Is Ciprofloxacin an antibiotic or not? This question is most often of interest to those patients who, having received an appropriate doctor's prescription, are looking for additional information, because they do not want to deal with the consequences of taking an antibiotic. You can find the answer in the materials of this article. We will also tell you in detail about what this medicine is intended for, in what forms it can be used, what is included in its composition, whether the drug has side effects, what contraindications you should know, and how to use the medicine correctly.
Forms of release, packaging of the drug and its composition
Before telling you what the medicine “Ciprofloxacin” is (whether you will find out the antibiotic or not), you need to tell how it can be purchased at the pharmacy.
This drug is currently available in three different forms. Let's consider them in more detail.
- In liquid form, the medicine "Ciprofloxacin" is a solution for infusion. The active component of this tool is ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. The drug goes on sale in bottles of 100 ml.
- Tablets "Ciprofloxacin". A photo of the medicine is presented below. Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride also acts as its active element. One tablet may contain 500 and 250 mg of the drug. The product comes on sale in cardboard packages of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or 100 tablets.
- Another liquid form of the medicine “Ciprofloxacin” is eye and ear drops. This is a local 0.3% agent that contains such an active element as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. The product goes on sale in 5 or 3 ml dropper bottles (placed in a cardboard box).
Pharmacological characteristics of the drug
What is ciprofloxacin? Antibiotic or not? According to the instructions attached to this tool, this medication is an antimicrobial drug with a wide spectrum of action. It belongs to the group of fluoroquinolones.
The drug acts bactericidal, inhibiting an enzyme such as bacterial DNA gyrase, which, in fact, disrupts DNA replication, as well as the synthesis of cell proteins of harmful microorganisms. It should also be noted that the medication in question is able to act well on both multiplying bacteria and microorganisms that are at rest.
What bacteria is Ciprofloxacin effective against? The action of this tool is directed to gram-negative aerobic microorganisms and gram-positive. It can not be said that most staphylococci, which are resistant to methicillin, have resistance to ciprofloxacin.
It should also be noted that streptococci and enterococci are moderately sensitive to the medication.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
Infusion solution
In what cases is this drug prescribed as injections? “Ciprofloxacin” is used for injection only when the patient cannot take the oral form of the drug, and also if it is necessary to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect.
After intravenous infusions, the highest concentration of the drug is achieved after about 60 minutes. The solution is well distributed over the tissues of the body. However, he does not fall on areas rich in fats.
The content of the drug in the tissues is 5-11 times higher than in plasma. Therapeutic concentrations of the drug are found in the tonsils, saliva, gall bladder, liver, intestines, bile, pelvic organs, abdominal cavity, seminal fluid, uterus, endometrium, prostate tissues, ovaries, kidneys, fallopian tubes, urinary organs, bronchial secretion, lung tissue muscles, bone tissue, synovial and peritoneal fluids, articular cartilage and skin integument.
The drug penetrates into the cerebrospinal fluid in a small volume. Moreover, its concentration is about 7-10% (compared with serum) with uninflamed meninges and about 15-37% with inflamed ones.
The medicine “Ciprofloxacin”, the photo of which you can see in this article, penetrates well into the bronchial secretion, lymph, eye fluid, peritoneum, pleura, as well as through the placenta. At the same time, the activity of the drug decreases slightly at low pH values.
The drug is metabolized in the liver (about 15-30%) with the formation of inactive metabolites. With the intravenous method of getting into the body, the half-life is 5-6 hours. The drug is excreted mainly by the kidneys in unchanged form and in the form of metabolites.
Tablets
Most often, patients are prescribed oral administration of Ciprofloxacin. In this case, the active substance of the tablets is rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract. The bioavailability of the drug is approximately 50-86%. Its maximum concentration in serum is reached after approximately 1-1.6 hours.
Orally administered drug is distributed in body fluids and tissues. Its high concentrations are found in the lungs, bile, kidneys, gall bladder, seminal fluid, liver, uterus, tonsils, prostate tissues, fallopian tubes, endometrium and ovaries. In addition, the medicine “Ciprofloxacin” penetrates well into bones, eye fluid, saliva, bronchial secretions, muscles, skin, peritoneum, pleura and lymph.
In the cerebrospinal fluid, the drug is found in a small amount (compared to serum, the concentration is about 6-10%).
The main organ for removing the drug from the body are the kidneys.
Drops
What is the pharmacokinetics of the local ciprofloxacin? Ear drops (like eye drops) are prescribed to patients least often. After their use, the maximum concentration of the active ingredient is less than 5 ng / ml.
The drug "Ciprofloxacin": indications for use
Depending on this or that form of release, this medication can be prescribed for various diseases. Consider the indications for use in more detail.
Tablets and solution for infusion
These forms of medication are prescribed for infectious and inflammatory diseases that were caused by microorganisms sensitive to ciprofloxacin.
Thus, this drug is used to treat the respiratory tract, ear, nose and throat, urinary tract and kidneys, genitals, digestive system (including teeth, mouth and jaws), biliary tract, mucous membranes, skin, gall bladder, musculoskeletal system and soft tissues. It should also be noted that this medication is indicated for the treatment of peritonitis and sepsis. In addition, it is used to treat and prevent infections in people with reduced immunity (during immunosuppressive therapy).
Eye drops
In ophthalmology, the drug is used for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the eyes. Such abnormalities include blepharitis, keratitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, bacterial corneal ulcer, subacute and acute conjunctivitis, meibomite (or the so-called "barley") and chronic dacryocystitis. In addition, Ciprofloxacin drops are used to treat infectious eye lesions after foreign bodies have entered them or injured. It should also be noted that this drug is often prescribed for pre- and postoperative prevention of infectious complications in ophthalmic surgery.
Ear drops
In otorhinolaryngology, this drug can be prescribed for otitis externa, as well as for the treatment of postoperative infectious complications.
Contraindications
In what cases is it forbidden to use the drug "Ciprofloxacin"? In no case can the analogs and the drug in question be prescribed under the following conditions:
- with pseudomembranous colitis ;
- with a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase;
- during pregnancy;
- in children under 18 years of age (until the formation of the skeleton is completed);
- with hypersensitivity to the drug or other drugs from the group of fluoroquinolones;
- during lactation.
It should also be noted that with special care this medication is prescribed for patients with severe atherosclerosis of the vessels of the brain (brain), cerebrovascular accidents, mental illness, with convulsive syndrome, severe renal / hepatic insufficiency, epilepsy, as well as elderly patients.
Instructions for use of the drug
Depending on the form of release of the drug, it can be prescribed in a different dosage. Which one, we will tell right now.
Ciprofloxacin tablets
Analogues of the drug and this tool itself can be prescribed in different volumes. It depends on the severity of the disease, the condition of the patient’s body, the type of infection, the weight of the patient and his age, as well as the features of the kidneys. Recommended oral dosages (500 and 250 mg each) may be as follows:
- In diseases of the respiratory tract, or rather their lower sections (moderate), 250 mg twice a day (in severe cases - 500 mg).
- In uncomplicated diseases of the urinary tract and kidneys - 250 mg twice a day (in complicated cases - 500 mg).
- For the treatment of gonorrhea - a single dose in a dosage of 500 or 250 mg.
- With gynecological abnormalities, colitis, enteritis, prostatitis, osteomyelitis (with severe course) - 500 mg twice a day.
According to the instructions, the medication should be taken only on an empty stomach, washed down with a clean liquid. Patients with severe renal impairment are prescribed ½ dosage of the drug. The duration of therapy with this agent depends on the severity of the disease. However, treatment should continue for at least another 2 days after the disappearance of signs of the disease. As a rule, the duration of treatment with this tool is 7-10 days.
Infusion solution
How should I use Ciprofloxacin? Analogues of this drug and the medication itself must be administered intravenously drip for half an hour (at a dosage of 200 mg).
It should be specially noted that the solution for infusion is allowed to be combined with a 10% glucose solution, 0.9% sodium chloride solution, 10% fructose solution and Ringer's solution.
A single dosage of the drug is 200 mg. If the patient has severe infections, then 400 mg. The frequency of drug administration is twice a day. The duration of therapy is usually 1-2 weeks. If necessary, the course of treatment can be increased.
Eye (0.3%) drops
Eye drops "Ciprofloxacin" for children under one year of age is prohibited. In other cases, it is calmly applied topically. In case of a moderately severe and mild infection, the drug is instilled in the conjunctival sac of the affected eye, 1-2 drops every 4 hours. In severe infections, the dosage remains the same, but the medicine should be instilled every hour. After improving the patient's condition, the volume and frequency of instillations are reduced.
With a corneal ulcer (bacterial), the medication is prescribed 1 drop every ¼ hour for 6 hours. Then - 1 drop every half hour. On the second day - 1 drop every hour. From 3 to 14 days - 1 drop every 4 hours.
If after two weeks of therapy epithelization has not occurred, then treatment is allowed to continue.
Ear (0.3%) drops
How is Ciprofloxacin used in otorhinolaryngology? Ear drops are used only after the external auditory meatus is thoroughly cleaned. Before use, the drug must be warmed to body temperature in order to avoid vestibular stimulation.
The drug is instilled into the ear canal in the amount of 3-4 drops 2-4 times a day (more often). After instillation, the patient should lie on the opposite side for 5-11 minutes.
If necessary, after local cleansing of the ear, a cotton swab soaked in Ciprofloxacin solution can be placed in it. By the way, he should be in the aisle until the next procedure.
The duration of therapy with this drug should not exceed 5-11 days. Sometimes treatment may be extended. But this is only if the local flora is too sensitive.
Is the drug an antibiotic?
Ciprofloxacin medication - antibiotic or not? Relating to the group of fluoroquinolones, this drug is a synthetic antibacterial agent. In view of this, it is not an antibiotic, since these substances are exclusively of natural origin.
Adverse reactions
Does the medication “Ciprofloxacin” have side effects? For children and adults, it should be prescribed only according to indications. This is due to the fact that such a drug has a fairly large number of side effects. Most often they occur in the digestive tract (vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea), on the part of the nervous system (increased fatigue, tremor, dizziness, insomnia, headache), on the part of the sensory organs (tinnitus, impaired smell , change in color perception), as well as from the hematopoietic, urinary and musculoskeletal systems. Also, treatment with Ciprofloxacin can provoke the appearance of allergic reactions (skin itching, papules, urticaria, shortness of breath, blisters, facial swelling, eosinophilia, erythema nodosum, and others).
Analogues of the means and its cost
The price of the medicine "Ciprofloxacin" is very low, and it is about 30-50 Russian rubles. Moreover, this cost applies to all forms of medicine. But what if, for one reason or another, Ciprofloxacin is not suitable for you? Analogues of this drug are always available in pharmacies. These include drugs such as Tsipraz, Altsipro, Ecocifol, Afenoxin, Tsipreks, Tsifratsid, Basigen, Tsifran, Betatsiprol, Tsifloksinal, Vero -Ciprofloxacin ”,“ Citral ”,“ Zindolin-250 ”,“ Ifipro ”,“ Ciprofloxabol ”,“ Quintor ”,“ Tsiprosol ”,“ Quipro ”,“ Tsiprosin ”,“ Liprokhin ”,“ Tsiprosan ”,“ Microflox ”, “Cipropan”, “Oftopipro”, “Cipronat”, “Procipro”, “Ciprolet”, “Recipro”, “Ciprolaker”, “Siflox”, “Ciprodox”, “Tseprova”, “Tsiprobrin”, “Tsiloksan”, “Tsiprobid "," Tsiploks "," Tsiprinol "and others.
It should be noted that the price of these funds is not much higher than the cost of the original drug. Therefore, it will not be difficult for you to purchase a medication to treat a particular disease.
To summarize
Now you know what the ciprofloxacin drug is. I would like to emphasize that it can be used only according to the indications and prescription of the attending physician.