Cipro

• What is Ciprofloxacin Used for
• Prostatitis
• Gonorrhea
• Cystitis

Cipro is a medicine that is produced to fight bacterial infections of various types. It is a quinolone antibiotic drug that can stop the spread of bacteria in a human’s body.

This drug is available in the drug’s stores only with a doctor's prescription. Before using Cipro you should consult with your healthcare provider and get recommendations on the use of the medicine. The medication should be taken in full compliance with the instructions for use of the medicine, which is attached to the medicine’s package.

Cipro is taken with or without food. Usually the doctor recommends taking it in the morning and evening, twice a day at the same time intervals. If you are using the liquid form of the drug Cipro, then you should shake the bottle before using. The liquid form is taken with a help of a special measuring spoon. Neither liquid medication nor tablets can be chewed. The liquid drug contains small, bubble-shaped granules that should be swallowed.

During the course of the treatment with Cipro it is recommended to drink plenty of water, excluding milk and other dairy products. The dosage of the medicine is individual and depends on the patient's medical problem. Your doctor will examine you and set the dosage and the treatment time that is right for you. Do not change the prescribed dosage yourself, as this may lead to an undesirable effect. If after the first doses of the drug you feel unwell and begin to experience any negative symptoms, then you should immediately contact your doctor and talk to him or her about it.

Even if you feel better and get rid of negative symptoms, do not stop taking the medicine until the course of the treatment is complete or until your doctor tells you to stop using the drug, as the infection may come back.

The drug may not work properly when it interacts with some other medicines. Therefore, it is important to inform your doctor about all vitamins, as well as food supplements and medications you are currently using. If you are taking any drugs that interact poorly with Cipro, then it is recommended to take it two hours before using the other medication. Talk to your doctor for a complete list of the drugs that may have a poor interaction with Cipro. Substances that contain calcium can interfere with the action of Cipro.

Contact your doctor if you notice that your symptoms do not improve after prolonged use of the medication, or if your condition gets worse.

Adverse Reactions

Many patients do not experience any adverse reactions while taking this medication. Cipro may cause some side effects. Tell your doctor if you start experiencing any of the following symptoms that persist: dizziness, diarrhea, insomnia, nausea, and headache.

Seek medical attention immediately if you start to experience sore throat, chills, bleeding, abdominal pain, discoloration of urine, and severe fatigue. These symptoms may indicate the occurrence of a new infection, kidney or liver problems.

Serious reactions may include fainting, severe dizziness, heart palpitations, sudden abdominal pain, severe shortness of breath, and severe back or chest pain.

Store your medicines in a cool, dry, dark place out of the reach of children. Never pass your medication to other people. Take this drug only after consulting your doctor. Before using, carefully read the instructions and follow them during your treatment. Tell your doctor about any changes in your health condition.

What is Cipro Used for?

Cipro is a prescription medication that is often prescribed to treat conditions such as ear infections, bone and skin infections, eye infections, conjunctivitis, pneumonia and chest infections, and sexually transmitted infections. It is also used to prevent meningitis if a human had a contact with infected people. This medicine is an antibiotic, which belongs to the group of fluoroquinolones.

Cipro is produced in the form of a liquid, tablets, eye ointment, eye drops, and eardrops. If the patient is being treated in a hospital, then the drug Cipro can be used in the form of injections.

The drug is allowed for taking among adults and children. You should consult your healthcare provider about the use of the Cipro medicine, as it is contraindicated for some certain health conditions.

Application

The form of the drug depends on the purpose of its use. Each form has its own instructions for use. Take this medicine as directed by your healthcare professional. The medication should be taken as planned at regular intervals throughout the course of the treatment. Children and the patients, who suffer from kidney diseases, usually receive a lower dosage of the drug Cipro.

If you are taking the drug in a tablet form, then the tablets should be swallowed whole with plenty of water. Liquid medicine comes in the form of granules. Together with the granules, a special liquid is produced, in which the granules should be dissolved when taking the medicine. The liquid form of Cipro is used less frequently than other forms of this medication.

Cipro ear drops are usually applied 2 times a day, 5 drops to the affected ear. You should first warm up the drops by holding them for a couple of minutes in warm hands. Squeeze the required number of drops into the ear and then lie down quietly for about 5 minutes. The ear, in which the drops were placed, should be directed towards the ceiling.

The eye drops of Cipro are usually used 4 times a day, 1-2 drops in a sore eye. Eyes should be dripped with the help of a special pipette. Avoid touching the eyes with the dropper while dripping the eye drops, as this can lead to infection.

Eye ointment Cipro is applied to the damaged eye 2-3 times a day. In some cases, the doctor prescribes the use of an eye ointment every hour, at a day and night time. Apply the ointment gently using the tube with the nozzle, without touching the nozzle to the eye.

Use the medicine as directed by your doctor. Follow the instructions for use and do not change the recommended dosage of the medication without consulting the doctor.

Side Effects

The use of Cipro in Australia may cause the occurrence of some adverse reactions. They include the following rare effects: diarrhea, feeling unwell, strange taste in the mouth, white spots on the eyes after using the medication. If you experience any of these adverse reactions, then you should see your doctor.

More serious side effects include muscle weakness, anxiety and extreme fatigue, unusual pain sensations, insomnia, and mood swings. These reactions are extremely rare, but if you notice any of them, then seek immediate medical attention.

Contact the doctor immediately if you get allergy symptoms after using Cipro, such as rash, cramping, skin redness, swelling, and hives. Before using this drug, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any substance, medicine or food because of possible drugs interactions.

Cipro for Prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate gland, or prostatitis, is rather frequent disease among men. The most common symptom of prostatitis is a painful sensation when urinating, which is very vexing. Other symptoms include groin pain, lower back pain, and fever.

The prostate gland is located near the bladder, slightly below and in front of the rectum. It influences on the production of a special substance included in the ejaculate, which affects the supply of sperm with nutrients.

Prostatitis can be of two types: chronic bacterial prostatitis and acute prostatitis. There are some other forms of prostatitis. Their occurrence may be associated with a disorder in the functioning of the bladder and pelvic muscles. Many men suffering from prostatitis experience decreased sexual activity, which can lead to some psychological problems. In rare cases, prostatitis can appear due to some sexually transmitted infections, but usually the disease is due to other infections and is not contagious to sexual partners.

After examining urine samples and confirming the presence of prostatitis, doctors usually prescribe antibiotic medications if the disease is caused by an infection. One of the medicines used to treat prostatitis is Cipro. It is taken for a long time, and the treatment can take up to several months, depending on the severity of the disease. If prostatitis is severe, then hospital treatment may be necessary.

In some cases, prostatitis can be caused by a latent infection, which also requires the application of antibiotics in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs. To relieve the symptoms some men take tamsulosin, oxybutynin and other drugs, which are used to improve prostate or bladder function.

Cipro Contraindications  

Cipro should not be taken by people under the age of 18, except some specific cases, which should be observed by the healthcare provider. The drug is contraindicated to people, who are hypersensitive to any of its components and are at risk of an allergic reaction. Also, you shouldn’t take it if you are taking Tizanidine due to the risk of severe adverse reactions. Other contraindications are pseudomembranous colitis and pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Application

Cipro can be used to treat several conditions. If Cipro is used to treat prostatitis, then it is usually prescribed at a dosage of 500-750 mg 2 times a day. The treatment period can take up to 4 weeks in the case of acute prostatitis and up to 6 weeks in the case of chronic prostatitis.

Side Effects

Taking Cipro can cause the following side effects: impaired sense of smell, depression, tremors, insomnia, fainting, ventricular arrhythmias, migraines, anorexia, flatulence, convulsions, nightmares, vision problems, and hallucinations. The list of possible side effects is incomplete. To get detailed information about the medicine, its action and side effects, you should ask your doctor.

Before using the drug, you should tell the doctor about all the drugs you are taking. Tell the doctor about your symptoms. This medication is available with a doctor's prescription.

Take your medicine according to all the instructions and recommendations of your doctor. Do not increase or decrease your prescribed dosage of the drug. If after taking the medicine Cipro you feel unwell, then you should immediately consult the doctor.

Do not give your medication to anyone. Store all your medicines in a safe dry place away from children.

Cipro for Gonorrhea

A sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhea, affects women and men and usually occurs within people who neglect contraceptive methods during sexual intercourse. The best way to avoid gonorrhea is using condoms.

When having negative symptoms, you should see a doctor, especially if you start to experience pus from the penis, rectum, or vagina, or pain when urinating. See your doctor right away if you find out that your partner has gonorrhea. You can carry this infection asymptomatically and not feel any negative symptoms for a long time.

Usually, gonorrhea, harming the body of an infected person and in particular the genitals, does not cause any tangible symptoms. In addition to affecting the genital tract, the infection can affect other body areas, such as the rectum, throat, joints, and eyes.

Signs of gonorrhea within women include: abdominal pain, pain when urinating, atypical vaginal discharge, atypical vaginal bleeding (not associated with menstruation).

Signs of infection of the genital tract with gonorrhea within men are the following: swelling in one testicle, pain when urinating, and discharge in the form of pus from the penis.

The choice of the treatment and drugs usually depends on the organ that is infected and on the severity of the disease. One of the drugs prescribed for the antibiotic treatment of gonorrhea is Cipro. It is used to treat the uncomplicated forms of this infection. In many cases, gonorrhea is accompanied by chlamydia, which requires some medications to get rid of the chlamydia.

Uncomplicated gonorrhea that affects the urinary tract usually manifests itself in women as cervicitis, cystitis, or urethritis, and in men as urethritis. In most cases, Cipro is prescribed at a dosage of 500 mg once a day.

If gonorrhea is severe, then Cipro is used at a dosage of 500 mg every 12 hours for several days to a week, until the symptoms completely disappear.

Statistics show that women under 25 and men, who have men as sexual partners, are at risk for the incidence of gonorrheal infection.

The study, which was conducted to investigate the safety of Cipro for the treatment of gonorrhea, showed that this drug is quite effective during the treatment of uncomplicated forms of gonorrhea within men and women. At the same time, it was found that, despite the fact that doctors usually recommend a dosage of 500 mg of the medication the dosage of 250 mg of Cipro is no less effective. The result of the patients who received 50 in Australia0 mg of Cipro was equally positive compared to those, who received a dosage of 250 mg.

Promiscuous sex life and the presence of a large number of sexual partners, as well as the presence of another sexually transmitted infection, are factors that can increase the risk of contracting gonorrhea.

If a person knows that he or she has contracted a gonorrheal infection and does not treat it, then he or she gets an increased risk of receiving the following consequences: damage to other parts of the body and joints with infection, infertility in women and men, an increased risk of HIV infection, health problems in children who have contracted the infection from the mother during birth.

Protection from Infection

To protect you from being infected with gonorrheal infection, prevention should be observed: limiting the number of sexual partners, using contraceptives, regularly being tested and examined by a doctor, avoiding contacting people who may have an infection.

Cipro for Cystitis

The antibiotic drug Cipro is often prescribed to treat various types of infections. It is sometimes used when a patient is at risk of contracting meningitis. It is also often used for the treatment of the patients suffering from cystitis.

This medication is available in pharmacies only according to a doctor's prescription. Therefore, to get it, you should consult your doctor and get a recipe for getting the drug.

Some studies dedicated to the treatment of urinary tract infections have shown that Cipro can be effective for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis when taken for 3 days, twice a day, even at a minimum dosage of 100 mg.

Tips for Using Cipro

It is recommended to take the drug Cipro, completely following the instructions for use of the drug supplied with the drug, and the recommendations of your healthcare provider. Do not use a higher or lower dose of the medication than your doctor has prescribed. The medication intakes should not be skipped, as it is most effective when a constant amount of it is found in the patient's urine and blood.

Before taking the drug, you should attentively read the instructions and study all possible side effects and contraindications. If you have any questions that bother you, then you should consult a doctor.

It is recommended to take this medication at regular time intervals, at the same time, with a single dose of the medicine per day.

Mode of Application

The medicine is taken regardless of meals. Cipro tablets are taken whole with a little water. The tablet should not be chewed or pre-split before use.

If you are taking the medicine as a liquid, then shake the liquid for 15 seconds before use. It is recommended to swallow the oral liquid without chewing as it contains microcapsules in the form of small balls. Take liquid Cipro using the special measuring spoon that comes with the medicine.

If you have a complicated urinary tract infection, then the maximum adult dose is usually 1000 mg once a day. The dose for children is determined by the doctor's decision.

If you get an uncomplicated infection, then the optimal adult dose is usually 500 mg per day for 3 days.

It is recommended to drink plenty of water while using this medication, which may help to avoid some of the drug's adverse reactions. But you should not drink it with dairy products, as this can cause unwanted effects.

If after the first applications of Cipro you experience a positive effect, then you should not stop taking it, since the full effect of the drug will occur only after the end of the entire course of taking this drug.

Different patients usually receive different dosages of the drug, as the dosage depends on several factors and the medical problem you are experiencing. The correct dosage can only be established by your doctor.

Warning

If, after using the medicine, you feel unwell or notice any signs of an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, redness of the skin or swelling, then you should immediately seek medical help.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor about all prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking. This is important as Cipro has some negative interactions with certain medications. The exact list of such medications should be obtained from your doctor. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any substance, medicine, or food. Do not give your medicine to anyone and keep it away from children and pets in a dry, dark place.

Comparison

• Cipro vs Ampicillin
• Cipro vs Cefuroxime
• Cipro vs Chloramphenicol
• Cipro vs Clindamycin
• Cipro vs Metronidazole
• Cipro vs Roxithromycin
• Cipro vs Omnicef
• Cipro vs Zyvox

See Also