2. Is Cipro approved for anthrax?

Cipro is approved for use in patients who have been exposed to the inhaled form of anthrax.

3. Is Cipro the only product approved to treat anthrax infections?

No. There are a number of antibiotics that are currently indicated to treat anthrax infections including doxycycline and penicillin. These older antibiotics are readily available. FDA is stressing that any antibiotic should only be used by those who really need it because unnecessary antibiotic use exposes patients to the risks of a drug without any potential benefit.

4. If I know someone who was exposed to anthrax should I be treated with Cipro?

Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely, if it occurs at all. Therefore, there is no need to treat contacts of persons ill with anthrax, such as household contacts, friends, or coworkers, unless they also were also exposed to the same source of infection.

5. Should I ask my doctor to write a prescription for Cipro in case it’s needed?

No. Although FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine, the agency is strongly recommending that physicians not prescribe Cipro for individual patients to have on hand for possible use against inhaled anthrax. Any needed antibiotics from the current stockpile will be made available if they are needed. In the meantime, Cipro should not be prescribed unless there is a clear need, so that the drug will be available when it is needed to treat other more common infections.

6. Why is FDA discouraging widespread use of Cipro?

Random prescribing and extensive use of Cipro could speed up the development of drug-resistant organisms, and the usefulness of Cipro as an antibiotic may be lost.
8. What else should I know about Cipro treatment? In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. If a person is exposed to anthrax the risk of adverse events caused by Cipro treatment may be acceptable because of the seriousness of the disease. However, if a person is not exposed to anthrax these risks may outweigh the benefits.

Some things to consider:

The safety and effectiveness of Cipro in individuals less than 18 years of age is not established, except for post-exposure in inhalational anthrax. Cipro has been shown to cause bone development problems in young animals.
There have been no formal clinical studies of the safety and effectiveness of Cipro in pregnancy. However, based on available information, TERIS (The Teratogen Information System) has concluded that Cipro used during pregnancy is unlikely to cause physical defects to an unborn baby. But, there is not enough information to say there is no risk. Guidelines for treating pregnant women with Cipro are limited. An expert panel, The Working Group on Civilian Biodefense, recommends that Cipro be used at usual adult doses to treat pregnant women exposed to anthrax. Pregnant women should always consult their health care provider before taking any medications.
Before taking Cipro review ALL medications that you are taking with your health care provider, including those that you take without a prescription. Cipro can interact with other medicines, including multivitamins.

“I don’t want to make it sound scary, but all drugs have toxic potential,” said Taula Moyers, pharmacy clinical coordinator for Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs, Colo. “Some of them can cause renal problems, some of them can cause liver problems. It’s going to be totally dependent on the drug and the extent of the interaction.”Some common food-drug interactions include:

Drinking grapefruit juice while on Lipitor, the most popular drug prescribed to lower cholesterol, increases the amount of Lipitor in the bloodstream, which can increase adverse effects like muscle pain, weakness and stiffness.Sular, a high-blood-pressure medication, shouldn’t be taken (cipro antibiotic) with high-fat foods for the same reason — the interaction increases the amount of drug in the bloodstream, increasing the side effects.Cipro, an antibiotic prescribed to treat bacterial infections, as well as other antibiotics in its class, can bind with dairy products, preventing proper absorption. However, patients can ingest dairy products while taking Cipro — just not at the same time as they take the pill.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a class of antidepressants, interact with foods rich in tyramine, which is found in processed foods, grapes, smoked meats and fish.Over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol, Midol and cough and cold products, which all contain acetaminophen, can cause liver damage when combined with large amounts of (cipro antibiotic) alcohol.To avoid being served a dish or drink you can’t have, Moyers suggests that party-goers and hosts talk about restrictions beforehand.”It’s important that any time you go out to eat that whoever’s doing the cooking be aware of any dietary concerns people have,” she said. “Be upfront about any dietary restrictions.”Doctors typically outline potential reactions with foods, drinks and drugs when a drug is prescribed, and to further prevent confusion, many pharmacies have methods of flagging prescriptions that interact.But some doctors don’t explain interactions well (or at all,cipro antibiotic), and patients who visit multiple doctors or pharmacies can create further communication gaps.

“There is a lot of pressure put on the consumer to be aware of the potential for interactions with all medications,” said Michael DeLuca, pharmacist and spokesman for pdrhealth.com, a medical resource run by Thomson Healthcare. “It is essential that consumers effectively communicate to their doctors and pharmacists all of the things they are taking.”The best defense against a drug interaction mix-up is full disclosure. Be sure to make your doctors aware of all herbs, vitamins and medications you take (cipro antibiotic), including over-the-counter drugs.Pharmacies often provide consumers with a printout of common side effects and interactions, and pharmacists can explain how and when to take a certain medication.For quick reference, check out pdrhealth.com and click on “Interaction checker,” which calculates drug, food and drink interactions.But speak to your medical professional about your findings — some drugs that interact are prescribed intentionally, and a pharmacist or doctor can answer further questions. You should not stop or start any drug without your doctor’s OK.