Consumer Medicine Information
CIPROXIN® IV
(Ciprofloxacin)
WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
This leaflet contains answers to some common questions about CIPROXIN IV.
It does not contain all the information available on CIPROXIN IV. It does NOT take the place of talking to your doctor or your pharmacist.
Please read this leaflet carefully. If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor or your pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Ciproxin IV against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
As Ciproxin IV is a prescription medicine, it should only be used under medical supervision.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
WHAT CIPROXIN IV IS USED FOR
CIPROXIN IV is a sterile intravenous antibiotic. It contains the drug ciprofloxacin, which can kill many kinds of bacteria which cause infections in the body.
CIPROXIN IV is used in a hospital environment only.
CIPROXIN IV is used to treat serious infections in the lungs, skin, blood, bone and joints, kidneys and bladder.
CIPROXIN IV will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.
BEFORE YOU TAKE CIPROXIN IV
When you must not take it
Do not take Ciproxin IV if you are allergic to ciprofloxacin, other quinolone antibiotics or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, and difficulty breathing.
CIPROXIN IV should not be used in children and growing adolescents except when recommended by your doctor.
Do not take CIPROXIN if you are also taking a medicine called tizanidine (Zanaflex™) a muscle relaxant used to treat spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or injury or diseases of the spinal cord). CIPROXIN can interfere with tizanidine and can lead to undesirable side effects.
Do not take Ciproxin IV if the expiry date on the pack has passed. This date appears after the words "EXP" or "EXPIRY" printed on the pack.
The contents of the vial are not to be used if it is cloudy or has little specks in it.
Before you start to take Ciproxin IV
Tell your doctor if you:
- have any allergies to ciprofloxacin or any other ingredients in CIPROXIN IV, or to any other medicines that you have used in the past, or to any other substances such as food, preservatives or dyes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- have any other health problems or medical conditions including:
- kidney disease
- seizures or fits
- stroke - have congestive heart failure, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome. Sodium intake may be of medical concern and the additional sodium load from using Ciproxin IV should be taken into account
- have previously taken corticosteroids. You may be at increased risk of swelling of the tendons. Symptoms include pain, tenderness and sometimes restricted movement.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Ciproxin IV.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking or given any of the following medicines. Some medicines may be affected by CIPROXIN. These medicines include:
- theophylline, a medicine used to treat asthma
- warfarin, a medicine used to stop blood clots
- cyclosporin, an immunosuppresant
- glibenclamide, a medicine used to treat diabetes
- NSAIDs, used to treat arthritis and other painful conditions secondary to inflammation
- methotrexate, a medicine used to treat certain types of cancers, severe psoriasis and severe rheumatoid arthritis
- duloxetine, a medicine used to treat depression and stress urinary incontinence
- clozapine, a medicine used to treat schizophrenia
- ropinirole, a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome
- the anaesthetic lidocaine
These medicines may be affected by CIPROXIN IV, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
Some medicines may interfere with CIPROXIN IV. These include:
- probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
- omeprazole, a medicine used to treat ulcers and other conditions where stomach produces too much acid
You can still take these medicines while you are taking CIPROXIN IV. However, you must take CIPROXIN IV at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any of these medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are taking or given any other medicines, including any you have bought at your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some of these medicines may be affected by CIPROXIN IV.
HOW CIPROXIN IV IS GIVEN
CIPROXIN IV is given as a slow injection into a vein, usually as a drip, by a doctor or a nurse.
CIPROXIN IV is incompatible with alkaline drugs.
How much to take
This depends on your condition, and will be decided by your doctor.
The usual adult dose is 200-300 mg twice a day for one to two weeks. Normally your doctor will put you on antibiotic tablets as soon as possible; but for difficult infections longer intravenous therapy may be required.
If you have not been given the next dose tell the doctor or nurse on duty as soon as possible.
If you are given too much (overdose)
Tell the doctor or nurse on duty if you think you have been given an overdose of CIPROXIN IV, even if you do not feel worse.
WHILE YOU ARE USING CIPROXIN IV
Things you must do
Tell your doctor or nurse if you:
- get severe diarrhoea. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have finished your course of CIPROXIN IV. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any anti-diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
- feel unwell or you develop symptoms mentioned in the SIDE EFFECTS section (see below).
- have congestive heart failure, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome. Sodium intake may be of medical concern and the additional sodium load from using Ciproxin IV should be taken into account.
SIDE EFFECTS
All medicines have unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. In cases of serious side effects, you may need prompt medical attention.
CIPROXIN IV is usually well tolerated. However, there may be unwanted effects which are presently unknown.
CIPROXIN IV can cause redness, pain, oedema, hypersensitivity and inflammation at the injection site.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- headache
- fever
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- mild stomach upsets such as feeling sick (nausea) or stomach pains
- dyspepsia (heartburn)
- nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- flatulence
- discharge and itching in the vagina
- loss of appetite
- rash, ankle swelling
- agitation, anxiety, confusion
- altered taste.
These are the more common side effects of CIPROXIN IV. They are usually mild and short-lived.
It can sometimes increase the stimulating effect of coffee.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the accident and emergency department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- severe skin rashes
- swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat
- fainting
- yellowing of the skin and eyes, also called jaundice
- severe watery or bloody diarrhoea, even if it occurs several weeks after taking your tablets
- fits (seizures, convulsions)
- confusion, nightmares, hallucinations, and psychotic reaction (even progressing to self-endangering behaviour)
- irregular heart beats
- joint/muscle pain or cramping
- visual disturbances
- ringing in the ear, loss of hearing
- wheezing or difficulty in breathing
- inflammation of the bowel, abdominal cramps. Very rarely this can progress to a serious condition accompanied by fever and fatigue.
These are serious side effects. If you have them, you may need urgent medical attention.
Photosensitivity (getting sunburnt very easily) can occasionally occur with ciprofloxacin. However, it is temporary and staying out of direct sunlight while on CIPROXIN IV will prevent it from happening.
Rarely, there can be a worsening of the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. This is a condition in which the muscles become weak and tire easily, causing drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty in speaking and swallowing and sometimes muscle weakness in the arms or legs.
Rarely, the Achilles tendon (extending from the calf to the heel of the foot) or other tendons have been torn after CIPROXIN IV therapy. Tell your doctor straight away if you have a pain, inflammation or rupture of a tendon.
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic reactions) can occur with CIPROXIN IV. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include flushing, hives on the skin, itchy skin, nausea, a rapid or very slow pulse and difficulty breathing.
Very rarely, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) may also occur. Symptoms include sweating, weakness, dizziness, trembling, headache, and having a fast pounding heartbeat. Contact your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
If you experience any of these symptoms during the treatment with CIPROXIN IV, notify the nurse or the doctor immediately. CIPROXIN IV may need to be discontinued and medications are required to treat these symptoms.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
If you need to know more about the drug, please consult your doctor. Also please be sure to tell your doctor of any unusual effects or symptoms.
AFTER USING CIPROXIN IV
When treatment is to be stopped, your prescribing doctor may need to alter the dose of other medicine(s) accordingly and monitor your condition.
Each vial of CIPROXIN IV is to be used once only. Any unused portion remaining in the vial must be discarded.
Storage
CIPROXIN IV will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The vial is kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, where the temperature stays below 30°C. The vial should not be stored in the refrigerator.
If you have any further questions on CIPROXIN IV, or are unsure of the information given above, please see your doctor or nurse, who will be able to assist you.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
What it looks like
CIPROXIN IV is a clear isotonic solution containing ciprofloxacin in the following strengths:
- 100 mg/50 mL vial (in Australia only)
- 200 mg/100 mL vial
Ingredients
Active Ingredients:
CIPROXIN IV 100 - 100 mg ciprofloaxcin /50 mL vial
CIPROXIN IV 200 - 200 mg ciprofloxacin /100 mL vial
Inactive ingredients:
- lactic acid
- sodium chloride
- water for injection
- small amounts of hydrochloric acid to adjust the acidity of the solution.
Manufacturer
BAYER HealthCare AG, Germany
Sponsor
BAYER AUSTRALIA LIMITED
ABN 22 000 138 714
875 Pacific Highway
PYMBLE NSW 2073
Australia
BAYER NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
3 Argus Place, Hillcrest, North Shore, AUCKLAND 0627
New Zealand
Free phone 0800 233 988
Australian Registration Numbers
CIPROXIN IV 100 - AUST R 43098
CIPROXIN IV 200 - AUST R 43099
Date of preparation
March 2008
® Trademark of Bayer AG, Germany
© Bayer Australia Ltd
All rights reserved.