Will having an undocumented allergy to Ciprofloxacin cause any problems at MEPS or with my recruiter?

SPC Zach Fry — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:02:32 -0400

It's a known fact that my sister, dad, grandmother and uncles have allergies to Ciprofloxacin. I, myself, have not (to my knowledge) taken this anti-biotic before, but it has caused a lot of my family much physical pain. I don't want to take any chances and am writing down on my medical papers, that my recruiter gave me, that I have an allergy to it. Will this cause any problems at meps or with my recruiter, since I don't have any personal documentation from doctors of an allergy to the medicine?

I want to tell meps that I don't want to use any of the following:

ciprofloxacin
maxifloxacin
gemiflocaxin
levaquin
oflaxcin

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2018 5:09 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:09:37 -0400

SPC Zach Fry I would state exactly what you said, that "my sister, dad, grandmother and uncles have allergies to Ciprofloxacin. I, myself, have not (to my knowledge) taken this anti-biotic before"

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2018 5:20 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:20:53 -0400

No. It’s an antibiotic. Nothing to worry about.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 8 at 2018 5:26 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:26:03 -0400

I would say something to a medical provider if you were being treated. I was allergic to penicillin and it was documented. Never slowed me down in 22+ years. They issued me red tags for my dog tags so they knew not to give me penicillin. Then they issued me other antibiotics as required. Not sure how you confirm/deny that allergy. I don't think you would be untruthful on a health questionnaire. You could put the family history down and say you don't know. It's honest and won't negate your enlistment. Don't think it would be an issue.

In US Army Central Command's medical requirements to enter theater, you could take Ciprofloxacin or Doxycycline as an anti malarial (USCENTCOM 231245Z MAR 17 MOD THIRTEEN TO USCENTCOM INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION AND INDIVIDUAL-UNIT DEPLOYMENT POLICY). This is just one combatant commanders medical requirements.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 8 at 2018 5:32 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:32:46 -0400

As long as you say that there I'd a known allergy to the medication in your family, you should be able to have it in your medical records.

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Apr 8 at 2018 5:59 PM

CPT Enrique M. — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:59:17 -0400

so crazy question,
have you gotten to have your regular doc check it out ?
The only reason I ask is sometimes family members might be a allergic to a medication but children may not. I remember when I worked in a pharmacy when a parent that was highly allergic sulfa , but the son wasn't but yet the daughter was ( so selective? )

The only way to truly know is to get it checked.

Now as far as effecting you at MEPS... I don't think so its just antibiotic which you may or may not have an allergy to.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Apr 8 at 2018 8:13 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 20:13:09 -0400

Why worry about something you don’t have or been diagnosed with?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 9 at 2018 12:16 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 00:16:50 -0400

1. You have nothing to prove that you are allergic to these drugs, you may have a genetic allergy- but that is not proven. 2. It is better to say that you SUSPECT that you are allergic to it. They can probably runs tests to see if you are down the road 3. You only mentioned 1 specific drug causing problems with your family, yet now you are listing 5. Yes it can cause problems at MEPS and the service BECAUSR YOU HAVE NO PROOF!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 11:02 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 23:02:13 -0400

Go to a doctor and have it documented. I once had a recruit who thought he had asthma.... his mom had told him when he was little that he had allergies. So for reasons such as that, you need medical documentation when listing issues.

Response by COL R. Bruce Chisholm made Jun 4 at 2020 9:42 PM

COL R. Bruce Chisholm — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:42:18 -0400

The drugs you list frequently cause “adverse reactions”. FDA requires a double black box warning on the insert that comes with the prescription (that don’t get included from military treatment facilities). The adverse effect that hit me (male over 50) was a totally detached Achilles’ tendon. Detached bicep, tricep, knee followed, all required surgery. Two surgeries for Achilles with donor tendon from the foot, and in a cast for 6 weeks each time. Other effects were insomnia, joint pain, vision changes (strong eye for shooting changed from right to left).
These drugs are dangerous and most doctors don’t recognize their perils. I made the connection 3 years after dosing when my college roommate lost the use of his legs after a week of Cipro. He went to 11 doctors before one made the connection. My VA primary care doctor dismissed my refusal of this drug as silly. I haven’t been back to the VA for four years.
There are MANY antibiotics that can be used instead of the floxes. I wish I could personally warn every soldier and family member of the life changing negative effects of this nightmare drug. By the way, you will have no luck getting it listed as an allergy but you can get a note in your record of adverse reaction. You’ll have to be aware and refuse it or buy your own red medical dog tag.