Ciprofloxacin, Ophthalmic

“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Ciprofloxacin, Ophthalmic during a consultation by Dr Noor. Ciprofloxacin, Ophthalmic for pets in Perth.”

Ciprofloxacin, Ophthalmic for pets

(sip-roe-flox-a-sin)

Description:

This is an antibiotic medicine used on the eye.

Other Names for this Medication:

Ciloxan®

Common Dosage Forms:

For animals: there is no standard animal-labeled product listed.
For people:
- it comes as a 0.3% eye ointment in a 3.5 g tube
- and as a 0.3% eye drop liquid in 5 mL and 10 mL dropper bottles.

Antimicrobial Classification:

Critically Important

This handout does not include every detail that exists for this medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical advice. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.

Key Information

This is an antibiotic for the eye that is usually given 3 to 6 times each day for eye infections.
After treatment begins, small crystals can show up in the eye for a few days. These are not harmful.
Use correct application steps so the medicine does not get contaminated. Keep the cap firmly closed when you are not using it.
After you use this medicine, wait 5 minutes before putting any other medicine into the eye.
Keep it in the refrigerator or at room temperature, and protect it from moisture and sunlight. Do not freeze it. Do not use it if the color changes, if it turns cloudy, or if you can see particles in the liquid.
Throw away leftover medicine in the regular trash. Do not dispose of it into the sewer system.

How is this medication useful?

This medicine is often used in animals to treat eye infections caused by bacteria.
In some cases, veterinarians prescribe and use human medicines that contain this drug for animals. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this option is the best choice.

What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?

Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the items below so you can make treatment choices together.

Some medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including other eye medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
If your animal has had the same illness or problem in the past, tell your veterinarian what was used before and whether it helped or did not help.
If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had side effects from medicines before. Examples listed include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, and hair loss.

How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?

This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours, but you may not be able to see changes from the outside right away.
Your animal should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days.
This medicine does not last long in the body. Its effect stops within 24 hours.

When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?

No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.

If your animal fits any of the situations listed, speak with your veterinarian about weighing the risks and the benefits.

Do not use this medicine in animals that have an allergy to it or to similar medicines (for example: enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, moxifloxacin).
Use extra care in young animals whose bones and teeth are still developing.

What are the side effects of this medication?

If any of the signs below are strong, get worse, or keep happening, contact your veterinarian.

If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.

Possible mild effects include a small amount of stinging, eye irritation, or redness.
The eyes may become more sensitive to bright light.
People report that they can notice a bad taste in their mouth after using it.
For the first few days after starting, crystals may be seen in the treated eye or eyes. These are not harmful and should disappear after a few days.
Trouble breathing or swelling in the throat can be a sign of a severe allergic reaction to this medicine.

If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?

When this medicine is used in the eye, giving too much is not expected to happen.
Harmful effects could happen if your animal eats the medicine.
If your animal eats it, call your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for guidance.

How should this medication be given?

For this medicine to work correctly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed.

It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it the right way.

Before you apply it, wash your hands.
To keep the medicine clean, do not touch the tip of the dropper. Do not let the tip touch your animal’s eye or any surface.
If medicine remains on your animal’s face after you give the drops, carefully wipe it away using a damp cloth or a tissue.
If you are giving more than one eye medicine, wait 5 minutes between them before giving the next one.
Use eye drops before eye ointments so the drops can soak into the eye.
If you are using this as an eye drop liquid for a horse, your veterinarian may have placed a special eye catheter (a small tube system called a subpalpebral lavage, or SPL, catheter). Use this catheter only in the way your veterinarian directed, and after you inject the medicine into the catheter, use only air to flush the medicine through to the eye.
If you are struggling to apply the medicine, or if your animal will not accept the treatment, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give it and how to reduce stress during dosing.
This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
You may need prescription refills before the full course of treatment is finished.
Do not stop this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.

What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?

If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, give the next dose at the normal time.
Then continue with the usual schedule.
Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.

How should I store this medication?

Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved container used to organize doses.
Store it at room temperature and keep it protected from light.
If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a special custom-made version for your animal (a compounded product), follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.

Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?

No special handling steps are listed unless you are allergic to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example: levofloxacin, moxifloxacin).
Even so, it is recommended to wash your hands after you handle any medicine.

How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?

Do not flush this medicine in a toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
If your community has a medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it does not leak.
- Then place it in the regular trash.
Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.

What other information is important for this medication?

Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.

“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”

Related Medication Information

More Info Needed? Book a Phone/Video Consultation with Our Vet

Ciprofloxacin, Ophthalmic

Ciprofloxacin, Ophthalmic