Cipro, generic name ciprofloxacin, and Keflex, generic name cephalexin, are antibiotics that belong to different drug classes. Cipro is a type of fluoroquinolone and Keflex is a type of penicillin. Cipro and Keflex can cause similar side effects like abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, and skin rashes.

Keflex has fewer serious side effects than Cipro, for example, anaphylaxis, a type of severe allergic reaction. Cipro and Keflex both can cause a serious infection with C. difficile, which causes severe, chronic diarrhea and may lead to pseudomembranous colitis. Cipro has many serious side effects, for example, Achilles tendon rupture, peripheral nerve pain, CNS problems, high blood sugar, abnormal heart rhythms, hepatitis, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), liver failure, acute kidney failure, cardiac arrest, and respiratory failure.

Cipro and Keflex are used to treat bacterial infections, for example, infections of the ears, skin, bone, urinary tract, and C. difficile (infectious diarrhea). Cipro also is used for the treatment of lower respiratory infections, sinusitis, chronic prostatitis, TB, typhoid fever, cystitis, the plague, anthrax poisoning, and bronchiectasis. Keflex also is used for the treatment of infections of the middle ear, tonsils (tonsillitis), bronchioles (bronchitis), laryngitis (larynx), and lungs (pneumonia).

Ciprofloxacin (generic name), Cipro, Cipro XR (brand names) is an antibiotic prescribed for the treatment of many skin, lung, airway, bone, and joint infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Examples include complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), gonorrhea, chronic bacterial prostatitis, typhoid fever, chronic bronchitis, infectious diarrhea caused by E. coli, Shigella, and Campylobacter jejuni, anthrax poisoning, and TB (tuberculosis).

Cipro should not be used for treating uncomplicated UTIs, acute bacterial chronic bronchitis, or acute bacterial sinusitis because of the serious side effects it may cause.

The FDA has issued a warning for fluoroquinolones like Cipro because they have been associated with some serious adverse reactions, for example, tendinitis or tendon rupture, particularly the Achilles tendon. It can worsen weakness in people with a disease called myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy, CNS problems, for example, nervousness, agitation, dizziness, paranoia, hallucinations, nightmares, and anxiety.

Common side effects of Cipro include abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and rash.

Other possible serious side effects and adverse events include liver dysfunction or failure. high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), renal failure (kidney failure), cardiac arrest, hepatitis, stroke, convulsions, seizures, jaundice, leukopenia, C. difficile, respiratory failure, and shock.

Cipro interacts with drugs, for example, diabetes medications, theophylline (Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Theolair), warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), iron salts (sulfates), sevelamer (Renagel), and sildenafil (Viagra).

Doctors don't know if Cipro is safe to take if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The dosage of this drug depends upon the type of bacterial infection you have. The brand name Proquin XR has been discontinued and is no longer available in the US.

The cornea is the clear outer layer of the eye. If it is damaged by disease, infection, or injury, vision problems may occur. Corneal problems can be detected by having an eye exam. Corneal problems can be prevented by protecting the eyes from injury and avoiding contact with people who have eye infections.

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea. Infection is a common cause of corneal ulcer. Symptoms and signs of corneal ulcer include redness, eye pain and discharge, blurred vision, photophobia, and a gray or white spot on the cornea. Treatment depends upon the cause of the corneal ulcer.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are diseases that cause inflammation of part of or the entire digestive tract (GI). Crohn's affects the entire GI tract (from the mouth to the anus), while ulcerative colitis or UC only affects the large and small intestine and ilium. Researchers do not know the exact cause of either disease. About 20% of people with Crohn's disease also have a family member with the disease. Researchers believe that certain factors may play a role in causing UC. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are a type of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis both have similar symptoms and signs, for example:

• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Episodic and/or persistent diarrhea
• Fever
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Rectal bleeding
• Bloody stools
• Joint pain and soreness
• Eye redness or pain

Symptoms unique to Crohn's disease include:

• Anemia
• Skin changes

Symptoms of unique to ulcerative colitis include:

• Certain rashes
• An urgency to defecate (have a bowel movement)

Doctors diagnose both diseases with similar tests and procedures. While there is no cure for either disease, doctors and other health care professionals can help you treat disease flares, and manage your Crohn's or UC with medication, diet, nutritional supplements, and/or surgery.

REFERENCES:

CDC. "What is inflammatory bowel disease IBD?" Updated June 21, 2017.
<https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.htm>

NIH. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. "Ulcerative Colitis." September 2014.
<https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/ulcerative-colitis>

NIH. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. "Symptoms and Causes of Crohn's Disease." November 2016.
<https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes>

NIH. National Human Genome Research Institute. "Learning About Crohn's Disease." Updated: Sep 27, 2011.
<https://www.genome.gov/25521854/learning-about-crohns-disease/>

PubMed Health. "Ulcerative Colitis." Accessed Jul 24, 2017.
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0022830/>

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the diverticula or diverticulum. Diverticulitis causes are either infectious or noninfectious, however, it is not contagoius. Symptoms of diverticulitis include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• gas,
• constipation,
• changes in bowel habits,
• bloating,
• constipation,
• fever,
• abdominal tenderness,
• swollen abdomen,
• fistula formation, and
• lower left abdominal pain.

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is an antibiotic for treating bacterial infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, bones, airways, and joints. Levaquin is often used to treat:

• Urinary tract infections
• Prostatitis
• Diarrhea caused by E. coli
• Campylobacter jejuni
• Shigella
• Mastitis
• Acute bacterial sinusitis
• Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis
• Proctatitis
• Anthrax inhalation
• Plague
• Complicated skin and skin structure infections like cellulitis, impetigo, and wound infections due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, or Streptococcus pyogenes.

Common side effects are rash, intestinal gas, vaginal itching or discharge, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Iron, calcium, zinc, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) interact with Levaquin. It also has been associated with tendonitis and tendon rupture; abnormal heart beats, and liver dysfunction. Levaquin is available as an oral solution of 25 mg/mL, clear greenish-yellow color. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional if you have any questions about this drug.