Ciprofloxacin 250 mg film-coated tablets

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Ciprofloxacin tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Ciprofloxacin tablets
3. How to take Ciprofloxacin tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Ciprofloxacin tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other Information.

Do not take Ciprofloxacin tablets:

• if you are allergic to ciprofloxacin, other quinolone drugs or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you are taking tizanidine (see section 2: Other medicines and Ciprofloxacin tablets)

Warnings and Precautions

Before taking this medicine

You should not take fluoroquinolone/quinolone antibacterial medicines, including Ciprofloxacin tablets, if you have experienced any serious adverse reaction in the past when taking a quinolone or fluoroquinolone. In this situation, you should inform your doctor as soon as possible.

Talk to your doctor,

• if you have been diagnosed with an enlargement or "bulge" of a large blood vessel (aortic aneurysm or large vessel peripheral aneurysm).
• if you have experienced a previous episode of aortic dissection (a tear in the aorta wall).
• if you have a family history of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection or other risk factors or predisposing conditions (e.g. connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, or vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or vascular disorders such as Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, Behcet’s disease, high blood pressure, or known atherosclerosis).
• if you have ever had kidney problems because your treatment may need to be adjusted.
• if you suffer from epilepsy or other neurological conditions.
• if you have a history of tendon problems during previous treatment with antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin tablets.
• if you are diabetic because you may experience a risk of hypoglycaemia with ciprofloxacin.
• if you have myasthenia gravis (a type of muscle weakness) because symptoms can be exacerbated.
• if you have heart problems. Caution should be taken when using Ciprofloxacin, if you were born with or have family history of prolonged QT interval (seen on ECG, electrical recording of the heart), have salt imbalance in the blood (especially low level of potassium or magnesium in the blood), have a very slow heart rhythm (called ‘bradycardia’), have a weak heart (heart failure), have a history of heart attack (myocardial infarction), you are female or elderly or you are taking other medicines that result in abnormal ECG changes (see section 2: “Other medicines and Ciprofloxacin tablets”).
• if you or a member of your family is known to have a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), since you may experience a risk of anaemia with ciprofloxacin.

If you feel sudden, severe pain in your abdomen, chest or back, go immediately to an emergency room.

For the treatment of some genital tract infections, your doctor can prescribe another antibiotic in addition to ciprofloxacin. If there is no improvement in symptoms after 3 days of treatment, please consult your doctor.

While taking Ciprofloxacin tablets

Tell your doctor immediately, if any of the following occurs while taking Ciprofloxacin tablets. Your doctor will decide whether treatment with Ciprofloxacin tablets needs to be stopped.

• Severe, sudden allergic reaction (an anaphylactic reaction/shock, angio-oedema). Even with the first dose, there is a small chance that you may experience a severe allergic reaction with the following symptoms: tightness in the chest, feeling dizzy, sick or faint, or experiencing dizziness when standing up. If this happens, stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets and contact your doctor immediately.
• Pain and swelling in the joints and inflammation or rupture of tendons may occur rarely. Your risk is increased if you are elderly (above 60 years of age), have received an organ transplant, have kidney problems or if you are being treated with corticosteroids. Inflammation and ruptures of tendons may occur within the first 48 hours of treatment and even up to several months after stopping of Ciprofloxacin tablets therapy. At the first sign of pain or inflammation of a tendon (for example in your ankle, wrist, elbow, shoulder or knee), stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets, contact your doctor and rest the painful area. Avoid any unnecessary exercise as this might increase the risk of a tendon rupture.
• If you suffer from epilepsy or other neurological conditions such as cerebral ischemia or stroke, you may experience side effects associated with the central nervous system. If this happens, stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets and contact your doctor immediately.
• You may experience psychiatric reactions the first time you take Ciprofloxacin tablets. If you suffer from depression or psychosis, your symptoms may become worse under treatment with Ciprofloxacin tablets. In rare cases, depression or psychosis can progress to thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, or completed suicide. If this happens, stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets and contact your doctor immediately.
• You may rarely experience symptoms of nerve damage (neuropathy) such as pain, burning, tingling, numbness and/or weakness especially in the feet and legs or hands and arms. If this happens, stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets and inform your doctor immediately in order to prevent the development of potentially irreversible condition.
• Prolonged, disabling and potentially irreversible serious side effects. Fluoroquinolone/quinolone antibacterial medicines, including Ciprofloxacin tablets, have been associated with very rare but serious side effects, some of them being long lasting (continuing months or years), disabling or potentially irreversible. This includes tendon, muscle and joint pain of the upper and lower limbs, difficulty in walking, abnormal sensations such as pins and needles, tingling, tickling, numbness or burning (paraesthesia), sensory disorders including impairment of vision, taste and smell, and hearing, depression, memory impairment, severe fatigue, and severe sleep disorders.
  If you experience any of these side effects after taking Ciprofloxacin tablets, contact your doctor immediately prior to continuing treatment. You and your doctor will decide on continuing the treatment considering also an antibiotic from another class.
• Hypoglycaemia has been reported most often in diabetic patients, predominantly in elderly population. If this happens, contact your doctor immediately.
• Diarrhoea may develop while you are taking antibiotics, including Ciprofloxacin tablets, or even several weeks after you have stopped taking them. If it becomes severe or persistent or you notice that your stool contains blood or mucus, stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets immediately, as this can be life-threatening. Do not take medicines that stop or slow down bowel movements and contact your doctor.
• If your eyesight becomes impaired or if your eyes seem to be otherwise affected, consult an eye specialist immediately (see section 4: Possible side effects).
• Your skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) light when taking Ciprofloxacin tablets. Avoid exposure to strong sunlight, or artificial UV light such as sunbeds.
• Tell the doctor or laboratory staff that you are taking Ciprofloxacin tablets if you have to provide a blood or urine sample.
• If you suffer from kidney problems, tell the doctor because your dose may need to be adjusted.
• Ciprofloxacin tablets may cause liver damage. If you notice any symptoms such as loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark urine, itching, or tenderness of the stomach, stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets and contact your doctor immediately.
• Ciprofloxacin tablets may cause a reduction in the number of white blood cells and your resistance to infection may be decreased. If you experience an infection with symptoms such as fever and serious deterioration of your general condition, or fever with local infection symptoms such as sore throat/pharynx/mouth or urinary problems you should see your doctor immediately. A blood test will be taken to check possible reduction of white blood cells (agranulocytosis). It is important to inform your doctor about your medicine.

Other medicines and Ciprofloxacin tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Do not take Ciprofloxacin tablets together with tizanidine, because this may cause side effects such as low blood pressure and sleepiness (see Section 2: “Do not take Ciprofloxacin tablets”).

The following medicines are known to interact with Ciprofloxacin tablets in your body. Taking Ciprofloxacin tablets together with these medicines can influence the therapeutic effect of those medicines. It can also increase the probability of experiencing side effects.

Tell your doctor if you are taking:

• vitamin K antagonists (e.g., warfarin, acenocoumarol, phenprocoumon, or fluindione) or other oral anti-coagulants (to thin the blood)
• probenecid (for gout)
• methotrexate (for certain types of cancer, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis)
• theophylline (for breathing problems)
• tizanidine (for muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis)
• olanzapine (an antipsychotic)
• clozapine (an antipsychotic)
• ropinirole (for Parkinson’s disease)
• phenytoin (for epilepsy)
• metoclopramide (for nausea and vomiting)
• cyclosporin (for skin conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and in organ transplantation)
• other medicines that can alter your heart rhythm: medicines that belong to the group of anti-arrhythmics (e.g. quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide), tricyclic antidepressants, some antimicrobials (that belong to the group of macrolides), some antipsychotics.

Ciprofloxacin can increase the levels of the following medicines in your blood:

• pentoxifylline (for circulatory disorders)
• caffeine
• agomelatine
• zolpidem
• duloxetine (for depression, diabetic nerve damage or incontinence)
• lidocaine (for heart conditions or anaesthetic use)
• sildenafil (e.g. for erectile dysfunction)

Some medicines reduce the effect of Ciprofloxacin tablets. Tell your doctor if you take or wish to take:

• antacids
• omeprazole
• mineral supplements
• sucralfate
• a polymeric phosphate binder (e.g. sevelamer or lanthanum carbonate)
• medicines or supplements containing calcium, magnesium, aluminium or iron

If these preparations are essential, take Ciprofloxacin tablets about two hours before or no sooner than four hours after them.

Ciprofloxacin tablets with food and drink

Unless you take Ciprofloxacin tablets during meals, do not eat or drink any dairy products (such as milk or yoghurt) or drinks with added calcium when you take the tablets, as they may affect the absorption of the active substance.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

It is preferable to avoid the use of Ciprofloxacin tablets during pregnancy.

Do not take Ciprofloxacin tablets during breast feeding because ciprofloxacin is excreted in breast milk and can be harmful for your child.

Driving and using machines

Ciprofloxacin tablets may make you feel less alert. Some neurological adverse events can occur. Therefore, make sure you know how you react to Ciprofloxacin tablets before driving a vehicle or operating machinery. If in doubt, talk to your doctor.

If you take more Ciprofloxacin tablets than you should

If you take more than the prescribed dose, get medical help immediately. If possible, take your tablets or the box with you to show the doctor.

If you forget to take Ciprofloxacin tablets

Take the normal dose as soon as possible and then continue as prescribed. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose and continue as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Be sure to complete your course of treatment.

If you stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets

It is important that you finish the course of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your infection may not be completely cured and the symptoms of the infection may return or get worse. You might also develop resistance to the antibiotic.

Serious side effects

Stop taking Ciprofloxacin tablets and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if you notice any of the following serious side effects- you may need urgent medical attention:

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• allergic reaction, swelling (oedema), or rapid swelling of the skin and mucous membranes (angio-oedema)
• inflammation of the bowel (colitis) linked to antibiotic use (can be fatal in very rare cases) (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions)
• liver disorders, jaundice (cholestatic icterus), or hepatitis
• decreased blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions)

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic reaction or anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal - serum sickness) (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions)
• small, pin-point bleeding under the skin (petechiae); various skin eruptions or rashes (for example, the potentially fatal Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• inflammation of the wall of the blood vessels (vasculitis)
• inflammation of pancreas which includes symptoms such as severe upper stomach pain, often with nausea and vomiting (pancreatitis)
• muscle pain and/or weakness, inflammation of the joints and joint pain, increased muscle tone and cramping, inflammation of the tendons or tendon rupture, particularly affecting the large tendon at the back of the ankle (Achilles tendon) – see section 2

Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• abnormal fast heart rhythm, life-threatening irregular heart rhythm, alteration of the heart rhythm (called ‘prolongation of QT interval’, seen on ECG, electrical activity of the heart).
• unusual feelings of pain, burning tingling, numbness or muscle weakness in the extremities (neuropathy)- see section 2

Other side effects

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• nausea, diarrhea
• joint pains in children

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• fungal superinfections
• a high concentration of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell
• decreased appetite
• hyperactivity or agitation
• headache, dizziness, sleeping problems, or taste disorders
• vomiting, abdominal pain, digestive problems such as stomach upset (indigestion/heartburn), or wind
• increased amounts of certain substances in the blood (transaminases and/or bilirubin)
• rash, itching, or hives
• joint pain in adults
• poor kidney function
• pains in your muscles and bones, feeling unwell (asthenia), or fever
• increase in blood alkaline phosphatase (a certain substance in the blood)

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• changes to the blood count (leukopenia, leukocytosis, neutropenia, anaemia), increased or decreased amounts of a blood clotting factor (thrombocytes)
• increased blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)
• confusion, disorientation, anxiety reactions, strange dreams, depression (potentially leading to thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, or completed suicide), or hallucinations, pins and needles, unusual sensitivity to stimuli of the senses, decreased skin sensitivity, tremors, seizures (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions), or giddiness
• eyesight problems, including double vision
• tinnitus, loss of hearing, impaired hearing
• rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• expansion of blood vessels (vasodilation), low blood pressure, or fainting
• shortness of breath, including asthmatic symptoms
• sensitivity to light (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions)
• kidney failure, blood or crystals in the urine (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions), urinary tract inflammation
• fluid retention or excessive sweating
• increased levels of the enzyme amylase

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• a special type of reduced red blood cell count (haemolytic anaemia); a dangerous drop in a type of white blood cells (agranulocytosis); a drop in the number of red and white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia), which may be fatal; and bone marrow depression, which may also be fatal (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions)
• mental disturbances (psychotic reactions potentially leading to thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, or completed suicide) (see Section 2: Warnings and precautions)
• migraine, disturbed coordination, unsteady walk (gait disturbance), disorder of sense of smell (olfactory disorders), pressure on the brain (intracranial pressure and pseudotumor cerebri)
• visual colour distortions
• death of liver cells (liver necrosis) very rarely leading to life-threatening liver failure

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

• pustular rash
• influence on blood clotting (in patients treated with Vitamin K antagonists)
• Feeling highly excited (mania) or feeling great optimism and overactivity (hypomania), hypersensitivity reaction called DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms)
• Syndrome associated with impaired water excretion and low levels of sodium (SIADH)

Very rare cases of long lasting (up to months or years) or permanent adverse drug reactions, such as tendon inflammations, tendon rupture, joint pain, pain in the limbs, difficulty in walking, abnormal sensations such as pins and needles, tingling, tickling, burning, numbness or pain (neuropathy), depression, fatigue, sleep disorders, memory impairment, as well as impairment of hearing, vision, and taste and smell have been associated with administration of quinolone and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, in some cases irrespective of pre-existing risk factors.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

What Ciprofloxacin tablets contain

The active substance is ciprofloxacin.

Other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, magnesium stearate, talc, colloidal anhydrous silica, sodium starch glycolate (type A), hypromellose, macrogol 400 and titanium dioxide (E171).

Ciprofloxacin tablets come in two strengths containing 250mg and 500mg of ciprofloxacin.

What Ciprofloxacin tablets look like and contents of the pack

Ciprofloxacin 250 mg Film-coated Tablets are white, round film-coated tablets debossed with ‘250’ on one side and plain on the other side.

Each tablet contains 250 mg of the active ingredient ciprofloxacin (as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride).

Ciprofloxacin 500 mg Film-coated Tablets are white, caplet-shaped film-coated tablets debossed with ‘500’ on one side and plain on the other side.

Each tablet contains 500 mg of the active ingredient ciprofloxacin (as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride).

The tablets are available as blister packs of 1, 8, 10, 14, 16, 20, 28, 32 or 100 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

The marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Manufacturer: