Is ciprofloxacin 500 mg okay to take for a bad cough and cold?
• A: The common cold is caused by a group of viruses called rhinovirus. Symptoms of an infection with any of these viruses include runny nose, congestion, sneezing, scratchy throat, cough, an altered sense of taste or smell, and possibly headache and muscle aches. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It fights bacteria in the body and is used to treat different types of bacterial infections. Since the common cold and its cough are caused by a virus, ciprofloxacin will not be effective in treating them. There is no medication that will kill or cure the common cold, so it must simply run its course. However, there are medicines available over-the-counter to help ease the symptoms of the common cold. Choosing the medicine that works best for you may take some trial and error. Selecting medicines that target your specific symptoms instead of combination products can help avoid double-dosing and decrease the risk of side effects. For a dry
