Why is Cipro prescribed?
Ciprofloxaxin is used to treat infections of the lower respiratory tract, the abdomen, the skin, the bones and joints, and the urinary tract, including cystitis (bladder inflammation) in women. It is also prescribed for severe sinus or bronchial infections, infectious diarrhea, typhoid fever, inhalational anthrax, infections of the prostate gland, and some sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea.
What is Cipro?
Cipro is an antibiotic in a group of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It fights bacteria in the body. It works by stopping the production of essential proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.
Cipro is used to treat different types of bacterial infections. It may also be used to prevent or slow anthrax after exposure.
Cipro may also be used for other purposes not listed here.
Important information about Cipro
You should not use Cipro if you are taking tizanidine (Zanaflex), or if you are allergic to ciprofloxacin or similar antibiotics such as levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), and others. Do not take Cipro with dairy products such as milk or yogurt, or with calcium-fortified juice. You may eat or drink dairy products or calcium-fortified juice with a regular meal, but do not use them alone when taking Cipro. They could make the medication less effective.
Before taking Cipro, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, myasthenia gravis, joint problems, diabetes, a history of seizures, low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia), or a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."
Avoid taking antacids, vitamin or mineral supplements, sucralfate (Carafate), or didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets within 6 hours before or 2 hours after you take Cipro. These other medicines can make Cipro much less effective when taken at the same time.
Taking Cipro can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid exposure to sunlight, sun lamps, or tanning beds.
Cipro may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. These effects may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take an oral steroid medication, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Stop taking Cipro and call your doctor at once if you have sudden pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or movement problems in any of your joints. Rest the joint until you receive medical care or instructions. Do not share this medication with another person (especially a child), even if they have the same symptoms you have.
Before taking Cipro
You should not use Cipro if you are also taking tizanidine (Zanaflex), or if you are allergic to ciprofloxacin or similar medications such as levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and others.
Before taking Cipro, tell your doctor if you have a heart rhythm disorder, especially if you are being treated with one of these medications: quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute), disopyramide (Norpace), bretylium (Bretylol), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan SR), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), or sotalol (Betapace).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you take Cipro, tell your doctor if you have:

• a history of allergic reaction to an antibiotic;
• joint problems;
• myasthenia gravis;
• kidney or liver disease;
• epilepsy or seizures;
• diabetes;
• low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia); or
• a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."

FDA pregnancy category C: It is not known whether ciprofloxacin is harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use Cipro without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Ciprofloxacin asses into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Cipro may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. These effects may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take an oral steroid medication, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Stop taking Cipro and call your doctor at once if you have sudden pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or movement problems in any of your joints. Rest the joint until you receive medical care or instructions. Do not share this medication with another person (especially a child), even if they have the same symptoms you have.

How should I take Cipro?
Take Cipro exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take Cipro with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Drink several extra glasses of fluid each day while you are taking Cipro. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) for at least 15 seconds just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
When taking the oral liquid, swallow it without chewing the medicine beads you may notice in the liquid.
Do not crush, chew or break the extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Cipro may be taken with or without food, but take it at the same time each day.
Do not take Cipro with dairy products such as milk or yogurt, or with calcium-fortified juice. You may eat or drink these products as part of a regular meal, but do not use them alone when taking Cipro. They could make the medication less effective. Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Cipro will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Store Cipro at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid medicine to freeze.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include seizures, urination problems, weakness, or blue lips with pale skin.
What should I avoid while taking Cipro?
You may be taking certain other medicines that should not be taken at the same time as Cipro. Avoid taking the following medicines within 6 hours before or 2 hours after you take Cipro. These other medicines can make ciprofloxacin much less effective when taken at the same time:

• antacids that contain calcium, magnesium or aluminum (such as Tums, Mylanta, or Rolaids);
• the ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate);
• didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets; or
• vitamin or mineral supplements that contain calcium, iron, or zinc.

Avoid caffeine while you are taking Cipro, because the medication can make the effects of caffeine stronger.
Avoid exposure to sunlight, sunlamps, or tanning beds. Cipro can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and a sunburn may result. Wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen (SPF-15 or higher) if you must be out in the sun. Call your doctor if you have severe burning, redness, itching, rash, or swelling after being in the sun.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
Cipro can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Cipro side effects
Stop using Cipro and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Cipro and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat;
• sudden pain or swelling near your joints (especially in your arm or ankle);
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• confusion, hallucinations, depression, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• seizure (convulsions);
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, weakness;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• numbness, tingling, or unusual pain anywhere in your body;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
• the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild.

Less serious Cipro side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting;
• dizziness or drowsiness;
• blurred vision;
• feeling nervous, anxious, or agitated;
• sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares); or
• increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect Cipro?
Do not take Cipro together with tizanidine (Zanaflex).
Before taking Cipro, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo);
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
• insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth, such as glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase);
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
• metoclopramide (Reglan);
• phenytoin (Dilantin);
• probenecid (Benemid);
• ropinirole (Requip);
• tacrine (Cognex);
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Slo-Phyllin, Slo-Bid, Elixophyllin);
• a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), etodolac (Lodine), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), meloxicam (Mobic), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or
• an oral steroid medication such as betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexpak), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Orapred), prednisone (Meticorten, Sterapred), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Cipro. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.