Treats infections. Also treats anthrax infection after possible exposure. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
Amerinet Choice Ciprofloxacin, Cipro IV, NovaPlus Ciprofloxacin
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
You should not receive this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to ciprofloxacin or any other quinolone antibiotic (such as levofloxacin, Avelox®, Levaquin®, Vigamox®). Do not use this medicine together with tizanidine (Zanaflex®).
How to Use This Medicine
- Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for about an hour.
- A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.It may also be given by a home healthcare nurse.
- Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are using this medicine. This will keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems.
- This medicine is not for long-term use.
- Your doctor may give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves. Then you may be switched to an oral medicine that works the same way. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this.
- This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Ask your pharmacist for the Medication Guide if you do not have one.
If a dose is missed:
- This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
- If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.Do not freeze.
- Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
- Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
- Make sure your doctor knows if you use a steroid medicine (such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone). Your risk of tendon problems may increase if you use this medicine together with a steroid.
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using theophylline (Elixophyllin®, Theo-Dur®, Theo-24®, Uniphyl®). Avoid products that have caffeine while you are using this medicine.
- Make sure your doctor knows if you also use clozapine (Clozaril®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), duloxetine (Cymbalta®), lidocaine (Xylocaine®), methotrexate (Folex®, Rheumatrex®, Trexall®), metoclopramide (Reglan®), pentoxifylline (Trental®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), probenecid (Benemid®), ropinirole (Requip®), sildenafil (Viagra®). Tell your doctor if you use a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®, Jantoven®), diabetes medicine (such as glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, Amaryl®), heart rhythm medicine (such as disopyramide, Norpace®, amiodarone, dofetilide, Cordarone®, Tikosyn®), or an NSAID pain or arthritis medicine (such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Voltaren®).
- Make sure your doctor knows if you also use medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, Elavil®), medicine to treat an infection (such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, Zithromax®), or medicine to treat mental illness (such as haloperidol, olanzapine, pimozide, prochlorperazine, quetiapine, thioridazine, ziprasidone, Mellaril®).
Warnings While Using This Medicine
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have myasthenia gravis, tendon or joint problems, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, low magnesium or potassium levels, or a history of seizures, epilepsy, head injury, or stroke.
- This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
- This medicine may rarely cause inflammation or tearing of a tendon, especially the tendon in the back of your leg. (Tendons attach muscles to bones.) This can occur while you are taking the medicine or after you finish treatment. Your risk may be higher if you are older than 60 years of age, use a steroid medicine, have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (including rheumatoid arthritis), or have received a heart, lung, or kidney transplant. Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden pain, swelling, or bruises after exercise. Also call your doctor if you have joint pain, have trouble moving a joint, or cannot bear weight.
- If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea.Diarrhea may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine.
- Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.
- This medicine may make you feel dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.
- Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
- Confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior
- Diarrhea that may contain blood
- Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
- Muscle or joint pain
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, yellow eyes or skin
- Numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
- Pain or swelling in your knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, hand, or wrist
- Seizures or tremors
- Severe sunburn
- Unusual bleeding, bruising, weakness, or tiredness
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
- Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain
- Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed