Drug Uses

Ciprofloxacin, known as Cipro, is an antibiotic that stops multiplication of bacteria by inhibiting the reproduction and repair of their genetic material (DNA). Ciprofloxacin is used to treat infections of the skin, lungs, airways, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria. Ciprofloxacin is also frequently used to treat urinary infections caused by bacteria such as E. coli. Ciprofloxacin is effective in treating infectious diarrheas caused by E. coli, campylobacter jejuni, and shigella bacteria. Ciprofloxacin may be taken with or without food. Ciprofloxacin is partially metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidney. Dosages require adjustment in patients with severely abnormal liver or kidney function. Antacids block the absorption of ciprofloxacin and they should not be taken together.

 Warnings/Precautions

Variations in response depend on the state of your general health and immune system, the strain of infection you are infected with, and the ability to tolerate a combination of drugs. The decision about what drug to take must partly be based on how sick you are and whether treatment has a chance of improving your quality of life. If you have clinical symptoms but a relatively well-functioning liver and kidneys, you will respond best to treatment. Treatment usually helps within 2 to 4 weeks. If it does work, ongoing maintenance therapy to suppress the infection is necessary. Maintenance treatment means you keep taking the drug to control an infection so that you don't become ill.

 How Taken

Cipro. Cipro comes in intravenous and pill form. Pills are taken on an empty stomach 2 hours after meals, 250-750 mg every 12 hours. If there is stomach irritation, the pill can be taken with meals. Food slows and may slightly decrease absorption. If you are taking antacids, you should take them at least 2 hours before or after the cipro. Intravenous infusion is 200-400 mg every 12 hours. Infusion takes one hour. Cipro is also given in drops into the eye to treat some eye infections. You will be given 1-2 drops 4-6 times daily until the infection is controlled. Children under 18 should not take ciprofloxacin. Safety is not established if you are breast feeding. Dosage reduction is required if your kidneys are damaged. If you have any CNS infections, cipro must be used with caution.