Cipro Use May Raise Seizure Risk For Some
Oct. 19 -- Some people may be at higher risk of having a seizure if they take the antibiotic Cipro — now in demand as an anthrax treatment — the Epilepsy Foundation warns.
"There is a risk of a lot of indiscriminate use of this drug," says Dr. Gregory Barkley, medical director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit Michigan, and chair-elect of the Epilepsy Foundation professional advisory board.
Cipro sales have skyrocketed in the wake of recent anthrax exposures in the United States. Earlier this week, Bayer announced that it would triple production of Cipro and ship 200 million tablets in the next three months.
The drug is also available online without a prescription. This situation further removes many potential Cipro users from the care of a physician, and increases the likelihood of harmful drug interactions and reactions that may increase seizure activity.
Who Is at Risk
Antibiotics in the same class as Cipro, known as fluoroquinolones, can sometimes cause seizures in people who have epilepsy as well as in others who are at risk of seizures because of prior head trauma, stroke or tumor or a family history of seizures.
"It is not unique in that this is the only antibiotic to cause seizures," says Barkley. "But the risk of seizure is a bit more likely with this drug compared to others."
High levels of caffeine and stress have been shown to increase the odds of having a seizure and Cipro use may raise these odds even further. There are also reports that non-steroidal pain relievers, such as aspirin, can raise the risk of seizure when taken along with Cipro.
Additionally, "there is evidence that Cipro can interfere with the way that the body handles epilepsy drugs and lower the level of the drug in the body," says Dr. Robert J. Gumnit, president of MINCEP Epilepsy Care in Minneapolis.
While the overall odds of having a seizure while on Cipro remain low — less than 1 percent — experts emphasize caution.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live