Consumer Medicine Information
CIPROXIN® IV (Ci-PROX-in)
ciprofloxacin
WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
This leaflet answers some common questions about Ciproxin IV. It does not contain all the available information. 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. 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.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has
been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN CIPROXIN IV
When you must not be given it
You must not be given Ciproxin IV if you have an allergy to:
- ciprofloxacin, the active ingredient in Ciproxin IV
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
- other medicines belonging to the quinolone chemical family (e.g. moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, nalidixic acid).
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin.
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 this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack and
vial.
The expiry date is printed on the carton and on each vial after "EXP"
(e.g. 11 09 refers to November 2009). The expiry date refers to the last day
of that month. If it has expired return it to the pharmacist for disposal.
Do not take this medicine if the packaging is torn or shows signs of
tampering.
If the packaging is damaged, return it to the pharmacist for disposal.
The contents of the vial are not to be used if it is cloudy or has little specks in it.
If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breastfeeding.
It is not known if it is safe for you to take Ciproxin IV while you are
pregnant or breastfeeding. Drugs similar to Ciproxin have caused joint disease
in immature animals.
Tell your doctor if you:
- 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 him/her before you are given Ciproxin IV.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines,
including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by Ciproxin IV.
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.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
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 RECEIVING 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
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are receiving Ciproxin IV.
All medicines can 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.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.
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.
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.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything that is making you feel
unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
If you need to know more about the medicine, please consult your doctor. Also please be sure to tell your doctor of any unusual effects or symptoms.
AFTER RECEIVING 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.
Supplier
Made in Germany for:
Bayer Australia Limited
ABN 22 000 138 714
875 Pacific Highway
Pymble NSW 2073
Bayer New Zealand Limited
3 Argus Place, Hillcrest,
North Shore
Auckland 0627
Australian Registration Numbers
Ciproxin IV 100 - AUST R 43098
Ciproxin IV 200 - AUST R 43099
Date of preparation
September 2009
See Bayer Australia website (www.bayer.com.au) for latest Australian Consumer Medicine Information.
See MEDSAFE website (www.medsafe.govt.nz) for latest New Zealand Consumer Medicine Information.
® Registered Trademark of Bayer AG, Germany
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