Postal Workers Are Quitting Antibiotics
A substantial number of District of Columbia postal workers are choosing not to complete a two-month prescription of antibiotics to prevent anthrax because of unpleasant side effects.
Hundreds of those urged to take the drugs have complained about strong reactions to Cipro or doxycycline, the two antibiotics distributed to 2,100 workers from the Brentwood mail facility after letters leaked airborne anthrax spores at the plant in mid-October.
Doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say spores can cause infections for at least 45 days after inhalation.
Postal workers have reported a variety of woes, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, heartburn, itching, joint pain and erectile dysfunction. Many said their problems eased when they stopped taking the drugs.
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