Cipro Treatment for Prostatitis

Prostatitis occurs when the prostate becomes inflamed, resulting in a variety of symptoms including increased urinary frequency and urgency, bloody urine, incontinence, low back pain, pelvic pain, vomiting and low-grade fevers. Some men experience no symptoms. Acute prostatitis is often caused by a bacterial infection that may be treated with a variety of antibiotics including Ciprofloxacin (Cipro). Chronic prostatitis is not usually bacterial; however, long courses of antibiotics may be used to rule out a persistent infection.

Cipro Pills

• Bacterial prostatitis can be treated at home with oral antibiotics. Oral Cipro is available in both name brand and generic forms. According to the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR), the typical dose for mild-to-moderate chronic prostatitis is 500-mg of oral Cipro every 12 hours for up to 28 days. Acute pancreatitis is typically treated for a shorter duration.

  Take the antibiotics for the full amount of time prescribed, even if your symptoms improve or disappear. Cipro, like all medications, may cause a variety of side effects. See the medication insert for a complete list. If you develop signs of an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction such as hives, swelling in the face or throat, or difficulty breathing seek immediate medical attention.

IV Cipro

• In cases where the prostatitis is unresponsive to oral Cipro or where the symptoms are severe enough to warrant aggressive treatment, IV Cipro may be prescribed. IV Cipro is usually administered in a hospital or out-patient clinic. According to the PDR, the typical dosage of IV Cipro for chronic prostatitis is 400-mg every 12 hours for 28 days.

  There are certain unique risks associated with the use of any intravenous medication. Any redness, soreness or swelling at the IV site or along the arm should be brought immediately to the attention of a medical professional. Always report any unusual or bothersome effects you experienced during the course of treatment.

Resistant Prostatitis

• Since antibacterial medications do not enter prostate tissues easily, any infection of the prostate may return if the antibiotic is not taken for long enough. Additionally, many cases of prostatitis are not caused by bacterial infections and therefore will not respond to antibiotic therapy. Even though non-bacterial prostatitis is more common than bacterial prostatitis, the non-bacterial causes of prostatitis are still unknown.

  Prostate massage and a technique for relaxing muscle structures called myofascial release may be employed to help treat resistant prostatitis. Often a surgical procedure known as transurethral resection of the prostate is the only effective treatment for prostatitis that has resisted antibiotic therapy.