Cipro

Cipro is in a class of antibiotic medications called fluoroquinolone, which are prescribed tot fight bacteria that is found in the body and is also used in the treatment of other various bacterial infections.

Uses of Cipro

Cipro is used for the treatment of some infections caused by certain types of bacteria in adults. In some cases it is also used in the prevention or to slow progress of anthrax after an individual has been exposed.

Cipro Directions

How much Cipro is prescribed and the frequency that you take this medication is dependant a number of factors. These can include the age of the patient and which condition it is being used to treat. Any questions that you have about taking Cipro should be discussed with your doctor. YOu may take Cipro with meals or without, depending on if you experience any stomach upset, but you should take it exactly as it prescribed, which usually is supposed to be around two hours after a meal. Be sure to drink lots of fluids while taking the antibiotic Cipro. If you are taking any antacids, it's recommended that you take them either two hours before or six hours after taking Cipro. Don't take Cipro with only yogurt or milk. If you are taking calcium as part of meal, however this shouldn't affect the dosage of Cipro or how it is absorbed into the body. Do not take caffeine while taking Cipro. If you experience any pain, swelling or inflammation of a tendon you should stop taking Cipro and let your doctor know. FI you experience any diarrhea while taking this medication, don't take anything to treat it without first talking with your doctor. It's possible that Cipro might cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. If you experience this, be sure to use caution if you are going to drive or perform any tasks that require you to be fully alert. Be careful when being exposed to sunlight while taking Cipro as it may cause you to be more sensitive. Avoid extended exposure to sunlight or tanning beds until you know how your body is going to react. If you experience any reactions that resemble a sunburn, stop taking Cipro. In all other cases, be sure that you don't stop taking Cipro without first discussing it with your doctor. Take Cipro only as it is prescribed and do not take any other medications including over the counter supplements without first discussing it with your doctor.

Cipro Side Effects

It's possible with every medication that you may experience some side effects. Many people will not experience any side effects with this medication, and if they do, they are typically minor. If you experience any of the following sever symptoms, be sure to let your doctor know right away. Convulsions, loss of consciousness, dizziness, increased pressure within the head, hallucinations,dark urine, bizarre behavior, tremors, agitation, depression, suicidal thoughts, fever, tingling, severe allergic reactions that include hives; itching; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, tongue, or lips, nervousness, sleeplessness, bloody stools, excessive tendon ruptures, yellowing of the skin or eyes, fatigue, loss of appetite, or pale stools. Some common side effects that may occur include:: Nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain and/or cramps, rash, vomiting; headache, restlessness, anxiety, or nightmares. Some other common side effects, and some that could be potentially dangerous include: irritability; tremor; clumsiness; lack of energy; drowsiness; weakness; general body discomfort; phobia; abnormal skin sensation; painful sores in mouth; mouth infection; difficulty swallowing; joint or back pain; joint stiffness; achiness; neck or chest pain; gout; urinary retention; vaginal infection; abnormal bleeding in the urine; nosebleed; hiccup; difficulty breathing; itching; hives; sensitivity to sunlight; flushing; fever; chills; skin inflammation; swelling of the face, neck, lips, eyes, or hands; changes in skin color; blurred vision; disturbed vision; double vision; eye pain; ringing in the ears; hearing loss; bad taste in mouth; second infection; tendon pain or swelling; sensitivity to sunlight.

Cipro Precautions

Before you start taking Cipro, be sure to tell your doctor about any of the following: if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding; if you are currently taking any other prescription medications, iver the counter medicine, herbal preparation, or any type of dietary supplement; if you have a history of hardening of the arteries in the brain; if you have gonorrhea; if you have impaired kidney function; if you have a history of seizures; if you are taking warfarin; if you are taking theophylline or you consume large amounts of caffeine;and if you have or have had any other medical conditions.

Missed Dose of Cipro

If you miss a dose of Cipro, you should take it as soon as you remember. IF it's close to the time that you are supposed to take your next dose, do not take a double dose of this medication, unless you were told to do so by your doctor.

Cipro - Efficient Bactericidal Action

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, pertaining to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotic drugs. The systemic antibacterial medication is sold under the brand name of Cipro, being active on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The mode of action has been studied for a long time now, Cipro influencing bacterial replication and thus treating different infections of the body.

Cipro works by either killing the bacteria or reducing its growth. It is active on the following types of pathogenic agents: enteric bacteria, vibrion, haemophilus influenzae, neisseria gonorrheae and meningitides, brucella and campylobacter. The medication is also used to treat bacterial infections caused by streptococcus and certain types of Chlamydia but the effect is not so powerful. Research has shown that Cipro has absolutely no effect on streptococcus pyogenes, thus not being recommended for scarlet fever or tonsillitis.

Just like other antibiotics, Cipro cause side effects, including the irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Other adverse reactions include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dyspepsia and diarrhea. Patients may also experience cephalalgia, nervous tension, anxiety, insomnia, modification of the REM sleep. You should notify your doctor in case any of these side-effects appear or persist for long periods of time; the specialist might take the decision to reduce your dosage or discontinue the treatment.

When it was first released on the market, Cipro was set aside as treatment for infections that were resistant to other antibiotics. Unfortunately, many Ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria developed in time and the treatment is not so efficient on all bacteria. Recently, doctors have started to stop using Cipro for infections with Chlamydia and mycoplasma, considering that the treatment only prevents their growth for a limited period of time. Bacteria remains in the human body and when the antibiotic treatment is finished, the infection reappears and causes more severe consequences.

Cipro is available with a prescription from your doctor, having oral, parenteral and topic formulas. General recommendations for this antibiotic include: respiratory infections (pneumonia), urinary tract infections, virulent microorganisms in the blood (septicemia), and lobar pneumonia (caused by legionella). The antibiotic should never be administered to children, with the exception of life-threatening infections and exposure to bacillus anthracis. It's not recommended to be used during pregnancy, as studies have shown to cause malformations of the bone (tests performed on study animals). The same recommendation goes for those who are breast-feeding, as Cipro can pass into the breast milk, affecting the newborn baby.

When deciding to use Cipro, you will have to discuss all the aspects mentioned above and any other risks presented by the treatment. Mention to your doctor if you are allergic to fluoroquinolones or to any other substance for that matter. If you are suffering from epilepsy, liver disease or renal failure, you should take a reduced dosage or even avoid taking this medication at all (you stand an increased risk for the appearance of side-effects). As Cipro influences the nervous system, producing certain side-effects, you will have to be extra careful when taking this medication if you have had any brain disease or spinal cord injuries. That explanation is also valid for epilepsy.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (insulin deficiency), then you should discuss first with your doctor before taking Cipro. Fluoroquinolones are also likely to cause problems to your bowels, causing unwanted reactions to appear, including diarrhea. Cipro is a medication contraindicated to those who have been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. It is important that you know all those things about Ciprofloxacin, including that this medication can make you sensitive to light and that it can increase your plasmatic levels of theophylline. Isolated studies have shown Cipro to produce joint swelling, affecting the cartilage and tendons. Chronic pain is rarely encountered.

Drug interactions for Cipro include:

• quercetin - dietary supplementary based on flavonoids; this substance is also found in natural food, including garlic and apples;
• bronchodilators - Aminophylline, Theophylline;
• agents that neutralize acidity of the stomach - they contain metals such as aluminum, magnesium or calcium, reducing the absorption of Cipro;
• medicine used to treat peptic ulcers - the same principle, reduces the bioavailability of Ciprofloxacin.

As a general precaution for your treatment with Cipro, you should not consume dairy products (milk, cheese or yogurt) or juices that contain calcium. Never drink products with high-caffeine content, including coffee, tea or energy drinks. If you choose to do that, you may experience symptoms like nervous tension, heart palpitations or anxiety, all aggravated by the Cipro treatment. Take Cipro exactly as it was prescribed and finish the entire treatment; this is the only way to treat the infection efficiently, preventing the bacteria from becoming resistant to the antibiotic.

The dosage for Cipro depends on each patient, the medication being available as tablets for oral use but also as suspension. The tablets include 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg of Ciprofloxacin and the bottles 200 or 400 mg. In order to increase the efficiency of the medication, pharmaceutical companies have combined Cipro with Tinidazole. The medication is recommended to be administered twice a day, the time between the doses and the treatment period being scheduled by the doctor. The medication must be taken at the same hour every day, following the exact indications on the prescription label. One should never exceed the prescribed dosage and the tablets should be taken whole. Remember that Cipro is not indicated for newborn babies, children or even teenagers.

From what we know so far, Cipro is a powerful antibiotic, treating bacterial infections with success. The medication has also proven out to be useful in patients who have been exposed to the anthrax bacillus. There are extended-release tablets on the market, generally recommended for patients suffering from urinary-tract infections. For those who have been diagnosed with flu or a viral infection, Cipro is not a suitable treatment, as it only has the ability to kill bacteria.