This leaflet answers some common questions about Ciproxin tablets. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Ciproxin tablets against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Ciproxin tablets are used for the treatment of infections of the lungs, skin, bones, joints, kidneys, bladder, prostate and bowel. Ciproxin is also used to treat inhalational anthrax (an infection caused by breathing in the spores of bacteria).
Ciproxin tablets contain the active ingredient, ciprofloxacin, which is an antibiotic belonging to a group of medicines called quinolones (pronounced kwin-o-lones). These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing your infection.
Ciproxin will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.
other medicines belonging to the quinolone chemical family (e.g. moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, nalidixic acid).
Do not take Ciproxin if you are also taking a medicine called tizanidine, a muscle relaxant used to treat spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, injury or diseases of the spinal cord. Ciproxin can interfere with tizanidine and can lead to undesirable side effects.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack and blister. The expiry date is printed on the carton and on each blister after "EXP" (e.g. 11 13 refers to November 2013). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. If it has expired return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Ciproxin is not recommended if you are pregnant but your doctor will assess the benefit if required. Medicines similar to Ciproxin have caused joint disease in immature animals.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Ciproxin is excreted into the breast milk. Your doctor will tell you whether you should take it and temporarily stop breastfeeding while you are taking the tablets.
Ciproxin is not recommended in children under 18 years of age except for use in inhalational anthrax.
Ciproxin should be used with caution in elderly patients as they are more prone to side effects.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Ciproxin.
These medicines may be affected by Ciproxin, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
You can still take these medicines while you are taking Ciproxin. However, you must take Ciproxin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any of these medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how much and how often you should take Ciproxin. This will depend on the type of infection and any medical conditions you may have.
Ciproxin tablets are usually taken twice a day. Take your tablets at the same time each day preferably on an empty stomach. However, they can be taken with or without food.
The length of treatment may vary from one to 28 days or longer depending on the type of infection.
Continue taking Ciproxin until you have finished the blister pack or for as long as your doctor tells you. Do not stop taking your tablets because you are feeling better. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone in Australia 13 11 26, in New Zealand 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Ciproxin. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Ciproxin.
Tell your doctor if you need to have a surgical or dental procedure that you are taking Ciproxin.
Ciproxin may affect the results of certain laboratory tests. If you are about to have any tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Ciproxin.
Drink plenty of water while you are taking Ciproxin. This helps to stop crystals forming in your urine.
If you become pregnant while you are taking Ciproxin, tell your doctor immediately.
If you develop diarrhoea, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately - even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking Ciproxin. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any medications for diarrhoea without checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of depression or self-endangering behaviour. Ciproxin should be discontinued immediately.
Tell your doctor immediately if you develop pain, burning, tingling, numbness or weakness in any part of the body. Ciproxin IV should be discontinued immediately.
Do not give your Ciproxin tablets to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Ciproxin to treat other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Avoid excessive exposure to direct sunlight. Your skin may become more prone to sunburn. If such a reaction occurs, stop taking Ciproxin immediately and tell your doctor.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Ciproxin affects you. Ciproxin tablets may cause dizziness in some patients, especially after the first few doses. Your ability to drive and/or operate machinery may be impaired. If you drink alcohol while taking this medicine, dizziness may be worse.
Ciproxin tablets may increase the stimulatory effects of caffeine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Ciproxin.
These are the common side effects of Ciproxin. They are usually mild and short-lived.
pain, burning, tingling, numbness and/or weakness in your limbs.
Photosensitivity (getting sunburnt very easily) can occasionally occur with Ciproxin. However, it is temporary and staying out of direct sunlight while on Ciproxin tablets will prevent it from happening.
Rarely, there can be a worsening of the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. This is a condition in which the muscles become weak and tire easily, causing drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, and sometimes muscle weakness in the arms or legs.
Rarely, the Achilles tendon (extending from the calf to the heel of the foot) or other tendons have been torn after Ciproxin therapy. Tell your doctor immediately if you feel any discomfort, pain or inflammation of a tendon.
Rarely, you may experience hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) or hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Symptoms of hyperglycaemia include increased thirst, appetite and urination. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include weakness, shaking, sweating, light headedness, headache, behavioural changes, confusion, numbness/pins and needles in the lips, fingers or toes, irritability and hunger. Tell your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
If you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with Ciproxin tablets, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Ciproxin may need to be discontinued.
Do not store Ciproxin or any other medicine in the bathroom, near a sink, or on a window sill.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Ciproxin tablets or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Ciproxin 250 mg tablets are white, film-coated, round, scored and marked CIP 250 on top and the Bayer Cross on bottom (available in blister packs of 2 [Australia only] and 14 tablets).
Ciproxin 500 mg tablets are white, film-coated, oblong, scored and marked CIP 500 on top and Bayer on the bottom (available in blister packs of 14 tablets).
Ciproxin 750 mg tablets are white, film-coated, oblong, marked CIP 750 on top and Bayer on the bottom (available in blister packs of 14 tablets).