Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) Canada

Important information

Among antibacterial drugs Cipro is one of the leading and widespread medicines. The drug belongs to fluoroquinolones that are used for treating different bacterial infections.

Cipro main component – Ciprofloxacin – is also capable of slowing or preventing anthrax.

How Should I Take Cipro?

Be sure to strictly follow dosage and frequency rules provided by your doctor or specified on the label. You can make dose adjustments only if your doctor tells you so.
Use your dose with a glassful of water that is approximately equal to 8 ounces. It is important to drink much water during the course of treatment.

You can take Cipro at any time – before, during or after a meal. It is strongly recommended that you strictly abide by your schedule.

Swallow Cipro tablets without crushing, chewing or breaking them in your mouth. Otherwise, the whole dose of the medicine will get in your stomach, which is inadvisable. It is not recommended to take Cipro concurrently with milk, yogurt and other dairy products. You can eat dairy products only if they are a part of your regular meal. Dairy products eaten alone may cause the medicine to be less effective.

Be sure to complete your course of treatment. You may be at a loss if your infection seems to disappear. But if you skip doses, the infection may develop again due to some bacteria’s resistance to antibiotics. Note that Cipro is not intended for treating the common cold or flu.

What To Do In The Case Of a Missed Dose or An Overdose?

Take a missed dose when you remember unless you are planning to use a scheduled one soon. Two doses taken together or with small intervals in between may lead to an overdose.

The overdose symptoms are pale skin, blue lips, urination problems and weakness. If you experience any, seek emergency medical attention at once.

What Are Optimal Storing Conditions For Cipro?

You should provide proper storing conditions. They are:
room temperature;
absence of moisture;
absence of direct sunlight and high temperature.

What Are Cipro Contraindications?

Cipro is contraindicated for people who are using tizanidine (Zanaflex). You shouldn’t take the medicine if you suffer or have ever suffered from myasthenia gravis. An allergy to Cipro major component – Ciprofloxacin – is also a contraindication. So are allergic reactions to other antibiotics like Levaquin, Factive, Nonxin, Avelox and so on.

Keep the above listed contraindications in mind.

What Should I Take Into Account Before Taking Cipro?

Make sure that you can safely take the medicine. For this purpose you should visit your doctor and tell him the following list of illnesses and conditions you have or have had:
– problems with heart rhythm;
– brain tumor;
– pseudotumor cerebri (increased pressure in the skull);
– joint problems;
– liver and kidney problems;
– diabetes mellitus;
– difficulty breathing;
– hypokalemia (low potassium in blood)
– Long QT syndrome;
– epilepsy.

There are no confirmed facts about Cipro effect on an unborn baby and mother’s milk. So, it is strongly recommended that you tell your doctor you are expecting a baby or breast-feeding.

If you are over 60, you should have your body examined more carefully in connection with possible conditions like kidney or liver problems.

Don’t share the medicine with anybody else.

Remember this before you buy Cipro.

What Should I Avoid When Using Cipro?

It may be useless or even dangerous to take Cipro concurrently with certain drugs. The following medicines taken together with Cipro may bring about undesirable drug interactions:
– calcium/magnesium/aluminium-containing antacids (Mylanta, Rolaids, Tums);
– vitamin or mineral supplements with zinc, calcium or aluminium;
– sucralfate – ulcer medicine;
– chewable pills or didanosine powder.

Don’t take these medicines within six hours before or two hours after taking Cipro.

Avoid taking caffeine concurrently with Cipro as the medicine may strengthen caffeine effect.

Don’t expose the medicine to sunlight.

What Are Cipro Side Effects?

If you have an allergy to any of Cipro components, its use will be likely to cause an allergic reaction with symptoms like trouble breathing, swelling of different parts of your face, or hives.

The list of possible severe side effects is as follows:
– fainting;
– abnormal heartbeat;
– severe swelling;
– easy bruising;
– blood or watery diarrhea;
– psychological problems (hallucinations, depression and so on);
– convulsions;
– skin rash;
– pain;
– severe dizziness;
– problems with vision;
– urination problems;
– severe headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects. Be sure to ask your doctor to provide this list to you.

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