Can the use of antibiotics lead to tiredness and exhaustion?

Hello doctor,

I have been taking the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for prostatitis for the past 19 days. I was feeling very ill before taking the medication and was urinating ten to 15 times in an hour.The prostatis has improved, but I feel very unwell, tired, and achy after taking the antibiotics. Is it normal to feel like this after taking antibiotics? Kindly suggest.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the response. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice a day has been prescribed by my doctor for four weeks.

Hello doctor,

I had Prostatitis six years ago, so this seems to be a flare-up. I can explain a little more history. I was advised testosterone replacement gel as I have low testosterone. About two weeks into the course, I started feeling unwell with bladder pain, testicle pain, tiredness, lower back pain, etc. I was first diagnosed with a UTI and given antibiotics. However, for that week, it became worse. I had a complete examination by my doctor, who then changed the diagnosis to prostatitis. I was told to stop the testosterone replacement gel. I have been on antibiotics for three weeks, and the pain and urinating a lot have gone now. However, I am still feeling very run down and tired. Do you think these symptoms could be due to the tablet Ciprofloxacin antibiotic or possibly withdrawal from the testosterone replacement gel? I used the gel for almost two weeks. Kindly help.

Hello doctor,

I had my blood tests last week. I have included the results below. Any input from you would be most helpful.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 5 mm/h.

Urea and electrolytes values are -

1. Serum sodium level 139 mEq/L.
2. Serum potassium level 4.50 mEq/L.
3. Serum creatinine level 0.87 mg/dL.
4. GFR calculated abbreviated MDRD > 60 mL/min.
5. EGFR COMMENT 1 eGFR should not be used in patients with acute renal impairment.

Full blood count values are -

1. Haemoglobin concentration 15.40 g/dL.
2. Total white blood count 6300/µL.
3. Nucleated red blood cell count 0.0 10*9/L [< 0.1].
4. Platelet count - observation 358.00 103/µL.
5. Red blood cell count 5.26 106/µL.
6. Haematocrit 0.493 [0.4 - 0.54].
7. Mean cell volume 93.7 fL [83.0 - 101.0].
8. Mean cell hemoglobin level 29.3 [27.0 - 32.0].
9. Mean cell haemoglobin concentration 312 [310.0 - 360.0].
10. Neutrophil count 2700.00 /µL.
11. Lymphocyte count 3000.00 /µL.
12. Monocyte count - observation 500/µL.
13. Eosinophil count - observation 100.00/µL.
14. Basophil count 100/µL.

Liver function test values are -

1. Serum albumin level 4.80 g/dL.
2. Serum total protein level 7.10 g/dL.
3. Serum globulin level 2.30 g/dL.
4. Serum alkaline phosphatase level 81 iu/L.
5. Serum total bilirubin level 0.53 mg/dL.
6. Serum alanine aminotransferase level 19 iu/L.

Thyroid function test values are -

1. Serum free T4 level 1.44 ng/dL.
2. Please note the new FT4 reference range as from six months back -
3. Serum TSH level 1.40 mu/L.
4. Serum urea level 4.3 mmol/L.
5. HbA1c level (DCCT aligned).