Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride is a powerful modern synthetic antibiotic. It was first brought to market and patented in the middle of the 1980s and has been widely used since to treat bacterial infection. Often referred to simply as cipro, it gained fame in the wake of anthrax terror attacks in 2001, as it was the antibiotic of choice in the prevention and treatment of anthrax. It works equally well against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, although resistant strains have emerged.
Cipro is used to treat a variety of infections but is most frequently used to treat typhoid fever and diarrhea resulting from bacterial infection. The significant side effects of the drug make it a poor candidate for the treatment of diseases, such as tuberculosis, that require very long courses of treatment. Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was once the drug of choice in treating certain sexually-transmitted infections, particularly gonorrhea, but growing resistance has rendered it much less effective against these infections.
When initially released, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was one of the most effective antibiotics available to a physician. Widespread use and abuse of the drug have led to the emergence of many strains of wholly or partially resistant bacteria, however, and rendered it less effective. Antibiotics generally are over-prescribed and mis-prescribed, as patients demand them for viral infections and physicians comply in the interests of keeping patients happy. Poor compliance with courses of treatment and the widespread use of the drug in animal populations have also degraded its efficacy.
The side effects of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride are significant. Most patients report few if any serious effects, but a significant number of patients have other, unpredictable reactions. These side effects can be both permanent and quite severe, ranging from the permanent loss of nerve sensation to serious psychological effects including hallucinations. Children are especially prone to side effects from ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, and current guidance recommends using this drug only in a few rare cases in which infections are broadly resistant to other medicines. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the drug as well because the drug will be passed on to the child in both cases.
Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride has fewer serious interactions than it does side effects, but it does interact with a number of other medications. A very serious side effect may occur in patients taking warfarin, as cipro may lead to an increased level of warfarin in the bloodstream, which can, in turn, produce very serious effects, as warfarin is quite dangerous. Limited interactions may also occur with some food products, such as caffeine, leading to the slower breakdown of those substances.
