Ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin

(sip roe FLOKS a sin)

U.S. Brand Names

Cetraxal®; Ciloxan®; Cipro®; Cipro® I.V.; Cipro® XR; Proquin® XR

Canadian Brand Names

Apo-Ciproflox®; Ciloxan®; Cipro®; Cipro® XL; CO Ciprofloxacin; Dom-Ciprofloxacin; Mint-Ciprofloxacin; Mylan-Ciprofloxacin; Novo-Ciprofloxacin; PHL-Ciprofloxacin; PMS-Ciprofloxacin; PRO-Ciprofloxacin; RAN-Ciprofloxacin; ratio-Ciprofloxacin; Riva-Ciprofloxacin; Sandoz-Ciprofloxacin; Taro-Ciprofloxacin

Mexican Brand Names

Ciloxan; Cimogal; Ciprobac; Ciproflox; Ciproxina; Eni; Floxager; Floxantina; Kenzoflex; Mitroken; Sophixin Ofteno; Zipra

Pharmacologic Category

Antibiotic, Ophthalmic; Antibiotic, Otic; Antibiotic, Quinolone

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

This medicine may increase the risk of tendons getting irritated and tearing. The risk is greater in people over the age of 60, heart, kidney or lung transplant patients, or people taking steroid medications. Call healthcare provider right away if you develop pain in the back of the ankle or joint pain or swelling.

This medicine does not mix well with some medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.

Please read the medication guide.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to ciprofloxacin or any other part of this medicine.

• If you have had tendons get irritated or torn when taking this medicine or a similar medicine in the past.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

How does it work?

• Ciprofloxacin works to injure the bacteria and fight the infection.

How is it best taken?

All forms:

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

• Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.

• Take this medicine at a similar time of day.

Long-acting products:

• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

• May take with meals containing dairy products. Do not take with only dairy products.

• Proquin®XR: Take with main meal, dinner preferred.

Oral:

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

• May take with meals containing dairy products. Do not take with only dairy products.

• A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Shake well before use.

• Those who have feeding tubes can crush the tablet and mix with water. Flush feeding tube before and after medicine is given. Stop tube feeding for at least 1 hour before and 2 hours after the dose.

• Do not put liquid suspension down a feeding tube.

• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.

Ear:

• For the ear only.

• Wash hands before and after use.

• Warm solution in hands 1-2 minutes before instilling in ear.

• Lie on side with affected ear up.

• For children younger than 3 years of age, pull the outer ear outward and downward.

• For children 3 years of age and older and adults, pull the outer ear outward and upward.

• Instill drops in ear without touching dropper to ear. Stay on side for 1 minute.

Eye:

• For the eye only.

• Wash hands before and after use.

• Take out contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if eyes are irritated or infected.

• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.

Eye solution:

• Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.

• After using medicine, keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps the medicine in your eye.

• Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes.

Eye ointment:

• Gently pull down the lower lid and squeeze in the prescribed amount.

• Release the lower eyelid and keep eyes closed for 1-2 minutes.

• Separate each eye medicine by 10 minutes.

Injection:

• This medicine is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Use caution in children younger than 18 years old. Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have low potassium levels, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Take this medicine 2 hours before or 6 hours after dairy products, antacids, buffered forms of didanosine, multivitamins with minerals, nutritional supplements, or sucralfate.

• Proquin® XR: Take this medicine 4 hours before or 6 hours after dairy products, antacids, buffered forms of didanosine, multivitamins with minerals, nutritional supplements, or sucralfate.

• Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake. Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, and fast heartbeat.

• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

Oral and Injection:

• Belly pain.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum, or Lactobacillus acidophilus may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some pharmacies.

• Tendons can rarely get irritated and tear.

• Severe allergic reactions can rarely occur.

Eye:

• Short-term discomfort after use.

Ear:

• Headache.

• Short-term discomfort after use.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• If you are taking a blood thinner, check blood work (prothrombin time/INR). Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are taking theophylline, check blood work (theophylline levels) regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Fast heartbeat.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Severe diarrhea, even after medicine is stopped.

• Pain in back of the ankle.

• Joint pain or swelling.

• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

Oral:

• Store tablets at room temperature.

• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

• Store liquid (suspension) at room temperature or in a refrigerator. Throw away any unused portion after 2 weeks.

Eye:

• Store eye solution at room temperature. Do not freeze.

• Protect eye solution from light.

• Store eye ointment at room temperature.

Injection:

• Store as directed by healthcare provider.

Ear:

• Store ear solution at room temperature.

• Protect from light.

• Store unused containers in foil pouch until use.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 11:29:38.0

Modified: 2009-07-20 14:58:55.0

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