PRECAUTIONS
General
As with other antibacterial preparations, prolonged use
of ciprofloxacin may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms,
including fungi. If superinfection occurs, appropriate therapy should be initiated.
Whenever clinical judgment dictates, the patient should be examined with the
aid of magnification, such as slit lamp biomicroscopy and, where appropriate,
fluorescein staining.
Ciprofloxacin should be discontinued at the first
appearance of a skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity reaction. In
clinical studies of patients with bacterial corneal ulcer, a white crystalline
precipitate located in the superficial portion of the corneal defect was
observed in 35 (16.6%) of 210 patients. The onset of the precipitate was within
24 hours to 7 days after starting therapy. In one patient, the precipitate was
immediately irrigated out upon its appearance. In 17 patients, resolution of
the precipitate was seen in 1 to 8 days (seven within the first 24-72 hours),
in five patients, resolution was noted in 10-13 days. In nine patients, exact
resolution days were unavailable; however, at follow-up examinations, 18-44
days after onset of the event, complete resolution of the precipitate was
noted. In three patients, outcome information was unavailable. The precipitate
did not preclude continued use of ciprofloxacin, nor did it adversely affect
the clinical course of the ulcer or visual outcome. (see ADVERSE REACTIONS).
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Eight in vitro mutagenicity tests have been conducted
with ciprofloxacin and the test results are listed below:
Salmonella/Microsome Test (Negative)
E. coli DNA Repair Assay (Negative)
Mouse Lymphoma Cell Forward Mutation Assay (Positive)
Chinese Hamster V79 Cell HGPRT Test (Negative)
Syrian Hamster Embryo Cell Transformation Assay
(Negative)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Point Mutation Assay
(Negative)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mitotic Crossover and
Gene Conversion Assay (Negative)
Rat Hepatocyte DNA Repair Assay (Positive)
Thus, two of the eight tests were positive, but the
results of the following three in vivo test systems gave negative results:
Rat Hepatocyte DNA Repair Assay
Micronucleus Test (Mice)
Dominant Lethal Test (Mice)
Long term carcinogenicity studies in mice and rats have
been completed. After daily oral dosing for up to two years, there is no
evidence that ciprofloxacin had any carcinogenic or tumorigenic effects in
these species.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category C: Reproduction studies have
been performed in rats and mice at doses up to six times the usual daily human
oral dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the
fetus due to ciprofloxacin. In rabbits, as with most antimicrobial agents,
ciprofloxacin (30 and 100 mg/kg orally) produced gastrointestinal disturbances
resulting in maternal weight loss and an increased incidence of abortion. No
teratogenicity was observed at either dose. After intravenous administration,
at doses up to 20 mg/kg, no maternal toxicity was produced and no
embryotoxicity or teratogenicity was observed. There are no adequate and well
controlled studies in pregnant women. CILOXAN® Ophthalmic Solution should be
used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential
risk to the fetus.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether topically applied ciprofloxacin
is excreted in human milk; however, it is known that orally administered
ciprofloxacin is excreted in the milk of lactating rats and oral ciprofloxacin
has been reported in human breast milk after a single 500 mg dose. Caution
should be exercised when CILOXAN Ophthalmic Solution is administered to a
nursing mother.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the
age of 1 year have not been established. Although ciprofloxacin and other
quinolones cause arthropathy in immature animals after oral administration,
topical ocular administration of ciprofloxacin to immature animals did not
cause any arthropathy and there is no evidence that the ophthalmic dosage form
has any effect on the weight bearing joints.
Geriatric Use
No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have
been observed between elderly and younger patients.