Cipro 500 mg Tablets

The article explains Cipro (Ciprofloxacin), how to use it correctly, and what side effects it can produce. You need to know how to avoid risks and negative consequences while taking this medication for your specific health problem.

What Is Cipro Antibiotic?

Cipro (whose generic name is Ciprofloxacin) is a prescription medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as fluoroquinolones. It is an antibiotic used for treating bacterial infections. It can be prescribed alone or accompanied by other medical preparations. The drug can treat only bacterial infections, so it is useless for flu or a common cold caused by viruses. It even makes the situation worse because it prevents your organism from fighting viruses.

The medicine can be prescribed by your physician for the following conditions:

• bone and joint infections;
• complicated intra-abdominal infections;
• Infectious diarrhea;
• typhoid or enteric fever;
• uncomplicated cervical and urethral gonorrhea;
• inhalational anthrax;
• plague;
• chronic bacterial prostatitis;
• lower respiratory tract infections;
• urinary tract infections in adults;
• acute sinusitis, and some other health conditions.

Cipro is an effective medication if you use it properly.

Dosage and Intake

You need to read the information from the Patient’s Leaflet and ask questions about any unclear points from your physician or pharmacist before you start taking Cipro.

The medication is taken orally with or without food. As a rule, the pills are prescribed for the two-time-per-day intake, better in the morning and in the evening.

The tablet may have a bitter taste, so you should not chew or crush it. The dosage and treatment length depends on your medical condition and the organism’s response to treatment. You need to drink a lot of liquid while taking the pills.

You have to consume the drug at least 2 hours before taking other products and medications and 6 hours after that to avoid binding to them. Your pharmacist will tell you what products and medicines can decrease the efficiency of Cipro. They can include quinapril, all vitamins and minerals, food supplements, and those products that contain calcium, aluminum, and magnesium. That is why dairy products and calcium-enriched juices should not be consumed with this preparation.

You need to take this antibiotic at even parts of time for a better effect. Taking it at the same time of the day will help avoid confusion.

Try to take the drug as long as it has been prescribed to you by your doctor, even if you have got much better. If you stop the treatment too early, the infection may return. You have to inform your doctor if there are no changes in your condition or if your state is worsening.

The usual dose of this preparation prescribed for different conditions is 500-750 mg, taken every 12 hours for 7-14 days. If your doctor changes the dose and length of the treatment, you need to follow these recommendations accurately.

Ciprofloxacin Side Effects

Most minor side effects, which are caused by taking Ciprofloxacin, disappear within 2-3 days from the beginning of the treatment. They can include headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, lightheadedness, nausea, and diarrhea. If these effects persist or grow, call your doctor immediately. However, most patients, who are taking this drug, do not experience any side effects.

You should be very careful about such side effects as:

• unusual bleeding or bruising;
• signs of a new infection (like continuous fever or sore throat);
• signs of kidney problems (like red or pink urine or any changes in its amount);
• signs of liver problems (for instance, unusual tiredness, continuous nausea or vomiting, stomach or abdominal pains, dark urine, yellowish skin, and eyes, etc.).

The most serious symptoms that need urgent aid are the following:

• fast or irregular breathing;
• severe dizziness;
• signs of a tear or break in the aorta (like sudden and severe pain in the back, chest, or stomach, shortness of breath, and cough);
• fainting.

The preparation may develop a heavy intestinal condition caused by the C. difficile bacteria. This condition can display during the treatment, weeks, or even months after. If you have diarrhea that doesn’t stop, blood or mucus in your stool, stomach, or abdominal cramping and pain, inform your physician about it. Never start using any opioid or anti-diarrhea products because they may even worsen the symptoms.

This is not a full list of all possible side effects. So, if you notice any changes in your overall health condition, call your doctor as soon as possible.

Precautions

You must inform your physician or pharmacist if you are allergic to Ciprofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics. If you have ever experienced allergic reactions to other medications, your doctor needs to know about that.

You also have to let your doctor know your medical history, which includes the following health problems:

• diabetes;
• heart problems (including a recent heart attack);
• joint or tendon problems (like bursitis or tendonitis);
• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• mental or mood disorders (for example, depression);
• myasthenia gravis;
• nerve issues (like peripheral neuropathy);
• seizures;
• previous brain or head injuries, brain tumors, and cerebral atherosclerosis;
• blood vessel problems;
• high blood pressure;
• specific genetic conditions (for example, Ehlers-Danlos or Marfan syndromes).

Cipro may lead to the condition known as QT prolongation that can cause life-threatening fast or irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, and fainting. These issues need urgent medical attention. The risk may be increased by taking other drugs that can cause the same effects or by a family history of similar problems. The risk of QT prolongation may appear from the low levels of magnesium or potassium in the blood.

The medication can sometimes cause serious changes in blood sugar. They can be even more significant if you have diabetes.

You may get dizzy while taking Cipro. If you simultaneously use alcohol or marijuana (cannabis), the dizziness may increase. Never drive a car or use complex machinery in such a condition. Alcoholic beverages should be limited; if you use cannabis, your doctor needs to know about that.

Cipro can make you more sensitive to the sun, so reduce the time in the sun while taking it. Use protective clothing and sunscreens when you need to stay outdoors. The preparation can also influence the effectiveness of live bacterial vaccines. So you need to tell the healthcare professional about using Ciprofloxacin if you are going to have any immunization. You also need to tell your doctor or dentist about this preparation before surgery.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the medication can be used only if it is severely needed. Your doctor should explain all the risks and benefits to you.