General
Information and Indications:
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat
certain infections caused by bacteria. Ciprofloxacin tablets and suspension
(liquid) are used to treat pneumonia (lung infection); bronchitis (infection
of the tubes that lead to the lungs); some types of gonorrhea (a sexually
transmitted disease); diarrhea caused by bacteria; typhoid fever (a
contagious illness common in developing countries); and bone, joint, skin,
prostate (a male reproductive gland), sinus, and urinary tract (bladder)
infections. Ciprofloxacin is also used to prevent and/or treat anthrax in
people exposed to anthrax germs in the air. Ciprofloxacin is also used with
another medication to treat certain infections of the internal organs.
Ciprofloxacin extended release (long-acting) tablets are used to treat
urinary tract and kidney infections. Ciprofloxacin is in a class of
antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by killing bacteria.
Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.
Information
For Users:
Ciprofloxacin comes as a tablet, a suspension (liquid)
and an extended release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth with or
without food. The tablet and suspension are usually taken every 12 hours
(twice a day). The extended release tablets are usually taken once a day. To
help you remember to take ciprofloxacin, take it around the same time(s)
every day. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection you
have. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to take ciprofloxacin.
Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or
pharmacist If you have any questions. Take ciprofloxacin exactly as
directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than
prescribed by your health care provider.
Swallow the extended release tablets whole; do not split, crush, or chew
them.
If you are taking the liquid, shake the bottle for 15 seconds before each
use to mix the medication evenly. Swallow the correct dose without chewing
the granules in the liquid. Do not give the liquid to a patient through a
feeding tube.
If you are taking the tablets or extended release tablets, swallow them with
a full glass of water.
You should begin feeling better during the first few days of treatment with
ciprofloxacin. If you do not, call your doctor.
Take ciprofloxacin until you finish the prescription, even if you feel
better. If you stop taking ciprofloxacin too soon or skip doses, your
infection may not be completely cured and bacteria may become resistant to
antibiotics.
Other uses for this medicine
Ciprofloxacin is also sometimes used to treat patients with cystic fibrosis
who have lung infections. Ciprofloxacin is sometimes used to treat various
sexually transmitted diseases and various infections such as Legionnaire
disease (a type of lung infection), cat scratch disease (an infection that
may develop after a patient is bitten or scratched by a cat), and
brucellosis (a type of infection that causes a rising and falling fever and
other symptoms). In the event of biological warfare, ciprofloxacin may be
used to treat and prevent dangerous illness that are deliberately spread
such as plague, tularemia, and anthrax of the skin or mouth. Ciprofloxacin
may also be used to reduce the amount of certain types of bacteria in the
nose to prevent serious illness. Ciprofloxacin may be used with another
medication to treat disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) (a type
of lung disease that often affects people with human immunodeficiency virus
[HIV] ), and tuberculosis (TB) (a type of lung infection). Talk to your
doctor about the possible risks of using this medication.
special
precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to ciprofloxacin; other quinolone and fluoroquinolone antibiotics
such as cinoxacin (Cinobac), enoxacin (Penetrex), gatifloxacin (Tequin),
gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin),
moxifloxacin (Avelox), nalidixic acid (NegGram), norfloxacin (Noroxin),
ofloxacin (Floxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), trovafloxacin and alatrofloxacin
combination (Trovan); or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and
nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal
products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following:
acetazolamide (Diamox); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin);
brinzolamide (Azopt); cancer chemotherapy medications; chloroquine (Aralen);
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), dichlorphenamide (Daranide); dorzolamide
(Cosopt, Trusopt); glyburide (DiaBeta, Glycron, Glynase, Micronase);
isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); medications for depression , pain, or mental
illness; medications for diarrhea, such as dicyclomine (Bentyl),
diphenoxylate (Lomotil), and loperamide (Imodium); medications that contain
caffeine (NoDoz, Vivarin, others); methazolamide (GlaucTabs, Nepatazane);
methocarbamol (Robaxin); metoclopramide (Reglan); methotrexate (Rheumatrex,
Trexall); mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept); neostigmine (Prostigmin);
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen
(Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); oral steroids such as
dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and
prednisone (Deltasone); other antibiotics; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek);
physostigmine (Antilirium); potassium citrate and citric acid (Cytra-K,
Polycitra-K); probenecid (Benemid); pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol);
pyrimethamine (Daraprim); sedatives and sleeping pills; sodium bicarbonate
(Soda Mint, baking soda); sodium citrate and citric acid (Bicitra, Oracit);
theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur, Slo-bid, others); or tacrolimus (Prograf).
Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you
carefully for side effects.
o if you are taking antacids (Maalox, Mylanta); didanosine (Videx) chewable
tablets or solution (liquid); calcium, iron, zinc or vitamin supplements; or
sucralfate (Carafate), take them 6 hours before or 2 hours after
ciprofloxacin.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding arthritis; dementia (memory
loss and personality changes); depression; mental illness; diarrhea during
or after antibiotic therapy; recent head injury; seizures; stroke or
mini-stroke; or kidney or liver disease.
o you should know that ciprofloxacin and other similar antibiotics have
caused serious and occasionally fatal allergic reactions in some patients.
If you develop hives (Urticaria); difficulty swallowing or breathing; rapid,
irregular or pounding heartbeat; fainting; dizziness; blurred vision
(Impaired vision), or other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, seek
emergency medical care right away. If you develop a skin rash, stop taking
gemifloxacin and call your doctor. Call your doctor if you experience other
signs of an allergic reaction such as itching; tingling; swelling of the
face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; fever;
hoarseness; joint or muscle pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; extreme
tiredness; lack of energy; loss of appetite (anorexia); pain in the upper
right part of the stomach; yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice; flu-
like symptoms; or upset stomach.
o Inform your doctor if you have ever had tendonitis (swelling or tearing of
the fiber that connects a bone to a muscle) and if you participate in
regular athletic activity. If you experience symptoms of tendonitis, such as
pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or difficulty in moving a muscle,
stop taking ciprofloxacin, rest, and call your doctor without delay.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking ciprofloxacin, call your
doctor.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are taking ciprofloxacin.
o you should know that ciprofloxacin may cause dizziness, lightheadedness,
and tiredness. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how
this medication affects you.
o plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet
light (tanning beds) and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and
sunscreen. Ciprofloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
o you should know that ciprofloxacin may cause diarrhea during or after your
treatment. You should not treat this diarrhea with over the counter
medications. Instead, call your doctor to find out what to do.
Do not take ciprofloxacin with dairy products (like milk or yogurt) or
calcium-added juices alone. You may take ciprofloxacin with a meal that
includes these foods. Drink at least eight full glasses of water or liquid
every day. Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products such as
coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate. Ciprofloxacin increases nervousness,
sleeplessness, heart pounding, and anxiety caused by caffeine.
Possible Adverse Effects:
Ciprofloxacin may cause adverse effects. Inform
your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:
o upset stomach
o vomiting
o stomach pain
o indigestion
o headache
o nervousness
o agitation
o anxiety
o difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
o nightmares or abnormal dreams
Some adverse effects could be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon,
but if you experience any of them or those mentioned in the SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor without delay:
o seizures
o vaginal yeast infection
o confusion
o hand tremor, shaking hands
o believing that others want to harm you
o hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
o depression
o thoughts about dying or killing yourself
Brand Name(s):
o Cipro®
o Cipro XR® |
