Your doctor may have prescribed you a medicine called Ciprofloxacin. This is a very strong antibiotic that is often prescribed. Therefore, it is very important to know a little about this medicine before using it. Don't worry, we will talk about everything in simple terms.
Simply put, Ciprofloxacin is a medicine that is used to treat bacterial infections. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called quinolones. The most important thing to remember is that this medicine cannot treat viral infections like colds and flu. It is like trying to open a door with the wrong key. This medicine only works properly for bacterial infections.
Before taking the medicine, you need to tell the doctor about these things!
It is essential that your doctor is fully aware of your health condition before prescribing this medicine. Because, if you have certain medical conditions, you need to be very careful when giving this medicine. Therefore, if you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor .
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Existing medical conditions | Medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney or liver disease, high blood pressure, seizures, mental illness, and myasthenia gravis. |
| Heart disease related problems | If you have an irregular heartbeat, or low blood potassium levels. |
| Bone, joint and nerve problems | Pain/problems in bones, joints or muscles, nerve disorders such as numbness in the limbs. |
| Allergies | If you are allergic to Ciprofloxacin or other antibiotics, other medicines, foods, or preservatives. |
| Special occasions | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. |
How exactly do I use this medicine?
- Take this pill with a glass of water. Take the prescribed dose at the prescribed time, as prescribed by the doctor.
- You can take this with or without food. However, if you experience stomach upset, it is best to take it with food.
- The most important thing is to finish the entire course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. Even if you feel better and are less sick, do not stop taking the medication. Doing so may cause the infection to return without being completely cured.
- This is very important: Do not take antacids (syrup/tablets used for gastritis), calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, or vitamins within 6 hours of taking this medicine, or within 2 hours of taking it. These reduce the absorption of Ciprofloxacin into the body.
- If giving to children: Special care is needed when giving this medicine to children. Therefore, follow the doctor's instructions exactly.
What to do if you overdose?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, do not panic and immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I forget to take my medicine?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at the same time.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine (Drug Interactions)
Ciprofloxacin can interact with other medications, so tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies).
Taking certain medications with Ciprofloxacin can be very dangerous, so be especially aware of this.
| Never take Ciprofloxacin with this medicine. | |
|---|---|
| Tizanidine | Thioridazine |
| Pimozide | Lomitapide |
| Flibanserin | Dronedarone |
| Cisapride | |
| Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking these medications. | |
| Medicines that prevent blood clotting (e.g. Warfarin) | Diabetes medications (e.g. Insulin, Glipizide) |
| Painkillers (NSAIDS - e.g. Ibuprofen, Naproxen) | Theophylline (a medicine for asthma) |
| Things that contain caffeine | Birth control pills |
| Phenytoin (a medicine for epilepsy) | Sildenafil |
*This list is not complete. It is therefore safest to tell your doctor about all the things you are taking.*
Be careful about this when taking medication!
- Symptoms: If your symptoms do not improve or worsen, tell your doctor.
- Skin reactions: Sometimes, even weeks after starting this medicine, serious skin reactions can occur. If your skin becomes red or purple, blisters, or peels off , or if you have swelling of the face, lips, or hives on the neck or armpits , seek medical advice immediately.
- Diarrhea: If you have watery diarrhea that lasts for more than two days, do not take over-the-counter medication and talk to your doctor.
- Dizziness: You may feel drowsy or dizzy. So avoid doing tasks that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you. Avoid getting up or sitting down quickly, especially if you are elderly.
- Sun sensitivity: Your skin may be very sensitive to the sun while taking this medication. So avoid the sun as much as possible. If you do go outside, wear well-fitting clothing and use sunscreen .
Side effects of the medicine
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Serious allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Heart problems | Feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly, dizziness, chest pain. |
| Nervous system problems | Severe headache, blurred vision, numbness or pain in the limbs, seizures. |
| Mental changes | Restlessness, agitation, mental confusion, suicidal thoughts. |
| Other serious symptoms | Severe pain or swelling in the joints or muscles, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, sudden chest, back, or stomach pain. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Minor side effects | Headache, nausea, dry mouth, mild stomach discomfort. |
Take-Home Message
- Ciprofloxacin is a powerful antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It does not work against viral infections.
- Before taking the medicine, tell your doctor about all other medical conditions you have and all medications you are taking.
- Take the medicine for the full number of days prescribed by the doctor. Do not stop taking it even if you feel better.
- Do not take antacids, iron, or calcium with this medicine. Keep a gap of several hours between them.
- If you experience any serious side effects, such as severe skin reactions, joint pain, changes in heart rate, or mental changes, seek medical advice immediately.
- Avoid strong sunlight while taking the medicine.
- Store this medicine at room temperature, out of the reach of children and pets.
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