Consumer medicine information

Proquin

Ciprofloxacin (sip-roe-FLOX-a-sin)

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Proquin. It does not contain all of 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 against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What Proquin is used for

Proquin is used to treat certain bacterial infections such as:

  • kidney and bladder infections
  • bowel infections
  • lung infections
  • skin infections
  • bone and joint infections
  • prostate infections.

This medicine works by killing the bacteria which cause these infections. This helps your body to fight the infection.

Proquin belongs to a group of antibiotic medicines called quinolones (pronounced KWIN-a-lones).

This medicine will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Proquin has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

There is no evidence that Proquin is addictive.

This medicine is not recommended for use in children or growing teenagers.

Before you take Proquin

When you must not take it

Do not take Proquin if you have an allergy to:

  • any medicine containing ciprofloxacin
  • any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
  • any other quinolone antibiotics such as norfloxacin, ofloxacin or nalidixic acid.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Do not take ciprofloxacin if you are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant. Proquin may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.

Do not take Proquin if you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed. Proquin passes into breast milk and may affect your baby.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, including aspirin or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

  • kidney disease
  • brain disease or stroke
  • epilepsy (seizures or fits)
  • myasthenia gravis (disease of the muscles causing drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty in speaking and swallowing and sometimes muscle weakness in the arms or legs)
  • liver disease.

Tell your doctor if you are elderly or have previously taken corticosteroids such as prednisolone or cortisone. You may be at increased risk of swelling of the tendons. Symptoms include pain, tenderness and sometimes restricted movement.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Proquin.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and ciprofloxacin may interfere with each other. These include:

  • theophylline, a medicine to control asthma
  • probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
  • medicines for preventing blood clots, such as warfarin
  • cyclosporin, a medicine used to control the body’s immune system
  • glibenclamide, a medicine used to control diabetes
  • didanosine, a medicine used to treat viral infections
  • caffeine, found in coffee, cola and some medications
  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), medicines used to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis.

These medicines may be affected by ciprofloxacin, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Some medicines may interfere with the absorption of Proquin. These include:

  • medicines containing iron, zinc, magnesium, aluminium or calcium such as antacids, multivitamins or mineral supplements
  • sucralfate, a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers.

You can still take these medicines while you are taking Proquin. However, you must take Proquin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any of these medicines to make sure it is absorbed properly.

Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Proquin.

How to take Proquin

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how much and how often you should take Proquin. This will depend on the type of infection you have.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water.

Avoid taking this medication at the same time as milk, yoghurt or other products that are high in calcium. These products will interfere with the absorption of Proquin from the stomach. However, if the milk, yoghurt or other high calcium products are ingredients of a meal, they will not interfere with Proquin absorption.

When to take it

Take your tablets at the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it. It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.

If you need to take an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after your dose of Proquin.

How long to take it

The length of treatment may vary from one to twenty-eight days or longer depending on the type of infection.

Continue taking Proquin until you finish the pack or for as long as your doctor tells you.

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 or your symptoms may return.

Check with your doctor if you are not sure how long you should be taking it for.

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 to taking your tablets as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints .

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Proquin. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are taking Proquin

Things you must do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Proquin.

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.

If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.

Drink plenty of water or fluids while taking this medicine. This will help to prevent crystals forming in the urine which can cause kidney problems. However, this is not a common problem.

Protect your skin when you are in the sun, especially between 10 am and 3 pm, or in the presence of artificial ultraviolet (UV) light. Proquin may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight and UV light than it is normally. This may cause a skin rash, itching, redness, or a severe sunburn.

If outdoors, wear protective clothing and use a 15+ sunscreen. If your skin does appear to be burning, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor.

If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after Proquin has been stopped. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.

Do not take any anti-diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.

If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Proquin, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of this medicine allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Proquin does not work against fungi.

Things you must not do

Do not use Proquin to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not stop taking your medicine because you are feeling better, unless advised by your doctor. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return and be more difficult to treat.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery, until you know how Proquin affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive or operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine. If you drink alcohol, dizziness, light-headedness or drowsiness may be worse.

Be careful when drinking beverages containing caffeine (eg. coffee, cola drinks) while you are taking this medicine. Proquin tablets may increase the stimulatory effects of caffeine.

Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Proquin.

This medicine helps most people with bacterial infections, but 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. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

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 or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • nausea or vomiting
  • mild diarrhoea
  • heartburn or mild abdominal pain
  • agitation or restlessness
  • headache
  • dizziness or light headedness
  • tremor or weakness
  • bad taste.

The above list includes the more common side effects of Proquin.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

  • rash or itchiness
  • vaginal itching or discharge
  • a sore white mouth or tongue
  • fever
  • altered vision
  • confusion
  • difficulty walking.

The above list includes serious side effects which may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital:

  • inflamed, painful or ruptured joints or tendons such as the Achilles tendon
  • watery or bloody diarrhoea, even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking this medicine
  • severe stomach cramps
  • severe skin rashes
  • palpitations, or fast or irregular heart beats
  • chest pain or angina
  • swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat
  • dark coloured urine
  • yellowing of the skin or eyes, also called jaundice
  • hallucinations
  • fits (convulsions or seizures)
  • difficulty breathing
  • getting sunburnt very easily.

The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.

Rarely, there can be a worsening of the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. This is a condition in which the muscles become weak and tire easily, causing drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty in speaking and swallowing and sometimes muscle weakness in the arms or legs.

Very rarely, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) may also occur. Symptoms include sweating, weakness, dizziness, trembling, headache, and having a fast, pounding heartbeat. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After finishing it

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Proquin:

  • severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
  • watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
  • fever, in combination with one or both of the above.

Do not take any anti-diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel, and may therefore, need urgent medical attention. However, this side effect is rare.

After taking Proquin

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 your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store Proquin or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it. 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 the tablets or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

Product description

What it looks like

Proquin tablets are available in two strengths, each in blister packs of 14 tablets:

  • 500 mg – white to off-white, caplet (oval) shaped, film-coated tablets marked with “500” on one side and plain on the other
  • 750 mg – white to off-white, caplet (oval) shaped, film-coated tablets marked with “750” on one side and plain on the other

Ingredients

Proquin contains 500mg or 750mg of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride as the active ingredient. It also contains:

  • cellulose-microcrystalline
  • starch-maize
  • magnesium stearate
  • talc-purified
  • silica-colloidal anhydrous
  • sodium starch glycolate
  • purified water
  • Opadry OY-S-58910 white

Proquin does not contain any gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Sponsor

Douglas Pharmaceuticals Australia Limited ABN 17 003 854 626 Unit 3/10 Inglewood Place Norwest Business Park Baulkham Hills, NSW, 2153 Australia

Proquin 500mg AUST R 91493 Proquin 750 mg AUST R 91494

This leaflet was prepared 10 September, 2002. Date of most recent amendment: 10 December, 2002.

Published by MIMS May 2003