Ciprofloxacin
About Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin contains the class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, primarily used to treat or prevent certain infections caused by bacteria. It is prescribed for the treatment of pneumonia, gonorrhoea (a sexually transmitted disease), typhoid fever (a serious infection that is common in developing countries), infectious diarrhoea (infections that cause severe diarrhoea), and infections of the skin, bone, joint, abdomen (stomach area), and prostate (male reproductive gland).
Ciprofloxacin contains an antibiotic 'Ciprofloxacin' which is bactericidal in nature and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It prevents the division of bacterial cells. It also inhibits the repair of bacterial cells. Altogether it kills the bacteria.
Ciprofloxacin should be taken in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. In some cases, you may experience nausea, diarrhoea, liver function tests abnormal, vomiting, and rash. Most of these side effects of Ciprofloxacin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
It is not advisable to stop this medicine suddenly to avoid unpleasant side effects. Inform your doctor if you have any lung disease, muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), sleeping disorder or difficulty in sleeping (sleep apnoea), severe liver disease, or problem with alcohol or other prescription recreational drugs. Inform your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction such as rashes, itching, swelling, shortness of breath, etc. you should contact a doctor immediately.
Uses of Ciprofloxacin
Medicinal Benefits
Ciprofloxacin contains the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, which helps treat and prevent a wide range of bacterial infections. It is bactericidal in nature and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It prevents the division of bacterial cells and inhibits the repair of bacterial cells. Both these actions lead to the killing of the bacteria.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Ciprofloxacin
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Liver function tests abnormal
- Change of the heart rhythm (ECG)
- Low blood potassium level
Drug Warnings
Do not take Ciprofloxacin if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to ciprofloxacin or any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as delafloxacin gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and ofloxacin. Taking Ciprofloxacin may increase the chances of developing tendinitis (swelling of a fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle) or have a tendon rupture (tearing of a fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle). Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant, kidney disease, a joint or tendon disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis (auto immune disorder of joints causing pain, swelling, and loss of function), seizures (fits), epilepsy or if you participate in regular physical activity. Taking Ciprofloxacin may worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis (a disorder of the nervous system that causes muscle weakness) and cause severe difficulty breathing or death. Dairy products should be avoided along with Ciprofloxacin. And also, exposure to sunlight should be avoided while taking Ciprofloxacin as it may cause increased phototoxicity or photosensitivity. Patients with epilepsy, and irregular heartbeat (especially a condition known as QT prolongation) should tell their doctor before taking Ciprofloxacin.
Drug Interactions
Drug-drug interactions: This medicine may have an interaction with blood thinners (such as warfarin), antidepressants and antipsychotics (like clozapine, olanzapine), caffeine-containing medications, insulin or other anti-diabetic medications (like chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, tolazamide, and tolbutamide), medications for regulating irregular heartbeat (like amiodarone, disopyramide, procainamide, quinidine), pain killers (like ibuprofen and naproxen).
Drug-Food Interactions: Ciprofloxacin interacts with dairy products (like milk or yoghurt) or calcium-fortified juices alone.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant, kidney disease, a joint or tendon disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function), seizures, epilepsy or if you participate in regular physical activity before starting Ciprofloxacin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAlcohol is not knwon to cause any unpleasant side effect if taken along with Ciprofloxacin. But intake of alcohol with Ciprofloxacin may damage your liver. So intake of Ciprofloxacin should be avoided with Ciprofloxacin.
Pregnancy
cautionCiprofloxacin is a pregnancy Category C medicine. It is unknown whether the Ciprofloxacin will affect pregnant women or fetus. Hence, You should avoid intake of Ciprofloxacin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant as it may harm the baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionCiprofloxacin is excreted in human milk. But the amount of Ciprofloxacin absorbed by the nursing infant is unknown. So, should not be taken while breastfeeding.
Driving
unsafeCiprofloxacin can affect alertness and coordiantion. So, operating machinery which requires concentration should be avoided.
Liver
cautionCiprofloxacin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor if there are symptoms of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark-coloured urine, yellowing of or skin/eye.
Kidney
cautionCiprofloxacin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
safe if prescribedCiprofloxacin can be given to children but under child specialist medical supervision. Ciprofloxacin is prescribed to the children to treat complicated urinary tract infections, anthrax infection, or plague infection.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, or chocolate. Ciprofloxacin may increase nervousness, sleeplessness and anxiety caused by caffeine.
- Probiotics should be taken after taking the full course of Ciprofloxacin to restore some healthy bacteria in the intestines that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like yoghurt, cheese, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi can help restore the intestine's good bacteria.
- Include more fibre-enriched food in your diet, as it can be easily digested by your gut bacteria, which helps stimulate their growth. Thus, fibre-rich foods may help restore healthy gut bacteria after a course of antibiotics. Whole grains like whole-grain bread and brown rice should be included in your diet. Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids daily while taking Ciprofloxacin.
- Avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Ciprofloxacin as it can make you dehydrated and may affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the Ciprofloxacin in fighting off infections.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infection: A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply, and infect our body. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms, like fevers, chills, and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms comprising commonly of spherical, rod, and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses like sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis. Few harmful bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Anyone can become infected with a bacterial infection. But, people with weak immune systems or taking immunosuppressive medicine can make you more prone to bacterial infection.
FAQs
Ciprofloxacin contains the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, which helps treat and prevent a wide range of bacterial infections. It is bactericidal in nature and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It prevents the division of bacterial cells.
Ciprofloxacin makes your skin sensitive to sunlight (photosensitivity). So, prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light should be avoided. In case of emergency, you should always wear sunscreen before going out.
If you miss a dose of Ciprofloxacin, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, then do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
No, Ciprofloxacin should be taken in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. If you take it in more than the recommended dose, it might cause unpleasant side effects. If you think your symptoms are not improving, please consult your doctor.
No. Ciprofloxacin is an antibacterial medicine that acts only against bacterial infections and not against viral infections causing cough, cold and flu.
Yes, Ciprofloxacin may cause diarrhoea. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic which kills or prevents bacterial growth, so in case some good intestinal bacteria which aid in digestion might also get killed. So, drink plenty of fluids and take probiotics to prevent excessive loss of fluids from the body (dehydration).
No, Ciprofloxacin should not be taken along with dairy products as it might affect the absorption and efficacy of Ciprofloxacin. However, you can take it with a meal that includes these foods or drinks.
