Cipro (ciprofloxacin)

Common uses

This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

Before using

Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking other antibiotics, sucralfate, theophylline products, warfarin, cyclosporine, glyburide, phenytoin, clozapine, live vaccines, probenecid, ropinirole, or quinapril. Also, report the use of medicines, which might increase the risk of seizures when combined with ciprofloxacin such as phenothiazines including thioridazine, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, isoniazid (inh), and theophylline, among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including seizures, brain or nervous system disorders, kidney disease, tendon problems, liver disease, blood vessel problems, allergies (especially drug allergies), pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine. Use of Cipro in children or adolescents under age 18 is not recommended. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of giving Cipro to your child.

Directions

Follow the directions for using Cipro provided by your doctor. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Cipro. This medicine may be taken on an empty stomach or with food.

Drink a full glass of water with each dose. Drink several additional glasses of water daily, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Do not take any products containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium within 6 hours before or 2 hours after taking Cipro. Some examples include quinapril, didanosine, vitamins/minerals, and antacids. Sucralfate, bismuth subsalicylate, iron, and zinc are also included. These products bind with ciprofloxacin preventing its full absorption. Avoid taking Cipro with milk or milk products (such as yogurt or calcium-enriched juice) by themselves. However, taking Cipro as part of a full meal that contains milk or milk products is permitted. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about how to properly take Cipro.

Store Cipro at room temperature below 86 degrees f (30 degrees c), in a tightly-closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take Cipro at the same time each day.

To clear up your infection completely, continue taking Cipro for the full course of treatment even if you begin to feel better in a few days. Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Cipro, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Cautions

Do not take Cipro if you have had a severe allergic reaction to Cipro or another fluoroquinolone antibiotic (such as levofloxacin, ofloxacin). A severe reaction includes a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness. If you have a question about whether you are allergic to Cipro or if a certain medicine is a fluoroquinolone, contact your doctor or pharmacist. If Cipro causes a skin rash, hives, or difficulty breathing, check with your doctor before taking additional doses.

Keep all doctor and laboratory appointments while you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause dizziness. Taking Cipro alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. This medicine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period.

Avoid large amounts of caffeine-containing foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, cola drinks, and chocolate, while taking this medicine as the effects of the caffeine may be increased. This medicine may rarely cause pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon. If you experience any of these problems contact your doctor immediately. Rest and avoid exercise until you receive further instruction from you doctor.

Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Caution is advised when using Cipro in children. Contact your doctor for more information. Caution is advised when using Cipro in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the medicine (e.g., tendon problems, especially if they are also taking corticosteroid medicines such as prednisone).

If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Cipro during pregnancy. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Cipro. If you have diabetes, Cipro may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Possible side effects

Side effects that may occur while taking Cipro include stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, headache, vision changes or dizziness during the first few days as your body adjusts to Cipro. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience sunburn-like skin reaction (sun sensitivity), or severe or continuing diarrhea.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience seizures, mental or mood changes, easy bruising or bleeding, swelling of throat or tongue, persistent sore throat or fever, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, stomach pain, yellowing eyes and skin, dark urine, unusual change in the amount of urine, or unusual fatigue. This medicine may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (pseudomembranous colitis) due to a resistant bacteria. This condition may occur weeks after treatment has stopped. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medicines because these products may make the effects worse. Therefore, contact your doctor immediately if you develop tendon pain, joint pain or swelling, persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain or cramping, or blood or mucus in your stool.

Use of Cipro for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush or a vaginal yeast infection. Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge or other new symptoms. An allergic reaction to Cipro is unlikely but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

If you take too much

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Additional information

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Do not share Cipro with others for whom it was not prescribed.

Do not use Cipro for other health conditions, or later for other infections. A different medicine may be needed in those cases. Keep Cipro out of the reach of children and pets.

Drug interactions

Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Cipro. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.