Ciprofloxacin

What is ciprofloxacin?

Ciprofloxacin is a medicine called an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent certain types of infections caused by the germs called bacteria.

You may hear ciprofloxacin called by its brand name, Cipro. Ciprofloxacin comes as a tablet, long-acting tablet, liquid, and injection.

Before giving ciprofloxacin to your child

Tell your doctor if your child has an allergy to ciprofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics

Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• epilepsy or a history of seizures
• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
• kidney or liver disease
• myasthenia gravis (muscle disease) or a history of tendonitis (swelling of the tissue that connects the muscle to the bone)

How should you give your child ciprofloxacin?

Follow these instructions when giving your child ciprofloxacin:

• Give your child ciprofloxacin exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you to, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving ciprofloxacin for any reason.
• Give your child ciprofloxacin at the same times every day. Pick times that are easy for you so that you do not miss any doses.
• Ciprofloxacin may be given with or without food, however if this medicine causes an upset stomach, give it with food.
• If your child is prescribed the long-acting tablets they must swallow these tablets whole. Do not crush, chew or break the long acting tablets.
• Do not give ciprofloxacin at the same time as milk, dairy products, or any juice containing calcium. Also avoid giving ciprofloxacin at the same time as antacids, iron, calcium, zinc or multivitamin supplements. Your child may take ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking these products.
• If your child is taking liquid ciprofloxacin, store it in the fridge or at room temperature. Shake the medicine well before each use and measure the dose with the special spoon or oral syringe that the pharmacist gave you.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of ciprofloxacin?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does ciprofloxacin take to work?

Your child may begin to feel better soon after starting ciprofloxacin. It may take several days before the full benefit is seen.

What are the possible side effects of ciprofloxacin?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take ciprofloxacin. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• upset stomach, including throwing up, mild diarrhea (watery bowel movements), and stomach ache
• drowsiness and dizziness
• headache

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to the Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• wheezing/chest tightness or trouble breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, mouth, or throat
• irregular or uneven heartbeat
• fainting or passing out
• changes in eyesight such as blurry vision
• seizures
• severe aches/pain in the muscles or joints, particularly in the legs

What safety measures should you take when your child is using ciprofloxacin?

Your child may sunburn more easily than normal while taking ciprofloxacin. To help prevent sunburn:

• Avoid direct sunlight, especially between 10 am to 3 pm
• Avoid sunlamps, bright indoor lights, and tanning beds
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat, long sleeves, long pants, or skirt outside
• Apply a sun block with a SPF 15 or higher

It is also important that your child drinks enough liquids (water or juice) while on ciprofloxacin (6-8 glasses per day).

Ciprofloxacin may very rarely cause swelling, redness, pain, or tearing of tendons (cord that attaches muscles to bones). Check with your doctor if your child gets a sudden pain in the ankle, back of the knee, back of the leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist after playing or exercise.

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with ciprofloxacin or in some cases the dose of ciprofloxacin or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter, and herbal) including:

• medicines to thin the blood (for example, warfarin, Coumadin)
• antidepressants
• cyclosporine
• theophylline
• methotrexate
• glyburide

What other important information should you know about ciprofloxacin?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Keep ciprofloxacin tablets at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen. The liquid may be stored in a fridge or at room temperature. Discard any unused liquid after 2 weeks.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  
• Make sure you always have enough ciprofloxacin to finish the prescribed course. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills, if necessary.

Keep ciprofloxacin out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much ciprofloxacin, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.