Contains the active ingredient ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Ciprofloxacin
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 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 Tablets are used for
Ciprofloxacin 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 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 Tablets
for another purpose.
Ask you doctor if you have any questions why Ciprofloxacin
Tablets has been prescribed for you.
Ciprofloxacin Tablets are not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you take Ciprofloxacin Tablets
Do not take Ciprofloxacin Tablets if:
- you have allergy to ciprofloxacin,
other quinolone antibiotic including nalidixic acid, or any of the
ingredients in Ciprofloxacin Tablets listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include
skin rash, itching or difficulty breathing.
- 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 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 Tablets,
talk to your Doctor.
Before you start to take it:
Tell your doctor if :
- you have any allergies
to Ciprofloxacin or any other ingredients in Ciprofloxacin 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 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 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,
If you have not told you doctor about any of the above, tell
them before you start taking
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 Tablet. These
include:
- Theophylline
- Warfarin
- Glibenclamide
- Didanosine
- Cyclosporin
- Methotrexate
- Duloxetine
- NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Ciprofloxacin 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 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 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 Tablets
Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth
control pills, although this has not been shown with Ciprofloxacin
Tablets.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines
to be careful with or avoid while taking Ciprofloxacin Tablets.
Ask you doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this
list of medicines.
How to take Ciprofloxacin 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 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 Tablets are usually taken two times a day.
Take Ciprofloxacin Tablets at about the same time each day.
It does not matter whether you take Ciprofloxacin 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 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 Tablets
Things you must do
Drink plenty of water while you are taking Ciprofloxacin 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 Tablets.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Ciprofloxacin
Tablets.
If you develop diarrhoea, inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
In the event of it occurring several weeks after ceasing treatment
with Ciprofloxacin Tablets tell your 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 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 Tablets.
Tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.
Things you must not do
Do no stop taking Ciprofloxacin 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 Tablets to anyone else even if they
have the same condition as you.
Do not use Ciprofloxacin 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
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 Tablets affects you.
Ciprofloxacin 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
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 Tablets.
Ciprofloxacin 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 appetite, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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– purified, titanium dioxide, macrogol
4000.
Sponsor
Genepharm Pty Ltd
3/10 Inglewood Place
Norwest
Business Park
Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153
250 mg AUST R 114043
500 mg AUST R 114044
750 mg AUST
R 114045
Date of most recent amendment: September 2008
Published by MIMS March 2009