Safety Information/ Warning Precautions
Before using Ciprofloxacin, you should consult a physician and discuss about your medical history. If you have allergies to cephalosporin antibiotics like Omnicef or Kelfex, then inform your doctor about it.
Ciprofloxacin may not be suitable for you if:
You have asthma, liver or kidney disease
You are allergic to other fluoroquinolones
You have a heart rhythm disorder
You are taking tizanidine.
You have a history of myasthenia gravis.
You have personal or family history of Long QT syndrome
You have a muscle or nerve disorder
You have trouble swallowing pills
You have liver disease
You have hypokalemia
You have diabetes
Other Information
You may have to undergo frequent blood tests including your kidney and liver functioning while using Ciprofloxacin.
It may also reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. So ensure that you use multiple birth control measures while using Ciprofloxacin.
It may cause tendons to tear.
You should not use antacids of vitamin and mineral supplements for at least 2 to 4 hours of using Cipro.
Cipro can cause you to be sunburned easily. So you must avoid venturing into the sun for too long and wear protective clothing as well as use sunscreen.
Drug Interactions
Ciprofloxacin may interact with some medications. So if you are using any prescription, non prescription, OTC medicines or dietary supplements, then inform your physician in advance before you use Ciprofloxacin.
Some of these are:
Antidepressants
Arrhythmia medications
Diuretics
Pregnancy Information
Ciprofloxacin is not known to be harmful to an unborn baby. But inform your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant during the time of treatment with Ciprofloxacin.
Ciprofloxacin may be passed on to the baby if you are breast feeding. Please speak to your doctor about the potential risks of breast feeding while using Ciprofloxacin.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of Ciprofloxacin are:
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, vaginal itching or discharge, headache, or swollen, black, or "hairy" tongue.
These side effects usually subside by themselves in sometime as the body gets used to Ciprofloxacin.
Some uncommon but potentially dangerous side effects are:
Diarrhea that is watery or bloody, fever, swollen gums, sudden pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, stiffness, movement problems, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing, swollen glands, rash or itching, joint pain, or general ill feeling, pale or yellowed skin, yellowing of the eyes, -numbness, tingling, burning pain, or being more sensitive to temperature dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness, easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin, or severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
You should see a doctor immediately if one of these side effects occur.