Ciprolex 500 mg Tablet

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic for infections caused by sensitive bacteria:

• Urinary tract and kidney infections, prostatitis
• Typhoid fever and infectious diarrhoea
• Gonorrhoea
• Bone, joint, skin and soft-tissue infections
• Some chest infections (not first choice for pneumococcal pneumonia)
• Eye/ear drops: bacterial conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, ear infections

Adults (oral): 250–750 mg every 12 hours depending on infection. Uncomplicated cystitis: 250 mg twice daily for 3 days. Typhoid: 500 mg twice daily for 7–14 days.

IV infusion: 200–400 mg every 8–12 hours.

Children: used only when necessary (e.g. complicated UTI, cystic fibrosis), usually 10–20 mg/kg twice daily, as prescribed.

Eye drops: 1–2 drops every 2–4 hours while awake, less often as infection improves.

• Take with water; avoid taking with milk, yoghurt, antacids, iron, zinc or calcium (take ciprofloxacin 2 hours before or 6 hours after them).
• Drink plenty of fluids.

• Allergy to ciprofloxacin or other quinolones
• Taking tizanidine
• History of tendon problems caused by a quinolone

Common: nausea, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness.

Less common: abdominal pain, rash, sleep problems, raised liver enzymes.

Rare but serious: tendon pain or rupture (especially Achilles), nerve damage (tingling, numbness), confusion, seizures, irregular heartbeat (QT prolongation), aortic aneurysm, low blood sugar, severe allergy, C. difficile diarrhoea, sun sensitivity.

• Stop and see a doctor at the first sign of tendon pain or swelling; higher risk over 60 years, with steroids, or after transplant.
• Use with care in epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, heart rhythm problems, diabetes.
• Avoid strong sunlight.
• May impair driving.
• Not routinely used in children and teenagers.

Usually avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding unless no safer alternative exists. Eye drops are generally acceptable.

• Antacids, iron, zinc, calcium, milk products (reduce absorption)
• Theophylline, caffeine (levels rise)
• Tizanidine (contraindicated)
• Warfarin (bleeding risk)
• Drugs that prolong QT (e.g. some antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, macrolides)
• NSAIDs (higher seizure risk)
• Diabetes medicines (blood sugar changes)

Can cause kidney damage, dizziness, confusion and seizures. Seek medical care; keep well hydrated.

Store below 30°C, protected from light and moisture. Discard eye drops 4 weeks after opening.