Health Centres - Ciproxin (ciprofloxacin)
How does it work?
Ciproxin tablets, suspension and infusion all contain the active ingredient ciprofloxacin, which is a type of medicine called a quinolone antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. (NB. Ciprofloxacin tablets are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)
Ciprofloxacin works by killing the bacteria that are causing an infection. It does this by entering the bacterial cells and inhibiting a bacterial enzyme called DNA-gyrase. This enzyme is involved in replicating and repairing the genetic material (DNA) of the bacteria. If this enzyme doesn't work, the bacteria cannot reproduce or repair themselves and this kills the bacteria.
Ciprofloxacin is effective against a large number of bacteria, some of which tend to be resistant to other commonly used antibiotics. It is particularly useful against a sub-group of bacteria called Gram-negative bacteria, including salmonella, shigella, campylobacter, neisseria, and pseudomonas. It is used to treat a wide range of infections, including infections of the chest, urinary tract and of the gastrointestinal system. It is also used as a single dose treatment for gonorrhoea.
To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to ciprofloxacin your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin, or a urine or blood sample.
What is it used for?
In adults:
- bacterial ear, nose and throat infections such as sinusitis, otitis media and otitis externa.
- bacterial eye infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis.
- bacterial infections of the urinary tract, such as cystitis, kidney infections (pyelonephritis), urethritis.
- bacterial infection of the prostate gland (prostatitis).
- bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissue, such as infected ulcers, wounds or burns, abscesses, cellulitis, erysipelas.
- bacterial infections of bones and joints, such as osteomyelitis and septic arthritis
- abdominal bacterial infections, such as peritonitis or abdominal abscesses.
- bacterial infections of the stomach and intestines, such as typhoid fever or infective diarrhoea.
- pelvic bacterial infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
- gonorrhoea.
- bacterial infection of the blood (septicaemia or blood poisoning)
- preventing infections in people having stomach or intestinal surgery or endoscopic procedures, where there is an increased risk of infection
- preventing or treating anthrax affecting the lungs, following exposure to anthrax spores
In children:
- lung infections caused by a type of bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children aged 5 to 17 years with cystic fibrosis
- preventing or treating anthrax affecting the lungs, following exposure to anthrax spores
Warning!
- Ciprofloxacin tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed.
- You should not take milk, yoghurt, antacids for indigestion or heartburn, or medicines containing calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium or aluminium at the same time as ciprofloxacin. (See end of factsheet for more information.)
- You should make sure you drink plenty of fluid while taking this medicine.
- Avoid exposing your skin to excessive sunlight, sunlamps or sunbeds while taking ciprofloxacin, as it may increase the sensitivity of your skin to UV light. If you get a rash or other skin reaction on exposure to sunlight you should stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor.
- This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. This effect may be enhanced by drinking alcohol. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.
- Quinolone antibiotics may rarely cause tendon inflammation (tendinitis) and tendon rupture. Older people and those taking corticosteroid medication are most at risk of this. You should stop taking this medicine immediately if you experience any pain or inflammation in your joints during treatment. Rest the affected limb(s) and consult a doctor immediately.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause inflammation of the bowel (colitis). For this reason, you get diarrhoea either during or after taking this medicine, particularly if it becomes severe or persistent, or contains blood or mucus, you should consult your doctor immediately.
- Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.
Use with caution in
- children and adolescents.
- elderly people.
- people using corticosteroid medicines.
- decreased kidney function.
- history of convulsions (fits), eg epilepsy.
- history of disorders of the brain and nervous system.
- people who a lack an enzyme called G6PD in their blood, or who have a family history of this disorder (G6PD deficiency).
-
abnormal muscle weakness.
Not to be used in
- history of tendon disorders caused by previous treatment with a quinolone-type antibiotic.
- allergy to other quinolone-type antibiotics, eg norfloxacin, ofloxacin.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnancy. This is because ciprofloxacin has been shown to cause joint disease in immature animals and may therefore have this effect in humans. There are usually safer alternative antibiotics available. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- Ciprofloxacin passes into breast milk. It is not recommended for use during breastfeeding, as there are usually safer alternative antibiotics available. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Rash or itching
- Headache
- Restlessness
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Depression
- Sleepiness
- Feeling of weakness (asthenia)
- Disturbed sleep
- Tremor
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Pain in the muscles or joints
- Disturbances in vision, taste, hearing or smell
- Disturbances in the numbers of blood cells in the blood
- Liver or kidney disorders
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
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