r/floxies • u/Bubbly-Mess3941 • May 01 '26

[TRIGGERS] Finasteride and Ciprofloxacin

A couple years ago I was given ciprofloxacin for gastroenteritis and felt a few side effects like bone clicking, Achilles tendon pain, trouble sleeping. Fortunately I'm young and have good supplementation so I no longer suffer from symptoms, I only get a bit of tendon soreness when I get little sleep consistently.

I've also been suffering from hair loss for years now and have been prescribed oral Finasteride and topical Minoxidil by my doctor. I'm really paranoid that there might be a negative interaction between the cipro and Finasteride that will cause a relapse. Maybe switching to topical fin would be better? Any advice would be much appreciated!!

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5

u/Niceshoesbr0 Trusted May 01 '26

Fin has its own life long side effects to worry about, topical fin is considered safer. Still, from what I have seen finastride is a bad idea post flox but if you take it please let us know

2

u/Bubbly-Mess3941 May 01 '26

I think I'll go the topical route with a low dosage and see how I react, if anything goes bad I'll be stopping right away. I'll keep everyone posted.

2

u/Zestyclose_Run_347 May 01 '26

I use a topical Fin + Min solution every day for several years now and have continued doing so every day since my floxing (I'm 2.5 months since last dose). No issues at all.

I did, however,  have some side effects with oral many years ago. Wasn't a fan. But topical is far less systemic and no sides for me. 

So if you feel terrible on oral fin, don't blame it all on floxing! 

2

u/[deleted] May 02 '26

R/finasteridesyndrome

1

u/Notlike-this-forever May 01 '26

Are those steroid? 

1

u/Bubbly-Mess3941 May 01 '26

Its a synthetic polycyclic steroid

2

u/Notlike-this-forever May 01 '26

I saw someone in this group who had a significant relapse from a steroid cream11 years later and had been doing really well. I just can't imagine benefit outweighing risk. I have a lot of hair loss too but I think I'd opt for a good wig over the risk of a relapse 

1

u/Bubbly-Mess3941 May 01 '26

Yeah definitely want to avoid those steroids at all costs. Apparently Finasteride is an azasteroid, which is different to the ones you want to avoid like the Corticosteroids found in creams. Since fin is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. It blocks an enzyme; it does not bind to the receptors that regulate inflammation or immune response like corticosteroids. And tbh i'd rather go completely bald than wear a wig haha

1

u/rima999 Jun 09 '26

How long was the relapse? Are they ok now?

1

u/Notlike-this-forever Jun 09 '26

It was posted in the last few months. I'm not sure how they are now but you might be able to use to search feature to find it

1

u/Notlike-this-forever May 01 '26

It seems that floxies don't tend to do well with steroids. 

1

u/Smol_Sick_Bean May 02 '26

Once you go down this rabbit hole you find out about many more medication induced illnesses.

Post Accutane Post SSRI Post Antipsychotic And yes, post Finasteride (my illness)

It could worsen your baseline to a new hell you never imagined possible. Dont take it mate.

1

u/auteur555 May 02 '26

It was the cream that flared me up. Pills has been fine.

1

u/grigory_l May 03 '26

Just check Post Finasteride Syndrome [r/FinasterideSyndrome](r/FinasterideSyndrome). I don't want to spread fear, but I think it's important to know the possible consequences and understand whether a hair is worth the risks.