Ciproxin 500mg Tablets

Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone group. It treats infections of the bladder and kidneys, the prostate, bones and joints, and some sexually transmitted, ear and eye infections.

Because it can rarely cause serious, long-lasting side effects, it is often used only when other antibiotics have not worked or cannot be taken. It does not work for colds, flu or other viral infections.

Take ciprofloxacin exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, at the same times each day.

• Swallow tablets whole with water. Drink plenty of fluids.
• Do not take it with milk, yoghurt or calcium-fortified drinks on their own; leave a gap of at least 2 hours. A normal meal containing these is fine.
• Take antacids and supplements containing calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium or aluminium well apart from it, as your pharmacist advises.
• Cut down on caffeine, which can make you jittery.
• Keep using it for the full course, even if you feel better after a few days. Stopping early can let the infection come back and helps germs become resistant.
• If you miss a dose, take it unless the next dose is nearly due. Never take a double dose.

Common side effects include:

• Feeling sick, being sick or diarrhoea
• Headache

Stop taking it and get medical help straight away if you have:

• Pain, swelling or stiffness in a tendon or joint (such as the heel or ankle)
• Numbness, tingling, burning or weakness in the hands or feet
• Sudden severe chest, stomach or back pain
• Fits, confusion, hallucinations, low mood or thoughts of self-harm
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction: rash or hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, wheezing, or trouble breathing or swallowing
• Watery or bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps or fever, during treatment or up to two months or more after it ends
• Yellow skin or eyes, or dark urine

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• Have ever had a reaction to a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, especially tendon problems
• Have myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, diabetes, or kidney disease
• Have heart problems, a slow or irregular heartbeat, or low potassium or magnesium
• Have an aortic aneurysm or a family history of one, or Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Are over 60, take steroids, or have had an organ transplant
• Take warfarin, NSAIDs, steroids, sotalol, phenytoin, tizanidine, some antidepressants or antipsychotics
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding (usually avoided)

Keep in the original, tightly closed container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture (not in the bathroom), and out of the reach of children.

Ciprofloxacin can rarely cause tendon damage, nerve damage and mental health effects that may be long-lasting. Stop and contact a doctor at the first sign. It can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Do not drive until you know how it affects you, and avoid drinking a lot of alcohol. It is not usually given to children.