Cipro

Generic name: Ciprofloxacin (oral)
Drug class: Quinolones and fluoroquinolones

Usage of Cipro

Cipro is a fluoroquinolone (flor-o-KWIN-o-lone) antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.

Cipro is used to treat different types of bacterial infections. Cipro is also used to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or certain types of plague.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can cause serious or disabling side effects that may not be reversible.

Cipro should be used only for infections that cannot be treated with a safer antibiotic.

Cipro side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cipro (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Ciprofloxacin can cause serious side effects, including tendon problems, damage to your nerves (which may be permanent), serious mood or behavior changes (after just one dose), or low blood sugar (which can lead to coma).

Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

low blood sugar - headache, hunger, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, or feeling shaky;

nerve damage symptoms - numbness, tingling, burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet:

serious mood or behavior changes - nervousness, confusion, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, memory problems, trouble concentrating, thoughts of suicide; or

signs of tendon rupture - sudden pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, stiffness, movement problems, or a snapping or popping sound in any of your joints (rest the joint until you receive medical care or instructions).

In rare cases, ciprofloxacin may cause damage to your aorta, the main blood artery of the body. This could lead to dangerous bleeding or death. Get emergency medical help if you have severe and constant pain in your chest, stomach, or back.

Also, stop using Cipro and call your doctor at once if you have:

severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);

any skin rash, no matter how mild;

muscle weakness, breathing problems;

little or no urination;

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

increased pressure inside the skull - severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes.

Common Cipro side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;

headache; or

abnormal liver function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Cipro

You should not use Cipro if you are allergic to ciprofloxacin, or if:

you also take tizanidine; or

you are allergic to other fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin).

Ciprofloxacin may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. This can happen during treatment or several months after you stop taking Cipro. Tendon problems may be more likely in children and older adults, or people who use steroid medicine or have had an organ transplant.

To make sure Cipro is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

arthritis or problems with your tendons, bones or joints (especially in children);

diabetes, low blood sugar;

nerve problems;

an aneurysm or blood circulation problems;

heart problems, or a heart attack;

muscle weakness, myasthenia gravis;

liver or kidney disease;

a seizure, head injury, or brain tumor;

trouble swallowing pills;

long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); or

low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).

Do not give Cipro to a child without medical advice.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while taking ciprofloxacin and for 2 days after your last dose. Ask your doctor about breastfeeding if you take ciprofloxacin for anthrax exposure.

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How to use Cipro

Take Cipro exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Take Cipro at the same time each day, with or without food.

Shake the Cipro oral suspension (liquid) for 15 seconds before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon). Do not give Cipro oral suspension through a feeding tube.

Drink plenty of liquids while you are taking this medicine .

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Ciprofloxacin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

Do not share Cipro with another person.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid medicine to freeze. Throw away any unused liquid after 14 days.

Warnings

Cipro can cause serious side effects, including tendon problems, nerve damage, serious mood or behavior changes, or low blood sugar.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have: headache, hunger, irritability, numbness, tingling, burning pain, confusion, agitation, paranoia, problems with memory or concentration, thoughts of suicide, or sudden pain or movement problems in any of your joints.

In rare cases, ciprofloxacin may cause damage to your aorta, which could lead to dangerous bleeding or death. Get emergency medical help if you have severe and constant pain in your chest, stomach, or back.

You may not be able to use Cipro if you have a muscle disorder. Tell your doctor if you have a history of myasthenia gravis.

What other drugs will affect Cipro

Some medicines can make Cipro much less effective when taken at the same time. If you take any of the following medicines, take your dose 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take the other medicine.

the ulcer medicine sucralfate, or antacids that contain calcium, magnesium, or aluminum (such as Maalox, Milk of Magnesia, Mylanta, Pepcid Complete, Rolaids, Tums, and others);

didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets;

vitamin or mineral supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, or zinc.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

clozapine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, phenytoin, probenecid, ropinirole, sildenafil, or theophylline;

a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);

heart medication or a diuretic or "water pill";

oral diabetes medicine;

products that contain caffeine;

medicine to treat depression or mental illness;

steroid medicine (such as prednisone); o

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others;

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with ciprofloxacin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Popular FAQ

Cipro (ciprofloxacin), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including: pneumonia and certain lower respiratory tract infections certain urinary tract infections gonorrhea infections of the digestive tract (for example, diverticulitis) - (used in combination with metronidazole) serious skin, bone and joint infections prostate gland infections infectious diarrhea typhoid fever (enteric fever) kidney infections (pyelonephritis) inhalational anthrax (post-exposure) certain types of plague (treatment and prevention). Continue reading

Although ciprofloxacin starts working within hours of taking it, you may not notice an improvement in your symptoms for 2 to 3 days. For some infections, such as osteomyelitis (a bone infection), it may take up to a week before you show any improvement. Continue reading

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