Cipro is also referred to as ciprofloxacin and represents a relatively new invention in the sphere of medicine being an antibiotic drug prescribed for treating infections provoked by bacteria. It is suggested that Cipro is effective for the treatment of conditions originating from various types of bacteria, such as those provoking health problems with the urinary tract (kidney, prostate, and bladder), bones, skin, lungs, and many others. The drug belongs to the group of fluoroquinolones as a separate category of antibiotics. Cipro is accessible in several forms including tablets, powder for making a suspension (to be taken orally) and prolonged-release tablets.

In What Cases Cipro Is Used

There are numerous spheres of application for Cipro, among which are sexually transmitted infections, certain types of bacterial diarrhea, as well as typhoid fever. When it comes to the prolonged-release type of Cipro, it is most commonly utilized for the treatment of urinary tract infections, including those affecting kidney and bladder. To be more precise, among diverse uses for Cipro are the following:

• Diarrhea provoked by infection;
• Infections of bones and joints;
• Respiratory infections (pneumonia, etc.);
• Infections caused by food poisoning and accompanied by an upset stomach;
• Sexually transmitted illnesses (gonorrhea, etc.);
• Skin infections;
• Infections of the urinary tract, etc.

However, despite Cipro is effective in the treatment of all the above-mentioned infections, it should not be utilized as a number-one drug in some of these cases, including diseases affecting the urinary tract, respiratory infections such as bronchitis and sinus infections among others. In case of these conditions, the threat of possible side effects provoked by Cipro is suggested to surpass potential benefits and, as such, it is advisable to use other antibiotic drugs instead.

Cipro can be available in different forms and under different trademarks, so that some of the accessible forms may not be approved for all the health problems listed above. In your particular case, a physician may suggest using this medication for other conditions that are not mentioned in the list above. If you have not discussed the details of usage with your physician or are not confident about the need to take this drug, consult a professional specialist in order to clarify this issue. However, there is no need to stop taking Cipro before your consult your doctor.

How to Use Cipro?

An advisable dose of Cipro for adults may vary from one tablet to three tablets two times a day, depending on your condition and type of bacterial infection you are going to treat. In case of necessity, Cipro may be used for up to two weeks without interruptions. However, if you are managing bone diseases, it could be necessary to take this drug for not less than 3 months. In case of sexually transmitted infections, the entire dose is given only once as a separate dose.

If you are taking this drug in the form of suspension, it is advisable to shake the bottle before use in order to spread the medication evenly and measure the dosage with greater precision. The dosage in your particular case could be affected by many aspects such as your body weight, the presence of other health conditions or intake of some other drugs for treating different diseases. If your physician has advised you to take a dose different from the ones listed above, follow the recommendations of your doctor with accuracy and do not change their directions without consulting a physician in the first place. This is because it is important that this drug is taken precisely as advised by your doctor. Even if you feel a lot better at the initial stages of treatment, do not interrupt the process of treatment and do not change the amount of the medication taken. This will help avoid the recurring infection, which might be harder to manage in case you miss several doses. Do not use twice as much medication in case you have missed one dose, because this could cause overdose and result in negative consequences. Continue regular intake of drugs without changing the amount next time you take the medication.  

Cipro can be taken both with and without meals. Try to drink enough water when taking Cipro just like it is with any other antibiotic. It is also advisable to avoid consuming dairy products for this time period. Even though Cipro can be taken with food that might include milk products, it is not advisable to take this drug with dairy products specifically. Besides, in case you are taking vitamins or extra nutrients such as calcium or magnesium, it is recommended to take these supplements 6 hours before or 2 hours after you take Cipro due to possible undesirable reactions that could be caused by such an interaction.

Precautions: Possible Side Effects

It is common knowledge that many medications existing on today’s market may cause various adverse reactions or, in other words, unwanted conditions that serve as a reaction of the organism to the intake of a drug. In this respect, Cipro is not an exception. The following conditions have been witnessed in at least one percent of all cases when people were using this medication. Many of them are manageable, while others could accompany your condition over a long period of time. In case you experience any of the following side effects, consult your doctor immediately:

• Fatigue;
• Feeling dizzy;
• Vulnerability to the sunshine;
• Vomiting and feeling sick;
• Upset stomach;
• Absence of appetite;
• Increased sweating;
• Insomnia, etc.

Even though the major part of the above-mentioned side effects happens not very frequently and is experienced only in rare cases, they could provoke severe health problems in case you do not address the problem and seek immediate medical help. Cipro should not be used in case you are allergic to some components of this drug. If you identify the signs and symptoms of allergy after taking the drug, stop taking it and consult your physician.