Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone family, which are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. It is most commonly used to treat bacterial traveller’s diarrhoea, but can also be used to treat other bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, ears, sinuses, urinary tract, genital tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissue, and bones and joints.
Ciprofloxacin can be used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections and as such is an effective treatment for most cases of traveller’s diarrhoea.
For traveller’s diarrhoea, Ciprofloxacin starts working immediately once taken orally, and most people experience significant relief of their symptoms within 24-48 hours. In the cases of other bacterial infections, treatment with Ciprofloxacin can range from 5 - 21 days. The benefits are usually seen early on, but it is important to continue taking the antibiotic for the period of time recommended by your doctor.
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic and can therefore only be used to treat bacterial infections. It works by attacking the enzyme involved in the replication and repair of the bacteria’s DNA, preventing infection from spreading and allowing your body’s immune system to kill off the bacteria.
Ciprofloxacin contains the active ingredient ciprofloxacin hydrochloride which kills the bacteria that has caused the infection.
The inactive ingredients of Ciprofloxacin are cellulose microcrystalline, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, maize starch, silica colloidal anhydrous, hypromellose, macrogol 4000, and titanium dioxide (E171).
Please Note: Different brands of generic medications can contain different inactive ingredients.
Ciprofloxacin dosage and duration of treatment depends on the type of infection it is being used to treat. The recommended dosage for treatment of traveller’s diarrhoea is 500mg twice daily at 12-hour intervals for up to 3 days.
Ciprofloxacin tablets should be swallowed with plenty of fluid, with or without food. The tablets should not be chewed or crushed and should not be taken directly with milk, yoghurt or calcium-fortified fruit juices.
You can take Ciprofloxacin at any time of the day as long as you maintain regular intervals between doses. Scheduling your dose for the same time or times each day will also help you remember to take your medication.
You should always continue taking Ciprofloxacin for the duration of time recommended by your doctor, regardless of whether your symptoms have already improved.
Like all medications, Ciprofloxacin can cause side effects in some patients. Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) include:
Uncommon side effects can affect up to 1 in 100 people and include:
Rare side effects, which may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people, include:
Extremely rarely (around 1 in 10,000) the patient may experience the following:
If you notice any of the following serious side effects, you should stop taking ciprofloxacin and contact your doctor immediately:
You should not take Ciprofloxacin if:
Before taking Ciprofloxacin, consult your doctor if:
Before taking Ciprofloxacin, tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medication. In particular, alert your doctor if you are taking:
It is best to avoid drinking alcohol altogether whilst taking Ciprofloxacin, as this may cause you to feel dizzy or tired.
It is best to avoid taking Ciprofloxacin if you are pregnant, and you should seek the advice of your doctor. Do not take Ciprofloxacin whilst breastfeeding, as it is be passed on through breast milk and can be harmful to your child.
Ciprofloxacin should not be swallowed with milk alone, as there is evidence to suggest that direct contact with dairy products lessens the effectiveness of the medication. It is perfectly fine to eat or drink dairy products with your meals or as a part of your daily routine other than at the time you take your medication.
The best way to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea is to be especially attentive to hygiene while travelling. The following tips are advisable when travelling to high-risk areas:
It is best to always be prepared for traveller’s diarrhoea by staying well-hydrated at all times. I is also possible to order a private prescription of Ciprofloxacin in advance of your travels if you are expecting to have limited access to a doctor.
Ciprofloxacin is the most commonly used antibiotic for treating traveller’s diarrhoea, and can be taken at 12 hour intervals until symptoms subside. It is used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections, which unfortunately means that bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to Ciprofloxacin. In this case, Azithromycin is the antibiotic of choice for treating traveller’s diarrhoea. Azithromycin can be taken at 24 hour intervals for up to 3 days, and although it has a narrower spectrum of usage than Ciprofloxacin, is sufficient treatment for most cases of traveller’s diarrhoea.
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone family, which are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections.
Intermediate-risk areas include Eastern Europe, South Africa and Caribbean Islands, while the high-risk areas are most of Asia, the Middle East, Africa Mexico, and Central and South America. It may be worth ordering a private prescription of Ciprofloxacin in advance of travelling to high-risk areas. Ciprofloxacin works against the most common bacterial causes of traveller’s diarrhoea, most notably E. Coli, and is suitable treatment in cases of mild to severe traveller’s diarrhoea.
However, the global rise in resistance of E. Coil to fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin is particularly problematic in India and South-East Asia, where other antibiotic treatments may be preferable.
Even if your symptoms appeared to have resolved, it is vital that you continue to take Ciprofloxacin for the period of time recommended by your doctor. This can range from between 5 to 21 days.
Unless you have reached the end of your dose, you should not stop taking Ciprofloxacin without consulting your doctor. If your symptoms fail to improve or worsen, speak to your doctor. It may be that your infection is caused by a bacteria that is resistant to Ciprofloxacin.
Ciprofloxacin is not related to Penicillin and is safe to use in individuals who are allergic to Penicillin.
The time taken for Ciprofloxacin to leave your system varies from person to person, but usually takes 2-3 days.
While Ciprofloxacin can clear up a UTI in a matter of a few days, this is dependent on the severity of the infection and on the patient as an individual. Treatment may continue to be administered for up to 2 weeks. It is important to keep taking Ciprofloxacin for the period of time recommended by your doctor.
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