Xenleta vs. Cipro

Xenleta (lefamulin) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are antibiotics used to treat different types of bacterial infections.

Xenleta is used to treat adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible microorganisms.

Cipro is used to treat infections of the skin, lungs, airways, bones, joints, and urinary tract infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

Xenleta and Cipro are different types of antibiotics. Xenleta is a pleuromutilin antibacterial and Cipro is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.

Side effects of Xenleta and Cipro that are similar include sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares), headache, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Side effects of Xenleta that are different from Cipro include injection site reactions, elevated liver enzymes, and low blood potassium.

Side effects of Cipro that are different from Xenleta include dizziness, drowsiness, stomach upset, abdominal pain, blurred vision, nervousness, anxiety, agitation, rash, and connective tissue problems (tendon rupture and joint problems).

Both Xenleta and Cipro may interact with antidepressants and heart rhythm medications.

Xenleta may also interact with strong CYP3A4 inducers or P-gp inducers, strong CYP3A inhibitors or P-gp inhibitors, alprazolam, diltiazem, verapamil, simvastatin, vardenafil, antipsychotics, erythromycin, and moxifloxacin.

Cipro may also interact with caffeine, sucralfate; antacids that contain calcium, magnesium, or aluminum; didanosine, lanthanum carbonate or sevelamer; vitamin or mineral supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, or zinc; cyclosporine, methotrexate, metoclopramide, phenytoin, probenecid, ropinirole, sildenafil, theophylline, blood thinners, diuretics (water pills), insulin or oral diabetes medicines, medicines to treat mental illness, steroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Common side effects of Xenleta include:

• injection site reactions,
• elevated liver enzymes,
• nausea,
• low blood potassium,
• insomnia,
• headache,
• diarrhea,
• nausea, and
• vomiting

Common side effects of Cipro include:

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• headache
• stomach upset
• abdominal pain
• nausea/vomiting
• blurred vision
• nervousness
• anxiety
• agitation
• sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares), and
• rash

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Cipro including severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats; sudden pain, snapping or popping sound, bruising, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or loss of movement in any of your joints; watery or bloody diarrhea; confusion, hallucinations, depression, unusual thoughts or behavior; seizure (convulsions); severe headache, ringing in your ears, pain behind your eyes; pale or yellow skin, dark colored urine, fever, weakness; urinating less than usual or not at all; easy bruising or bleeding; numbness, tingling, or unusual pain anywhere in your body; the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Xenleta (lefamulin) is a pleuromutilin antibacterial indicated for the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible microorganisms.

Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a quinolone antibiotic. Cipro is available as a generic drug and is prescribed to treat infections of the skin, lungs, airways, bones, joints, and urinary tract infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

Xenleta may interact with strong CYP3A4 inducers or P-gp inducers, strong CYP3A inhibitors or P-gp inhibitors, alprazolam, diltiazem, verapamil, simvastatin, vardenafil, antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, erythromycin, moxifloxacin, and tricyclic antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Xenleta is not recommended for use during pregnancy; it may harm a fetus. Females of reproductive potential are advised to use effective contraception during treatment with Xenleta and for 2 days after the final dose. It is unknown if Xenleta passes into breast milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants, breastfeeding is not recommended while using Xenleta. Women should pump and discard breast milk for the duration of treatment with Xenleta and for 2 days after the final dose.

Cipro may also interact with tizanidine, clozapine, cyclosporine, glyburide, methotrexate, metoclopramide, phenytoin, probenecid, ropinirole, theophylline, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids.

Cipro may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, or anxiety), digoxin, metoclopramide, atropine, belladonna, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medications, heart rhythm medications, irritable bowel medications, nitrates, steroids, or ulcer medications.

The recommended dosage of Xenleta is 150 mg every 12 hours by intravenous infusion over 60 minutes for 5 to 7 days or 600 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days.

• Take Cipro exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
• Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Cipro to take and when to take it.
• Take Cipro Tablets in the morning and evening at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush or chew the tablet. Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow the tablet whole.
• Take Cipro Oral Suspension in the morning and evening at about the same time each day. Shake the Cipro Oral Suspension bottle well each time before use for about 15 seconds to make sure the suspension is mixed well. Close the bottle completely after use.
• Take Cipro XR one time each day at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush or chew the tablet. Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow the tablet whole.
• Cipro IV is given to you by intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein, slowly, over 60 minutes, as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Cipro can be taken with or without food.
• Cipro should not be taken with dairy products (like milk or yogurt) or calcium-fortified juices alone, but may be taken with a meal that contains these products.
• Drink plenty of fluids while taking Cipro.
• Do not skip any doses of Cipro, or stop taking it, even if you begin to feel better, until you finish your prescribed treatment unless:
  • you have tendon problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about Cipro?”
  • you have nerve problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about Cipro?”
  • you have central nervous system problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about Cipro?”
  • you have a serious allergic reaction. See “What are the possible side effects of Cipro?”
  • your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking Cipro

Taking all of your Cipro doses will help make sure that all of the bacteria are killed. Taking all of your Cipro doses will help lower the chance that the bacteria will become resistant to Cipro. If you become resistant to Cipro, Cipro and other antibacterial medicines may not work for you in the future.

• If you take too much Cipro, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.