroom Waste and laccase, a natural enzyme, according to officials. The developed system has been recognised as the top seventh finalist under the Water Sanitation theme of the Vishwakarma Awards 2024, organised by the Maker Bhavan Foundation. According to Sudip Mitra, the Head of the School of Agro and Rural Technology at IIT Guwahati, the research team targeted the removal of harmful fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, including Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Norfloxacin, generally found in hospital discharge, industrial effluents and surface water. 'Contrary to traditional wastewater treatment methods such as advanced oxidation and membrane reactors, which are both costly and generate secondary pollutants, our approach uses laccase, a naturally occurring enzyme, to degrade the contaminants. 'To make the enzyme stable for reusability, our research group immobilised it on biochar derived from spent mushroom waste, an easily available agro-waste product in this region,' Mitra told PTI. The developed biochar is a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative to activated charcoal. On a lab scale, within three hours of application, the developed system achieved 90–95 per cent degradation efficiency of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics. 'Another key feature of the developed system is that the byproducts recorded in the degradation process are non-toxic, making the technology sustainable and safe for the environment,' said Anamika Ghose, a PhD scholar. The prototype has been developed in collaboration with Latha Rangan, a professor at the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT-Guwahati, along with her research scholars. At a laboratory scale, the developed prototype costs between Rs 4,000–5,000, covering materials, enzyme immobilization, and reactor setup, making it a feasible option for scaling up and adoption in both urban and rural settings. In the next step, the research team is working towards scaling up the developed prototype by engaging with stakeholders for field testing and market validation. The research team recently organized a hands-on training session for farmers on Biochar preparation and its multiple benefits for agriculture. Conducted in collaboration with the District Agricultural Office of Morigaon at their office premise, a total of 30 local farmers attended the training session. PTI GJS GJS NSD NSD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
IIT-Guwahati develops sustainable solution using mushroom waste for wastewater treatment
NEW DELHI: Researchers at IIT-Guwahati have developed an eco-friendly alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods by combining biochar derived from Spent Mushroom Waste and laccase, a natural enzyme, according to officials. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The technology, BHEEMA (Biochar-based Hydrological Enzyme regulated Efficient Mechanism for Antibiotics removal) employs laccase-mediated degradation to remove antibiotics from wastewater, preventing the formation of toxic byproducts commonly associated with conventional treatment methods. The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious journal of environmental management. The developed system has been recognised as the top seventh finalist under the Water Sanitation theme of the Vishwakarma Awards 2024, organised by the Maker Bhavan Foundation. According to Sudip Mitra, the head of the School of Agro and Rural Technology at IIT Guwahati, the research team targeted the removal of harmful fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, including Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Norfloxacin, generally found in hospital discharge, industrial effluents and surface water. "Contrary to traditional wastewater treatment methods such as advanced oxidation and membrane reactors, which are both costly and generate secondary pollutants, our approach uses laccase, a naturally occurring enzyme, to degrade the contaminants. "To make the enzyme stable for reusability, our research group immobilised it on biochar derived from spent mushroom waste, an easily available agro-waste product in this region," Mitra told PTI. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The developed biochar is a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative to activated charcoal. On a lab scale, within three hours of application, the developed system achieved 90-95 per cent degradation efficiency of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics. "Another key feature of the developed system is that the byproducts recorded in the degradation process are non-toxic, making the technology sustainable and safe for the environment," said Anamika Ghose, a PhD scholar. The prototype has been developed in collaboration with Latha Rangan, a professor at the department of biosciences and bioengineering, IIT-Guwahati, along with her research scholars. At a laboratory scale, the developed prototype costs between Rs 4,000-5,000, covering materials, enzyme immobilization, and reactor setup, making it a feasible option for scaling up and adoption in both urban and rural settings. In the next step, the research team is working towards scaling up the developed prototype by engaging with stakeholders for field testing and market validation. The research team recently organized a hands-on training session for farmers on biochar preparation and its multiple benefits for agriculture. Conducted in collaboration with the district agricultural office of Morigaon at their office premise, a total of 30 local farmers attended the training session.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio State student tests positive for meningitis
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Health officials said nearly 1,300 Ohio State University students may have been exposed to meningitis. According to Columbus Public Health, those students have been notified of their potential exposure and offered an antibiotic to battle the infection. Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation in the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord and can potentially lead to death if not treated. A university spokesperson said one student tested positive last week for meningitis. Students can contact Ohio State Student Health to receive the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin at the Wilce Student Health Center during the clinic's regular hours. The spokesperson added that many students have already received their dose. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
