Traveler's Diarrhea:
Ciprofloxacin Treatment Guide
This treatment plan reviews the risks and benefits of the treatment we are recommending. Please make sure to read it and the manufacturer's pamphlet that comes with the medicine. The manufacturer's pamphlet contains full information on potential medication interactions, side effects, and other important information you should know about the medicine before you start.
Instructions
You have stated that you wish to obtain treatment for prevention of traveler’s diarrhea for traveling out of the United States with Ciprofloxacin 750mg. Take 3 tablets of Ciprofloxacin 250mg tablets all at once if you begin to experience moderate or severe traveler’s diarrhea (3 or more stools in 24 hours).
The primary and most important treatment of travelers’ diarrhea is fluid replacement. Fluid replacement can consist of fruit juice or an oral rehydration solution. You may also consider medications like Pepto-Bismol or Imodium for mild cases of diarrhea with less than 3 stools per day.
Prevention is the best method for traveler’s diarrhea and includes:
- Eating food that has thoroughly been cooked and served hot
- Eating peeled fruits only
- Pasteurized dairy products
- Bottled beverages
- Avoid using ice
If you develop a high fever, bloody diarrhea, or if your symptoms continue beyond 10-14 days seek medical attention immediately.
There is a black box warning on this antibiotic for tendon ruptures and collagen disorders that can last for several months, for this reason we are only providing one time dosing and treatment.
Allergies
This medicine, like all medications, may cause an allergic reaction if you are allergic to similar medicines or components. If you are allergic to any of the following please do not take the medicine and call or message us or see your doctor in person.
- Ciprofloxacin
- Other fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Conditions
We have evaluated your health history and the specific health information you provided us, however if anything changes and you develop one of these conditions, please stop taking this medicine and call or message us immediately.
- Pregnancy
- Autoimmune conditions
- C diff infection in the past
- Heart Disease
- Aortic aneurysm
- Heart arrhythmia
- Long QT syndrome
- Torsades de pointes
- G6PD Deficiency
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Previous Tendon Disorder or Tendon Rupture
- Seizure disorder
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Ciprofloxacin is a pregnancy category C. Based on available data, an increased risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse fetal and maternal outcomes have not been observed following ciprofloxacin use during pregnancy.
Drug levels of Ciprofloxacin are low in breastmilk and are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Monitor the infant for possible effects on the gastrointestinal flora such as vomiting, diarrhea, candidiasis (thrush, diaper rash), especially in infants under 3 months of age. Azithromycin is acceptable in nursing mothers.
Medicines, Supplements, and Foods
We have evaluated the specific health information you provided us, however if you are taking any of the medicines, foods, or supplements listed below call or message us before you take the medicine. Some of these can cause dangerous interactions with the medicine we are prescribing you and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan. Please ensure your chart is up to date with your current medications, allergies, and medical conditions so your provider can safely treat you as this list may not be all inclusive.
Emergency Side Effects
This medicine can cause dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. If any of the emergency side effects listed in the manufacturer’s pamphlet or those below happen to you please stop taking the medicine and call 911 or seek immediate medical help in person.
- Sudden onset of chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty or painful swallowing
- Severe skin rash and/or itching
- Facial or throat swelling
- Blurred vision
- Severe bloody diarrhea
- Tendon rupture
Other Side Effects
This medicine can also cause other side effects including (this list is not all inclusive):
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Lightheadedness or passing out
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Ringing in ears
- Vaginal yeast infections
- Photosensitivity/easily sunburned
Risks
Accurate Information
We have evaluated your health history and your specific health information you provided and determined it is safe to proceed with this treatment at this time. If your health history changes including diagnoses or medications please message or call us before you take the medicine to ensure it's safe to proceed. Some medications and conditions can cause dangerous interactions with the medicine we are prescribing and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment Failure
This treatment is not guaranteed to be effective. It may not work or may only partially resolve the condition for which you are seeking treatment. If the treatment is not working, or if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, give us a call or message us anytime. If it is an emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical help in person. You may need to seek alternative treatment such as those listed below or in the follow up plan.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis.
Through telehealth, there is also a risk that we misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect our recommendation for treatment. This risk exists with a doctor in person as well but they may have additional resources to aid their evaluation. We use evidence-based practice and guidelines as well as clinical decision-making to minimize these risks.
Accepting or Declining Our Recommendation
We have based our recommendation on your specific case and medical guidelines, but there may be alternative treatments or strategies that may be helpful to you. Some may be more or less effective than what we provide. Some treatments may require an in-person exam or procedure which we can’t provide. Message us or talk to your doctor in person to discuss alternative treatments.
Share with Your In-Person Healthcare Team
You can access your records anytime. We strongly recommend that you update your in-person doctor, pharmacist, and the rest of your healthcare team to let them know about any new medicines you are taking or other changes in your health.
You can also ask us questions anytime and we are happy to help you share any information about your health with your in-person healthcare team.