Contains the active ingredient ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask you doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets are used for
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets are used for the treatment of infections of the lungs, skin, bones and joints, kidney and bladder, prostate and bowel. However, your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another use.
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets contain the active ingredient ciprofloxacin which is an antibiotic belonging to a group of medicines called quinolones (pronounced kwin-o-lones). These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing your infection.
There are many different types of medicines used to treat infections
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets for another purpose.
Ask you doctor if you have any questions why Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets has been prescribed for you.
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets are not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you take Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets
Do not take Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets if:
- you have allergy to ciprofloxacin, other quinolone antibiotic including nalidixic acid, or any of the ingredients in Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets listed at the end of this leaflet. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or difficulty breathing.
- you are taking medication containing tizanidine.
- the packaging is torn or shows sign of tampering.
- the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well or worse have an unexpected effect.
Do not give Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets to children and growing adolescents unless you are told by your doctor to do so.
If you are not sure if you should be taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets, talk to your Doctor.
Before you start to take it:
Tell your doctor if :
- you have any allergies to Ciprofloxacin-GA or any other ingredients in Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets, or experienced any type of allergic reaction to penicillin medicines, or to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets are not generally recommended for use in pregnancy unless the benefits of treatment outweigh the risk to the unborn baby. - you are breastfeeding or plan to breast – feed
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets can be passed to nursing children, therefore use during lactation is not recommended. - you have any other health problems, especially the following:
- severe renal impairment,
- severe bowel conditions,
- suffer from fits (seizures, convulsions),
- have had a stroke,
- have a cardiac disorder
If you have not told you doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablet. These include:
- Theophylline
- Methylxantines
- Warfarin
- Glibenclamide
- Didanosine
- Cyclosporin
- Methotrexate
- Duloxetine
- NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Caffeine
- Clozapine
- Sildenafil
Ciprofloxacin-GA could result in impairment of the patient’s ability to drive or operate machinery, particularly in conjunction with alcohol.
Some medicines may interfere with Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets. These medicines include:
- multivitamins, mineral supplements and other medicines containing iron, zinc,
- magnesium, aluminium or calcium.
- antacids, used for indigestion
- sucralfate, used to treat duodenal or stomach ulcers
- some antiretrovirals used to treat HIV infection
- probenecid,used to treat gout
- omeprazole, used to treat ulcers
- sevelamer, used to treat high blood levels of phosphorus in patients with kidney disease
- metoclopramide, used to relieve nausea and vomiting, heartburn and stomach pain.
These medicines may be affected by Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Talk to your doctor about the need for an additional method of contraception while taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets
Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth control pills, although this has not been shown with Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Ask you doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of medicines.
How to take Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much to take
Take Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
The usual adult dosage for most infections is one tablet twice daily for 7 to 14 days. You may need to take your tablets for longer period depending on the type of infection.
The dose will be determined by your doctor.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water..
Do not chew the tablets
When to take it
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets are usually taken two times a day.
Take Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets at about the same time each day.
It does not matter whether you take Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets with food or not. Taking your medicine at the same time each a day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the tablets.
How long to take it
The length of treatment may vary from one to 28 days or longer depending on the type of infection.
Keep taking until you finish the pack or as long as your doctor recommends. Your doctor/pharmacist will provide you with advice as necessary. Do not stop taking your tablets because you are feeling better. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, the infection may not clear completely and may return.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back taking it as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to Accident or Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort of poisoning. Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
While you are taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets
Things you must do
Drink plenty of water while you are taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets. This helps to stop crystals forming in the urine.
Tell your doctor if symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
If you develop diarrhoea, inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately. In the event of it occurring several weeks after ceasing treatment with Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets tellyour doctor or pharmacist.
Medications for the treatment of diarrhoea should not be taken without checking with your doctor.
Tell your doctor that you are taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets if you are going to have any laboratory tests.
Tell your doctor if, for any reasons, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.
Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
Tell your doctor if you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.
Things you must not do
Do no stop taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not give Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor or consulting a pharmacist.
Do not drink any alcohol while you are taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets. This includes any other alcohol containing preparations such as cough mixtures.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets affects you.
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets may cause dizziness or faintness in some patients, particularly after the initial doses.
Dizziness or faintness may be more severe if you drink alcohol. The stimulatory effects of caffeine may increase when taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Be careful if you are elderly, unwell or taking other medicines.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets generally cause few side effects and helps most people with bacterial infection, however it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not.
If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- headache
- fever
- lightheadedness
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- loss of apitite, altered taste
- flatulence
- discharge and itching in the vagina
- mild stomach upsets
- rash
- ankle swelling
- agitation, anxiety, confusion
These are the more common side effects of Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency Departments at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- fainting
- severe skin rashes
- swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- seizures (convulsions)
- irregular heart beats
- watery or bloody diarrhea even if it occurs several weeks after taking tablets
- severe watery or bloody diarrhea, even if it occurs several weeks after taking your tablets
- confusion, nightmares hallucinations andpsychotic reaction
- irregular heart beats
- joint muscle pain or cramping
- visual disturbances
- hearing loss, ringing in the ear
- breathing difficulty
- inflammation of the bowel, abdominal cramps
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Serious side effects are rare.
Photosensitivity (getting sunburnt very easily) can occasionally occur with Ciprofloxacin. However, it is temporary and staying out of direct sunlight while on Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets will prevent it from happening.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell you doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask you doctor or pharmacist if you don’t understand anything in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
After taking Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets where young children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking CIPROFLOXACIN-GA TABLETS, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
Product Description
Availability
Ciprofloxacin-GA Tablets come in 250mg, 500mg and 750mg tablet strengths, in blister packs of 8, 10, 14, 20 and 100.
- 250 mg: White to creamish white coloured, round shaped film-coated tablet, embossed with “CPR 250” and a break line on one side and “BL” on the reverse.
- 500 mg: White to creamish white coloured, caplet shaped film-coated tablet, embossed with “CPR 500” and a break line on one side and “BL” on the reverse.
- 750 mg: White to creamish white coloured, caplet shaped film-coated tablet, embossed with “CPR 750” on one side and “BL” on the reverse.
Other ingredients in each tablets include starch – maize, cellulose – microcrystalline, sodium starch glycollate, silica – colloidal anhydrous, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, talc – urified, titanium dioxide, macrogol 4000.
Supplier
www.ascentpharma.com.au
Ascent Pharma Pty Ltd
151-153 Clarendon Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205
250 mg AUST R 148854
500 mg AUST R 148855
750 mg AUST R 148856
For further information call 1800 554 414
Date of preparation: June 2011.
Published by MIMS September 2011
