What is ciprofloxacin?
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat some bacterial infections. It is one of several drugs that belong to the antibiotic group called fluoroquinolones. These affect DNA bacteria by interrupting the way in which it can be reproduced. Ciprofloxacin, which is also known under alternative names such as Cipro, can be very effective, but is usually used only when other antibiotics do not work or cannot work. It is associated with a high number of dangerous side effects and the risk of versus the benefit of using one of the fluoroquinolones is always carefully considered. There are good reasons to use ciprofloxacin in certain cases; For example, it is one of the main drugs used to treat anthrax or other bacterial infections that do not respond to various antibacterial groups.
In most countries, people can only get ciprofloxacin with a prescription. Medicines are available in several oral formulations and dosage may depend on the treated state and the ageient. Drugs are also available in injection forms and can be used as part of intravenous antibiotic treatment. When patients receive this medicine, it is important to complete it completely. Sometimes people begin to feel better when the antibiotic goes to work and assume it is okay to stop taking the medicine. This creates a strong risk for discouraging infection with much greater force, which can make treatment more difficult.
There are many drugs with which ciprofloxacin is negatively interacting, including chinidine, amiodarone and disopyramid. Many of these drugs treat the conditions of heart rhythm. There are other medicines that can interact, including many antacids, and patients should discuss all the medicines they use with their doctor before accepting the prescription for this medicine. Ciprofloxacin is also contraindicated or must be administered carefully when people have certain conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, kidneys or illnessliver, myasthenia gravis or certain heart rhythm disorders that affect QT intervals.
Some serious risks of accepting ciprofloxacin include that it can cause serious tendon injury. Other side effects that require immediate medical attention are to reduce urination, yellowing of the eyes, confusion, sudden psychosis or hallucinations or seizures. Most people will tolerate drugs without many side effects, but they can experience a sense of nervousness, blurred vision, stomach and photosensitivity (greater sensitivity to sunlight). If any of these side effects become extremely annoying, patients should discuss it with their prescribed doctor.
All medicines have advantages and disadvantages. Ciprofloxacin is no exception and may be extraordinary use in medical care or problematic for some patients. Patients may be active admission of a drug with a heavy side effect profile by paying attention to the expected side effects and reporting of any symptomsů that seem unusual or concerning. In this way, medicines such as ciprofloxacin can be used effectively.