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Public Health – Muskegon County
Cipro Fact Sheet
What is Cipro?
Cipro (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) is an antibiotic used
to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the
body. It does not work for viral infections (for example,
the common cold).
Is Cipro approved for anthrax?
Cipro is approved for use in patients who have been
exposed to the inhaled form of anthrax.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What are some possible side effects of Cipro? (This list
is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Cipro.
Your health care provider can discuss with you a more
complete list of side effects.)
Some possible side effects of Cipro include:
 Central nervous system (CNS) side effects including:
dizziness, confusion, tremors, hallucinations,
depression, increased risk of seizures
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An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of
the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or
hives)
Pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon
A severe tissue inflammation of the colon
Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
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.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Emergency Preparedness & Response, www.bt.cdc.gov
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug
Evaluation & Research, www.fda.gov/cder/drugprepare
For more information about Cipro, please contact the
Division of Drug Information at [email protected]
or 1-888-INFOFDA (463-6332).
Public Health – Muskegon County
209 E Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442
www.muskegonhealth.net
Phone: (231) 724-6246