Question: Hi,
I was speaking to Dr. Said Mangat at length about a uti previously. I have had symptoms (some increased urination and mild discomfort in urethra and vaginal area.) . Took cephalexin for 7 days but it
didn't eradicate everything. A culture was done. I just got results yesterday.... Took 8 days to come back. It showed ecoli. Other than that the urine was clear except for small amount of wbc. The doctor said it wasn't bad and I could wait a few days or take Cipro 500mg bids for 3 days. I'm very afraid to take it. It sounds like a very strong drug with very scary side effects... Even a black box warning about tendon. Problems. Also brain and heart effects... Anxiety, loss of sleep and tons of other stuff. I'm so confused.... I don't know what to do. Help please!

I was only told that it had enough ecoli to be called an infection. Few wbc, trace to 25, and everything else was clear. My main concern is the overwhelming fear of cipro and it's side effects, as I said. If you have access to my other questions, there'salot of nbackground

Besides the tendon warnings, there's heart arrhythmia, seizures, dizziness.... Just a bunch of terrifying things. Am I worrying needlessly?! Please answer. Afraid to fill prescription. I also take prosom for sleep, benedryl, inderol prn for anxiety related sinus Tachycardia and/or pac's /pvc's, librax prn for abdominal cramps. Also tried estrogen/progesterone cream/bio identical compounded.

Is there a safer alternative? It seems this group of antibiotics (cipro and similar) are causing the most problems. Some permanent tendon and joint problems. I would feel much more comfortable on something else, though can't take sulfa.

Some of these have even been discontinued due to so many side effects.

I want to stay away from anything in the same family with cipro because all seem to carry same warnings, right? But will other cephalosporins likely be effective when cephalexin was not? What would be some names? It did work some just didn't do the whole job. I tolerate them very well. Also, how would a penicillin work? I put possible allergy down but really I have never taken it. My sister almost died as a child so our pediatrician advised other alternatives be used just in case I was also allergic but doctors now have said that doesn't mean I would be. Perhaps it's time to test that? Definitely I am allergic to sulfa big time and slightly to advil.
Btw, all of my children have taken penicillin and amoxicillin, no problems.

What about tetracyclines? I read they can be effective when keflex isn't. Today I am adding d-mannose to the cranberry extract. Maybe that will work. My symptoms are more nuisance than severe or debilitating. I hate all antibiotics. Many don't bother me but none is best if possible. Before this, I have not been on an antibiotic for 10 to 15 years. Am also using plain Greek yogurt, keifer and a probiotic.

I'm going to talk to another doctor... Really could use the information I asked for.????