How long after taking ciprofloxacin can I drink coffee?

In this article:

• Ciprofloxacin and coffee
• Caffeine interaction
• How long should you wait to drink coffee?
• Tips for minimizing risks
• The bottom line

In this article

• Ciprofloxacin and coffee
• Caffeine interaction
• How long should you wait to drink coffee?
• Tips for minimizing risks
• The bottom line

When you’re a devoted coffee drinker, it might be unpleasant or even impossible to imagine skipping your beverage for a while. But it might be necessary to take a literal coffee break if your healthcare provider prescribes a course of ciprofloxacin for you. Here’s what you need to know about how caffeine can affect the effectiveness of this particular antibiotic, and what effects it could cause.

Can you drink coffee with ciprofloxacin?

If you normally greet the day with a big cup of coffee, it may be time to consider whether that’s safe if you’re taking this particular medication for an infection. Generally speaking, internal medicine provider Joshua Lenchus, DO, doesn’t recommend drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages when taking ciprofloxacin. 

Ciprofloxacin is in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which also includes Levaquin (levofloxacin) and Avelox (moxifloxacin). Also sold under the brand name Cipro, ciprofloxacin has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a number of bacterial infections, including:

• Urinary tract infections
• Sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea 
• Skin, joint, or bone infections
• Prostatitis
• Gastrointestinal infections, notably infectious diarrhea
• Typhoid fever
• Lower respiratory infections
• Anthrax
• Salmonellosis

It’s considered a potent broad-spectrum quinolone that’s typically used more in the treatment of severe or resistant infections. “Patients taking the antibiotic ciprofloxacin should avoid or significantly reduce their caffeine consumption,” says Dr. Lenchus.

However, Casey Zaring, Pharm.D., pharmacy operations manager for OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton, Illinois, suggests that it can depend on the individual and their usual caffeine consumption. “If a person consumes their normal amount of caffeine while taking ciprofloxacin, they could experience symptoms of caffeine overdose,” explains Dr. Zaring. “This could look like rapid heart rate, jitters, headaches, anxiety, and dizziness.” 

Save up to 80% on Ciprofloxacin with SingleCare

Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.

Ciprofloxacin 500 mg (14 Tablets)

23666 - Hampton, VA

$7.92

i Price with signup

Get free coupon

$7.92

i Price with signup

Get free coupon

See Ciprofloxacin prices at all pharmacies

While it might not be that hard for someone who doesn’t normally consume much caffeine to avoid caffeine during a course of ciprofloxacin, it might not be so easy for someone who drinks a lot of coffee on a daily basis. “For people who regularly ingest caffeine, I would not recommend completely abstaining from caffeine,” Dr. Zaring says. “I would recommend decreasing the amount of caffeine consumed while taking ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin makes caffeine’s effect stronger and last longer.”

Stopping caffeine cold turkey can create some unpleasant effects. “Caffeine withdrawal can occur when consistent (caffeinated) drinks abruptly stop. Caffeine withdrawal can look like severe headaches, irritability, fatigue, and forgetfulness,” Dr. Zaring adds.

Melody Berg, Pharm.D., Editorial Director, ASHP Patient Medication Information, also suggests thinking moderation, not elimination. Although ciprofloxacin decreases caffeine elimination, prolonging its effects, the clinical impact has not been well described, she says. Caffeinated beverages, like coffee, should still be safe in modest amounts for most people while taking ciprofloxacin. “However, people who may be sensitive to the effects of caffeine, such as people who have hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, anxiety, insomnia (trouble sleeping), glaucoma, or epilepsy, should avoid caffeinated beverages while taking ciprofloxacin,” Dr. Berg says. “Additionally, you should avoid consuming caffeine later in the day while taking ciprofloxacin to avoid interfering with sleep.” 

Ciprofloxacin and caffeine interaction

Caffeine is metabolized by the liver, specifically by an enzyme called CYP1A2. “This is delayed by ciprofloxacin, causing caffeine levels to stay higher longer when consumed with ciprofloxacin,” Dr. Zaring says. “This makes people more susceptible to side effects from excessive caffeine intake.”

When you consume too much caffeine, you might feel jittery or anxious, or experience what Dr. Lenchhus calls “the shakes.” According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), other symptoms that you might experience from excessive caffeine intake, or taking a medication that increases the effect of caffeine, include:

• Increased heart rate
• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia or sleep disruptions
• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Headache

It’s also important not to just swap out coffee for another beverage. Check the caffeine content first. Some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. 

How long after taking ciprofloxacin can you drink coffee?

Ciprofloxacin typically leaves your system within 20 to 30 hours, according to Dr. Zaring. Everyone’s individual metabolism and sensitivity to caffeine are different. “Some factors that may cause it to last longer in your system are if you’re taking any other medications that interact with ciprofloxacin or if you have decreased kidney function, such as chronic kidney disease,” Dr. Zaring says. Plus, some of your behaviors can have an influence. For example, smoking increases the metabolism of caffeine. 

However, once you’re past that time frame, you should be able to enjoy your coffee or tea again. “Once it is out of your system, you can resume your usual caffeine intake,” says Dr. Zaring. “But be mindful of signs and symptoms of caffeine toxicity.” 

Practical strategies for minimizing the risks

By being proactive, you may be able to minimize the potential risks and reduce the likelihood of side effects when taking ciprofloxacin. 

Before you take any new medication, one of the most important things that you can do is notify your healthcare provider about all prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications that you’re taking, as well as any multivitamins or other supplements. In this case, it’s important to make sure that you avoid taking anything that might interact with ciprofloxacin and cause adverse effects. Some drugs known to have interactions with ciprofloxacin include:

• Warfarin
• Methotrexate
• Cyclosporine
• Cymbalta (duloxetine)
• Zanaflex (tizanidine)
• Theophylline
• Viagra (sildenafil)

Some anti-diabetes medications, such as sulfonylureas, can cause low blood sugar. Your healthcare provider might also advise you to temporarily steer clear of taking any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), since there is a risk of seizures when NSAIDs are combined with high doses of quinolone antibiotics. 

Also, a healthcare professional may not want to prescribe ciprofloxacin for you if you are taking a medication that prolongs or increases the QT interval, which is a measurement of how long it takes for the heart’s lower chambers, or ventricles, to contract and relax. This could lead to a potentially dangerous fast heart rhythm called torsade de pointes. For example, some antipsychotics and antidepressants, as well as macrolide antibiotics and amiodarone, are known to prolong the QT interval. 

Here are some other tips to help you get the most out of this medication:

• Take ciprofloxacin tablets with plenty of water to help reduce some side effects. 
• Cut back on calcium-rich foods or dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, when taking ciprofloxacin. These foods can reduce the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin by inhibiting its absorption. Take ciprofloxacin 2 to 4 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after products containing calcium.
• Consider taking it with food or with a probiotic to help prevent stomach upset. “Antibiotics, like ciprofloxacin, may also kill gut bacteria, which can cause diarrhea,” says Dr. Berg. Your local pharmacist can help you select a probiotic that is best for you.
• Don’t take over-the-counter antacids or other products that contain aluminum salts (or aluminum hydroxide), calcium salts, magnesium salts, or iron supplements at the same time that you take ciprofloxacin. Space them out by several hours before or after to avoid reducing the medication’s effectiveness.
• Try to take the medication at the same time each day, for a once-daily dose of ciprofloxacin. If you are taking two doses per day, try to take each dose as close to 12 hours apart as possible. 
• Take the entire course of the drug as prescribed. If you stop taking it too soon because you’re feeling better and the medication doesn’t have a chance to fully knock out the infection, the infection might return. 

Many people take ciprofloxacin without experiencing any problems, but there are a number of possible side effects or adverse events associated with this medication, including a rare allergic reaction, according to the manufacturer’s packaging insert. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash are among the most common possible side effects, but more serious ones are also possible. 

Seek medical advice from your healthcare provider if you develop any new symptoms, even if you’re not sure they’re related to ciprofloxacin. For example, you might not expect some possible adverse effects, such as tendonitis or an increased risk of tendon rupture. Ciprofloxacin has also been associated with an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy and some psychiatric reactions affecting mental health. Talk to your provider about whether it’s safe to drink alcohol, as well as anything else going on in your life that might affect your provider’s choice of medications for you. For example, ciprofloxacin is not recommended for people who are breastfeeding or people with a history of myasthenia gravis, which is an autoimmune disorder that weakens your voluntary muscles.

The bottom line

It’s best to stop drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages, or at least cut back, while taking a course of ciprofloxacin because the ciprofloxacin can exacerbate the effects of the caffeine, and leave you feeling pretty jittery and shaky. 

Ultimately, your provider can work with you to provide an appropriate treatment plan that fits your needs and lifestyle to help you recover from a bacterial infection safely.