The November 9, 2001 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report finds that one in five (20%) of people taking the antibiotic Cipro after presumed exposure to anthrax are experiencing adverse reactions to the drug.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, acting deputy director of the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, says that percentage of side effects was expected. "We have had no surprises," she said. "These adverse events are no different from what we typically see with ciprofloxacin and doxycycline."
With approximately 32,000 people taking antibiotics to prevent anthrax since October 8, 2001 and more expected, thousands of people are expected to experience Cipro's side effects including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, convulsions, rashes, itching, swelling of the face, neck or throat, breathing problems, ruptured tendons, heart rhythm irregularities and psychiatric illness.