Ciprofloxacin is pretty commonly known as Cipro and is an antibiotic prescription medication for the treatment of infections typically caused by different types of bacteria. The medication comes from the fluoroquinolones class of antibiotics.
The medication can treat the infection in the abdomen, skin, prostate, urinary tract, bone, as well as other types of infections. The following are the common you can find Cipro at your nearby pharmacist:
- Tablets (Cipro)
- Powder for Oral Suspension (Cipro)
- Extended-release (Cipro XR) Tablets
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The Dark Side of Cipro: Highlights
While Cipro has not been officially proven to produce great results as an antibiotic, it is still widely used worldwide. People with a history of blockage of blood vessels, including high blood pressure and certain genetic disorders are at a higher risk of health hazards than others. The FDA has ordered to provide warnings about the risk along with not only the prescription information but also Medication Guide to these antibiotics.
Cipro Side Effects
The below list includes some common side effects of Cipro that are commonly experienced by people who take it.
Note: The below list may not be comprehensive. In case you experience some different kind of symptoms, you must see a doctor.
Common side effects
Here are some common side effects of Cipro:
- Rash
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
Img source: myasthenia.org
Besides, if your doctor might have found some higher-than-normal results from a liver function test. While this could be temporary, you cannot be sure of the liver damage, whatsoever. However, this certainly can be a sign of a damaged liver.
While most of the above-mentioned side effects usually go away in a few days to weeks, you must consult a doctor if the symptoms persist.
Serious side effects
While there are no proven major side effects of Cipro, there can be some in one to two odd cases. In case you experience some unusual change in your health or experience any of the below symptoms, do give a call to your doctor and fix an in-person appointment for a checkup.
It is recommended to always keep an emergency contactable number in your speed dial list.
Below are some serious side effects of Cipro along with their common symptoms:
Torn or swollen joints
Here are the symptoms:
Pain in the joints, i.e. knee, ankle, hand, elbow or shoulder
Liver damage
Here are the symptoms:
- Stomach pain
- Appetite loss
- Dark Urine
- Skin or whites of your eyes turning yellow
Severe allergy
Here are the symptoms:
- Elevated heartbeat
- Severe rashes
- Trouble breathing
- Swollen tongue, lips, or even face
- Trouble swallowing
Img source: rd.com
Very low blood sugar levels
This can be a likely condition in seniors and diabetic people. Here are the symptoms:
- Weakness
- Shakiness
- Passing out
- Sweating
- Coma
As per the FDA, meds like Cipro are not suitable for use as the first option for urinary tract infections, bronchitis, or sinus infections. This is because the consequences or potential risks of the medication are likely to overweight the benefits.
Long-term Side Effects
While most of the side effects of Cipro are observed soon after taking the medication, long-term consumption of this medication often leads to severe side effects, including liver damage, nerve problems, intestinal infection, and tendon (tissues connecting muscles to bones) damage.
1. Diarrhea
Among the common side effects of Cipro is Diarrhea, which is common if you take antibiotics like this one. On average, 2-5 percent of individuals who take Cipro on a regular basis have diarrhea. When diarrhea becomes severe, it causes loose watery stools or even bloody stools along with stomach cramps and fever. These symptoms signify an intestinal infection.
In case you are suffering from severe diarrhea and still taking Cipro, you should consider talking to your doctor. In many cases, diarrhea would go away after stopping the medication.
2. Headaches
Out of the people who have been taking Cipro, some have complained about getting headaches. Based on various studies, it was found that no more than 1 percent of people who had been taking Cipro have had headaches while on the dose.
In most cases, these headaches are mild and usually go away when they continue taking the pill. In case your headaches don’t go away soon while on this medication, you must connect to your doctor.
Img source: agoramedia.com
Cipro Side effects in Children
The use of Cipro is not recommended to children because it often causes joint damage and can lead to reduced movement of the joints and pain. In case your child has been taking Cipro as prescribed by a pediatrician and does have symptoms like these, immediately seek medical help for your child.
Cipro Side effects in Seniors
Believe it or not, older individuals (adults) are more prone to the side effects of Cipro than younger individuals. The side effects they may have been more or less the same in both the individuals.
Cipro Warnings
Before you take Cipro, you must discuss your medical history (if any) with your doctor. Based on that, your doctor may not find Cipro appropriate for you.
1. People with diabetes
Out of all the people who have been taking Cipro or other fluoroquinolones class of meds have suffered conditions like severe low blood sugar. In fact, this condition is more likely to be seen by individuals with diabetes who are continuously consuming hypoglycemic pill.
The best practice to avoid any further damage, call your doctor as soon as you experience very low blood sugar levels. He or she may recommend you to stop taking Cipro anymore.
2. People with Myasthenia Gravis
If you have the condition of Myasthenia Gravis, regular consumption of Cipro and any other medication from the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics can cause weakened muscles.
In fact, you must not start taking Cipro if you already have a condition of myasthenia gravis.
Apart from these, people have high exposure to the Sun are more likely to get a severe sunburn while on the dose of Cipro.
Img source: verywellhealth.com
Conclusion!
While Cipro is FDA-approved for the treatment of bacterial infections, based on how your body reacts the medication, it can lead to mild to serious side effects. So, it is recommended not to take this or any other antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class unless prescribed otherwise.
Written by Parker Hall
