Most of my extended family are, or are retired from, various medical professions. I hear all sorts of things.
One thing I’ve heard for long is that one must be careful of Cipro. Only take it for serious disease/infection, and only for as long as absolutly necessary.
Post operative infection prevention— the most justified use. But is being used as a hammer in respiratory infections that could be well handled by say a bacteriostatic agent— like Azithromycin, which was highly effective regimen augmenting the immune system fighting off pneumonic consequences of the coronaviruses- including covid.
Yes, your medical family were right and this isn’t really new info. They haven’t used it much in children at all because their tendons,etc. are still growing. No patients are kept on it long term for recurrent infections such as bladder inf. anymore. In a some severe infections though, it is a lifesaver.