Ciprofloxacin (Injection)

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Do not freeze.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Introduction

Ciprofloxacin (sip-roe-FLOX-a-sin)

Treats infections. Also treats anthrax infection after possible exposure. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.

Brand Name(s)

Amerinet Choice Ciprofloxacin, NovaPlus Ciprofloxacin, Cipro IV

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for about an hour.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It may also be given by a home healthcare nurse.
• Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are using this medicine. This will keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems.
• This medicine is not for long-term use.
• Your doctor may give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves. Then you may be switched to an oral medicine that works the same way. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Ask your pharmacist for the Medication Guide if you do not have one.

If a dose is missed:

• This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
• Change in how much or how often you urinate
• Changes in the color of your urine or stool
• Confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior
• Diarrhea that may be bloody
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Fever, chills, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and body aches
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain in your upper stomach
• Numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Pain or swelling in your knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, hand, or wrist
• Seizures or tremors
• Severe sunburn
• Trouble breathing
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, weakness, or tiredness
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Mild skin rash
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you use a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®). Your risk of tendon problems may increase if you use this medicine together with a steroid.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you also use clozapine (Clozaril®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), duloxetine (Cymbalta®), lidocaine (Xylocaine®), methotrexate (Folex®, Rheumatrex®), metoclopramide (Reglan®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), probenecid (Benemid®), ropinirole (Requip®), sildenafil (Viagra®), or theophylline (Theo-Dur®). Tell your doctor if you use a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), diabetes medicine (such as glyburide, Diabeta®, Glynase®, or Micronase®), or pain or arthritis medicine (such as celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, or Celebrex®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you also use a heart rhythm medicine (such as amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, Betapace®, Cardioquin®, Cordarone®, Norpace®, Pronestyl®, or Tikosyn®), medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, Elavil®, Pamelor®, Prozac®, Sarafem®, or Vivactil®) or medicine to treat mental illness (such as haloperidol, mesoridazine, pimozide, prochlorperazine, quetiapine, thioridazine, ziprasidone, Compazine®, Geodon®, Haldol®, Mellaril®, Orap®, Serentil®, or Seroquel®).
• Avoid products that have caffeine (such as coffee, soda, chocolate, or energy drinks) while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, heart rhythm problems (such as QT prolongation), hypokalemia (low blood potassium), nerve problems, rheumatoid arthritis or joint problems, or a history of seizures, epilepsy, head injury, or stroke.
• Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; red skin rash; sores or ulcers on the skin; or fever or chills.
• Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal or stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These maybe symptoms of a serious liver problem.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
• This medicine can cause changes in heart rhythms, such as QT prolongation. Contact your doctor right away if you have fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
• This medicine may rarely cause inflammation or tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). This can occur while you are using the medicine or after you finish using it. Your risk may be increased if you are older than 60 years of age, use steroid medicines (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (such as rheumatoid arthritis), or have received an organ transplant (such as heart, kidney, or lung). Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (such as ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), bruise more easily after an injury, or are not able to put weight on or move the affected area. Do not exercise until your doctor says it is all right.
• You may need to monitor your blood sugar more often while you use this medicine if you also use insulin or other medicine for diabetes.
• If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea. Diarrhea may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine.
• This medicine may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood or urine at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.