What Ciproxin is and what it is used for
Ciproxin contains the active substance ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone family. Ciprofloxacin works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It only works with specific strains of bacteria.
Adults
Ciproxin is used in adults to treat the following bacterial infections:
respiratory tract infections
long lasting or recurring ear or sinus infections
urinary tract infections
genital tract infections in men and women
gastro-intestinal tract infections and intra-abdominal infections
skin and soft tissue infections
bone and joint infections
to prevent infections due to the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis
anthrax inhalation exposure
Ciprofloxacin may be used in the management of patients with low white blood cell counts (neutropenia) who have a fever that is suspected to be due to a bacterial infection.
If you have a severe infection or one that is caused by more than one type of bacterium, you may be given additional antibiotic treatment in addition to Ciproxin.
What you need to know before you take Ciproxin
Do not take Ciproxin:
if you are allergic to the active substance, to other quinolone drugs or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine
if you are taking tizanidine (see Section 2: Other medicines and Ciproxin)
Warnings and precautions
Before taking this medicine
You should not take fluoroquinolone/quinolone antibacterial medicines, including Ciproxin, if you have experienced any serious adverse reaction in the past when taking a quinolone or fluoroquinolone. In this situation, you should inform your doctor as soon as possible.
How to take Ciproxin
Your doctor will explain to you exactly how much Ciproxin you will have to take as well as how often and for how long. This will depend on the type of infection you have and how bad it is.
Tell your doctor if you suffer from kidney problems because your dose may need to be adjusted.
The treatment usually lasts from 5 to 21 days, but may take longer for severe infections. Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure how many tablets to take and how to take Ciproxin.
a. Swallow the tablets with plenty of fluid. Do not chew the tablets because they do not taste nice.
b. Do try to take the tablets at around the same time every day.
c. You can take the tablets at mealtimes or between meals. Any calcium you take as part of a meal will not seriously affect uptake. However, do not take Ciproxin tablets with dairy products such as milk or yoghurt or with fortified fruit juices (e.g. calcium-fortified orange juice).
Remember to drink plenty of fluids while you are taking this medicine.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Do not take Ciproxin together with tizanidine, because this may cause side effects such as low blood pressure and sleepiness.
