About Ciprofloxacin 500 mg Tablet
Ciprofloxacin 500 mg Tablet contains Ciprofloxacin 500 mg. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It is used to treat certain bacterial infections of the urinary tract, gut, bones and joints, skin and chest, and some other infections, usually when other antibiotics are not suitable. Because it can rarely cause serious, long-lasting side effects in tendons, nerves and other parts of the body, it is used only when the doctor decides it is needed. It does not work for viral infections.
Uses of Ciprofloxacin 500 mg Tablet
- Urinary tract and kidney infections
- Certain gut infections, such as typhoid and infectious diarrhoea
- Bone and joint infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Some chest infections
Benefits
In bacterial infections
It kills the bacteria causing the infection, helping symptoms like fever, pain and burning on passing urine get better. Completing the course helps clear the infection and prevents resistance.
Side effects
Most side effects are mild and settle on their own. Talk to your doctor if any of them bother you or do not go away. Do not stop the medicine early without asking your doctor.
Common
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
Get medical help if you notice
- Pain, swelling or tearing of a tendon (often at the back of the ankle) — stop the medicine, rest the area and contact your doctor straight away
- Tingling, numbness, burning pain or weakness in the hands or feet — stop and contact your doctor
- Severe or watery diarrhoea, sometimes with blood, even weeks after the course — contact your doctor
- Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden severe pain in the chest, stomach or back — seek emergency care
- Mood changes, confusion, fits (seizures) or thoughts of self-harm — stop and contact your doctor
- Allergic reaction or severe skin reaction: rash, blistering, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing — stop and seek emergency care
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed, with a full glass of water. You can take it with a meal, but not with milk, curd or calcium-fortified juice on their own. Take it at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after antacids, iron, zinc or calcium products. Finish the full course.
How it works
Ciprofloxacin blocks enzymes (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) that bacteria need to copy their DNA, so the bacteria cannot multiply and die.
Safety advice
Alcohol Caution
No direct interaction is known, but alcohol can add to dizziness and is best avoided during infection.
Pregnancy Consult your doctor
It is usually avoided in pregnancy. Use only if your doctor decides it is needed.
Breastfeeding Unsafe
It passes into breast milk and should not be used while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor about other options.
Driving Caution
It can cause dizziness or eyesight changes. Do not drive until you know how it affects you.
Kidney Caution
Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease; the dose may need to be changed.
Liver Caution
It can rarely cause liver problems. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease.
If you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Complete the full course, even if you feel better.
- Do not take it with milk or curd alone, and keep it away from antacids, iron and calcium tablets.
- Cut down on tea, coffee and cola — it can increase the effect of caffeine.
- Stop and call your doctor if you get tendon pain, tingling in the hands or feet, or mood changes.
- Avoid strong sunlight, as your skin may burn more easily.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Fluoroquinolone
- Therapeutic class
- Anti-infective / antibiotic
- Action class
- Bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibitor
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Tizanidine | Ciprofloxacin greatly raises its level, causing very low blood pressure and drowsiness — must not be taken together |
| Theophylline, clozapine and some other medicines broken down by the liver | Their levels can rise and cause side effects |
| Antacids, iron, zinc, calcium and dairy products alone | Reduce absorption of ciprofloxacin |
| Warfarin | May increase the blood-thinning effect |
| Steroid tablets such as prednisolone | Higher risk of tendon damage |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Ciprofloxacin prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); US FDA boxed warning for fluoroquinolones; NICE BNF: ciprofloxacin). Pharmacist review pending.