Cipro Side Effects

As common with many drugs, Cipro side effects are also identified especially with prolonged usage. Just like any other fluoroquinolones including Ciprofloxacin, the FDA has requested new warning labels to inform the public of side effects that may result to peripheral neuropathy which may lead to irreversible nerve damage, tendon damage, heart problems or rare variety of ventricular tachycardia, pseudomembranous colitis which is a cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, rhabdomyolysis or muscle breakdown and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life threatening skin condition where cell death causes the epidermis to separate from the dermis.

Warnings are also issued in the labels, requested by the FDA for hypersensitivity to the use of quinolones, including Ciprofloxacin. Some other adverse effects include irreversible peripheral neuropathy, spontaneous tendon rupture and tendonitis, acute liver failure or serious liver injury/hepatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, severe central nervous system disorders as well as phototoxicity or photosensitivity reactions.

There are also reported psychotic reactions and confusional states, acute pancreatitis, bone marrow depression, interstitial nephritis and hemolytic nephritis as side effects with the use of Ciprofloxacin treatment.

Serious adverse effects were also noted such as:

temporary and permanent loss of vision irreversible double vision, drug induced psychosis chorea or involuntary muscle movement impaired color vision exanthema or widespread rash

abdominal pain body malaise drug fever dysaesthasia or bad sensation eosinophilia

Pseudotumor cerebri or also referred to as intracranial pressure has also been reported as an adverse reaction to taking Ciprofloxacin for treatment. It is said that most patients especially the children and elderly have a greater risk in experiencing this side effects. Others may even experience the effect long after therapy.

Serious visual complications have also been noted with patients using this drug for ophthalmic therapy, which may also occur with Ciprofloxacin eye drops. Corneal perforation or damage to the corneal surface of the eye, evisceration or the removal of viscera and enucleation or removal of nucleus may also happen as with patients using this drug for therapy. An unusual case of seizures were also noted as with elderly patients using this drug for treatment.

Some groups even address all these adverse effects or side effects as fluoroquinolone toxicity especially those who have been affected by the use of this drug for therapy. There have been several law suits involved in the use of this drug that is why this has led the FDA to request Bayer A.G. to include several warnings in the product box for warnings in the use of this drug.

Using Cipro May Cause Side Effects

Before taking this drug, you should read the medication guide provided by your pharmacist when you purchase this for the first time or even just buying a refill. You should not that you are not allergic or sensitive to Ciprofloxacin or any other flouroquinolone type. This medication may be taken twice in the morning and twice in the evening or depending on the doctor’s prescription. This may be taken before or after meals, however most doctors recommend a full meal prior to avoid any upset stomach.

The dosage and usage would depend on the medical condition you are being treated for and also your response to the medication. Mostly, it is best to take in a lot of fluids while taking this medication, unless prescribed not to by your physician. If you are experiencing any of the Cipro side effects above, consult your doctor immediately.

It is advised that you are to take this medication two hours before or six hours after taking other medication to avoid decreasing Ciprofloxacin’s effect on your body. It is also best to ask your doctor or pharmacist for any contraindication to your taking other medication with Ciprofloxacin. Taking calcium such as antacid, didanosine solution or any other calcium supplements, even calcium-rich foods including dairy products such as milk and yoghurt or calcium enriched juice may also lessen the medication’s effect. You are advised not to each calcium-rich food within 6 hours or before two hours after taking Ciprofloxacin, unless you are eating the mentioned food as part of a larger meal that consists of non-dairy products as this will decrease the calcium binding effect of the medication.

You should also ask your physician or pharmacist about using nutritional supplements in replacement of this medication. Remember that antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin work best when a right amount of medication is kept at a constant or steady level in your body. With this, you should also take in mind to take the medication in the same hour every day to keep the drug at its balanced state in your body.

A lot of patients even make a mistake of stopping medication after symptoms may seem to disappear. Being consistent with the medication given is a key to full recovery. A patient should stick to the given time frame given the correct dosage and usage that the doctor has prescribed to assure total eradication of the bacterial growth or illness. This will also ascertain that no bacterial re-growth will happen. At times when a patient stops medication before full prescribed dosage is finished, bacteria will continue to grow, which may result to return of bacterial growth and even resistance in the long run to the same medication.