Ciloxan Eye Drops (ciprofloxacin) are used to treat bacterial infections in the eyes. This product is not effective against other types of infection (viral or fungal), and should not be used to alleviate redness or irritation not associated with bacterial infection.

The active ingredient in Ciloxan Eye Drops is ciprofloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic that has seen widespread use around the world since its introduction in the 1980s. It works by disrupting the bacteria's ability to grow and reproduce. There are some strains of bacteria resistant to ciprofloxacin; this problem is worsened when antibiotics are misused. It's important to complete treatment even if symptoms clear up and the infection seems to be gone.

Ciloxan Eye Drops should not be used in patients under 18 or while pregnant or breastfeeding without explicit doctor instruction.

Conditions Treated

As mentioned above, Ciloxan Eye Drops are only effective against bacterial infections. Ideally the infection will be verified by a doctor and the offending bacteria identified so the most effective antibiotic can be utilized. Ciloxan Eye Drops are most commonly used to treat:

• Conjunctivitis (infection on the eye)
• Blepharitis (infection of the eyelid)
• Corneal ulcers (ulcers caused by bacteria)

The medication comes in a vial with a built-in dropper. Hands should be thoroughly washed and dried prior to handling the vial. Take care that the dropper does not come into contact with any surfaces, hands, or the eyes. The dropper should not be rinsed off, as this may introduce bacteria or other microbes to the medication reservoir.

Treatment will vary to some degree depending on the condition and its severity; dosage and duration is best determined by a doctor.

For conjunctivitis and blepharitis treatment typically consists of:

• Administer 1 to 2 drops into the affected eye every two hours for two days.
• After the first two days, administer 1 to 2 drops every four hours.
• Treatment typically lasts for seven days.

For corneal ulcers treatment is a little more complicated:

• On the first day of treatment, administer 2 drops in the affected eye every 15 minutes for the first 6 hours. Administer 2 drops every 30 minutes for the rest of the first day.
• On the second day, administer 2 drops once every hour for the entire day.
• On day three and for the remainder of treatment, administer 2 drops every 4 hours.
• Treatment typically lasts for 14 days.

After administration the eye should be closed for several minutes; do not rub or blink. Gentle pressure may be applied using clean fingertips to help prevent the medication from leaking out or to help keep the eye shut. If applying multiple drops to the same eye the entire procedure should be repeated for each drop; apply one drop and hold the eye shut for several minutes, then apply the next drop and again hold the eye shut for several minutes.

Ciloxan Eye Drops do not directly alleviate pain and irritation, but most patients will notice some improvement within the first day or two of use as the levels of bacteria begin to drop. Other medications may also be administered to directly address irritation or to further combat the infection; these may be additional eye drops or topical ointments. Wait at least 5 minutes after administering Ciloxan Eye Drops before applying other medications to the eye.

Contact lenses should not be used for the duration of treatment with Ciloxan Eye Drops; they can reduce the medication's effectiveness. As a general rule contact lenses should not be worn during any type of eye infection anyway; they often worsen the condition.

Opened containers of Ciloxan Eye Drops should be disposed of after four weeks; the medication will become increasingly less potent and the risk of contamination with microbes becomes increasingly high.

This ships from the UK

Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a widely-used quinolone antibiotic effective at treating a range of bacterial infections, including anthrax.

The medication is available in a range of formulations, but outside of a hospital setting it is most often taken by tablet in adults and oral suspension in children. Regular tablets may be split or crushed if desired to create smaller doses or ease administration. Extended-release tablets must be swallowed whole.

The active ingredient in Cipro, ciprofloxacin, is available in a number of brand names as well as generics. Most areas require a prescription to buy Cipro.

Proper Use of Cipro

Used properly Cipro is unlikely to produce serious side effects. It is important to complete treatment to ensure the infection is completely cleared up even if symptoms disappear; failure to do so can result in a resurgance of the infection and contributes to resistant bacteria.

In adults, Cipro is frequently prescribed to treat:

• Anthrax
• Urinary tract infections
• Bacterial prostatitis
• Cystitis in women
• Sinusitis
• Infectious diarrhea
• Lower respiratory tract infections
• Bone or joint infections
• Skin infections
• Typhoid fever
• Cervical or urethral gonorrhea
• Intra-abdominal infections

Note that many of the above infections may be caused by a variety of different bacteria, not all of which are susceptible to Cipro. Likewise, Cipro will have no effect on viral or fungal infections, which may also produce similar symptoms in some cases. Ideally, any infection will be identified by a doctor prior to initiating treatment.

Treatment with Cipro is very dependent on the type and severity of the infection. To a lesser exent treatment may be influenced by age, weight and other individual factors. A very rough treatment guideline for otherwise healthy adults is as follows:

• Mild to moderate Urinary Tract infections: 250 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days.
• Severe urinary tract infections: 500 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days.
• Bacterial prostatitis: 500 mg twice per day for 28 days.
• Mild lower respiratory tract infections: 500 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days.
• Severe lower respiratory tract infections: 750 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days.
• Sinusitis: 500 mg twice per day for 10 days.
• Mild skin infections: 500 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days.
• Severe skin infections: 750 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days.
• Mild bone and joint infections: 500 mg twice per day for 4 to 6 weeks.
• Severe bone and joint infections: 750 mg twice per day for 4 to 6 weeks.
• Intra-abdominal infections: 500 mg twice per day for 7 to 14 days. Usually prescribed along with metronidazole.
• Infectious diarrhea: 500 mg twice per day for 5 to 7 days.
• Typhoid fever: 500 mg twice per day for 10 days.
• Cervical or urethral gonorrhea: Single dose of 250 mg.
• Exposure to inhalational anthrax: 500 mg twice per day for 60 days.

Again the above dosage guidelines may be adjusted according to individual patient needs. Patients with major medical conditions, who are very young or elderly, or who are taking other medications may require adjusted doses.

Precautions & Side Effects

The majority of the more common Cipro side effects are similar to those resulting from use of any antibiotic, including:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Dizziness

The above symptoms are generally not cause for concern unless severe or persistant.

Much more rarely more serious side effects develop which warrant rapid medical attention:

• Severe diarrhea
• Severe headaches or pressure in the skull
• Vision changes or eye pain
• Persistent ringing in the ears
• Severe dizziness, weakness or fainting
• Heartbeat changes

Patients taking Cipro are also at slightly increased risk of experiencing tendon damage. Take care to avoid straining joints during treatment and be alert for warning signs:

• Difficulty moving joints
• Pain, bruising and/or swelling at joints
• Stiff joints

Patients who are very young or very elderly, are taking steroids, have had an organ transplant, have a history of joint problems, or who have major medical conditions are at greater risk of experiencing serious side effects.