Drug name
Cipro (Ciprofloxacin)
Drug Uses
Cipro is used in the treatment of bacterial infections and can be used to prevent or slow anthrax after exposure.
How Taken
Cipro is taken by mouth with or without food. It’s recommended to take the drug 2 hours after eating with a glass of water (240 mL). It’s preferably to take Cipro at one and the same time every day.
Using Cipro, the patient must take into the consideration the following peculiarities of drug’s usage:
- Unless the doctor tells the opposite, during the day the patient must drink more water than usually – for 3-5 glasses.
- Taking Cipro only with milk, dairy products or calcium-enriched products is prohibited. But the patient can use those products as a part of a meal.
- The infection may reoccur if the full course of Cipro was not taken. Moreover, in this case the bacteria may become resistant to this and similar antibiotics, which makes the disease much harder to treat. Hence, make sure you take the full course of Cipro. Do not stop using the drug even if you feel better.
- If the course of treatment also includes sevelamer, it’s necessary to take it and Cipro with an interval at least of four hours.
- If the course of treatment also includes didanosine, sucralfate, bismuth subsalicylate, or any supplements or medicines containing magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, or zinc (eg, vitamins/minerals, antacids, quinapril), necessary to take them with an interval at least of two hours after or six hours before taking Cipro.
Please consult with your doctor if you have any questions about using Cipro.
Drug Class and Mechanism
Cipro is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of fluoroquinolones class. The principle of its action is based on inhibiting enzymes necessary for separation of bacterial DNA, thereby hampering bacteria cell division.
Missed Dose
In case of missing a dose of Ciprofloxacin, it is necessary to take it as fast as possible. If it happens almost in time for the next dose, it is reasonable to miss taking the dose this time and then return to the usual dosing schedule. Taking 2 doses at once is prohibited.
Storage
Store Ciprofloxacin at the temperature below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C).
Warnings Precautions
The use of Ciprofloxacin is prohibited for the patients who:
- have an allergy to Ciprofloxacin or any other antibiotics of fluoroquinolones group (e.g. levofloxacin);
- take cisapride or tizanidine;
- have just taken a live oral typhoid vaccination.
Some MEDICAL CONDITIONS may hamper using Cipro. Please consult with your doctor about your health, especially if anything of listed below applies to you:
- an allergy to any foods, medicines, dietary supplements and other substances;
- taking of any other medicines or food supplements;
- pregnancy or breast-feeding;
- heart or blood problems: irregular heartbeat, low blood potassium levels;
- brain or nervous system disorder, such as Alzheimer disease, brain blood vessels problems, increased brain pressure, seizures etc;
- skin sensitivity to the sun;
- liver or kidney disorders;
- digestive system disorders (stomach infection or pain, diarrhea, etc);
- joint or tendons problems.
Take into the consideration that some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Cipro, causing the following aftermath:
- Increased risk of tendon problems may be caused by interaction with corticosteroids (eg, prednisone).
- Serious side effects (such as seizures, heart rhythm disorder, etc) may be triggered by interaction with Cisapride or class 1A or class III antiarrhythmics (eg, quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol), probenecid, arsenic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Cipro may weaken the effectiveness of typhoid vaccination and of hydantoins (eg. phenytoin).
- Cipro may increase the side effects of the following medicines: anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), arsenic, cyclosporine, methadone, methotrexate, sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), theophyllines, tizanidine, or xanthines (eg, theophylline).
Possible Side Effects
The usual side effects of Ciprofloxacin include: fits of giddiness, headache, mild mood or mental disorders (nightmares, anxiety, etc.) and digestive system disorders (diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, etc). Tell your doctor if you are bothered with any of these or similar symptoms.
Immediately seek for medical assistance if you are feeling the following serious side effects: severe allergic reactions (itching; difficult breath; swelling, etc); hard mental or mood disorders (hallucinations, suicidal thoughts or depression, weird behaviour, sleeplessness etc); severe digestive system disorders (stomach cramps or pain, pale or bloody stools, diarrhea, etc.); urination problems (dark urine, enuresis, etc); increased head or blood pressure; sunburns; skin problems (red skin, blisters, etc); tingling or weakness of limbs; vaginal yeast infection or oral thrush; yellowing of the skin or eyes; flue-like and cold-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, etc); consciousness loss or seizures; tendon, joint or muscle pain or inflammation; tremor; hard weakness; hard fits of giddiness or headaches; convulsions; bleedings; chest pain or heart rhythm disorders.
More Information
Use Ciprofloxacin only if it is prescribed for you. Do not advice to use it to other people and do not share it with other people even if their symptoms resemble to yours. If the drug does not help, the symptoms do not fade away or even are getting worse, consult the doctor. Do not hesitate to ask advice from your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or doubts about Ciprofloxacin.