Cipro is a brand-name prescription antibiotic used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin is the active ingredient in Cipro and the name of its generic equivalent. Belonging to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, ciprofloxacin prevents bacteria from using their genetic material to grow. Depending on the infection, most people will be asked to take two oral doses daily for three days to two months.
Cipro overview
BRAND NAMES:
Cipro
Generic Names:
Ciprofloxacin HCl
Uses:
Treats bacterial infections
Therapeutic Classes:
Antibiotic, fluoroquinolone antibiotic
Forms:
Tablet, oral suspension (liquid)
How it’s taken:
By mouth
What is Cipro used for?
Cipro is FDA-approved to treat many types of bacterial infections, including skin infections, bone infections, joint infections, sinus infections, lower respiratory infections, abdominal infections, infectious diarrhea, urinary tract infections, bladder infections, kidney infections, prostate infections, gonorrhea, typhoid fever, plague, and anthrax.
What form(s) does Cipro come in
Tablet
250 mg
500 mg
Oral suspension (liquid)
250 mg/5 mL
500 mg/5 mL
What are common Cipro doses?
For skin infections in adults: 500–750 mg tablets every 12 hours for 7–14 days
For bone and joint infections in adults: 500–750 mg tablets every 12 hours for four to eight weeks
For sinus infections in adults: 500 mg tablets every 12 hours for 7–14 days
For lower respiratory infections (bronchitis, pneumonia) in adults: 500–750 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 5–14 days
For intra-abdominal infections in adults: 500 mg tablets every 12 hours for 7–14 days
For infectious diarrhea in adults: 500 mg tablets every 12 hours for five to seven days
For urinary tract infections in adults: 250–500 mg tablets every 12 hours for 7–14 days
For complicated urinary tract or kidney infections in children: 10–20 mg/kg (max 750 mg) taken orally every 12 hours for 10–21 days
For bladder infections in adults: 250 mg tablets every 12 hours for three days
For bacterial prostatitis in adults: 500 mg tablets every 12 hours for 28 days
For urethral and cervical gonorrhea in adults: 250 mg single dose
For typhoid fever in adults: 500 mg tablets every 12 hours for 10 days
For plague
In adults: 500–750 mg tablets every 12 hours for 14 days
In children: 15 mg/kg (max 500 mg) taken orally every eight or 12 hours for 14 days
For inhalational anthrax
In adults: 500 mg tablets every 12 hours for 60 days
In children: 15 mg/kg (max 500 mg) taken orally every 12 hours for 60 days
Common Cipro prescriptions
Cipro
100ml of 250 mg/5ml(5%) bottleCipro
100ml of 500 mg/5ml(10%) bottleCipro
28 tablets bottleCipro
6 tablets bottleCipro
250mg tablet
How to take Cipro
Take this medicine as directed by a healthcare professional.
Take Cipro for the full duration of treatment even if you feel better after a few days.
Try to take Cipro doses at the same times every day in the morning and evening.
Cipro can be taken with or without food.
Do not take Cipro with only calcium-containing foods like milk or yogurt. You may have foods or drinks that contain calcium as long as they are part of a larger meal.
How to take Cipro tablets
Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush or chew it.
Store Cipro tablets at room temperature.
How to administer Cipro oral suspension
Shake the bottle vigorously for 15 seconds before measuring a dose.
Use the graduated teaspoon that comes with this medicine to measure doses. Wash the teaspoon with water and dish detergent after each use.
The liquid will have tiny microcapsules floating in the suspension. Do not chew them.
It’s okay to have a drink of water after a dose is administered.
Completely close the bottle after each dose.
Store Cipro oral suspension at room temperature, protected from hot temperatures (over 77˚). Do not freeze.
Throw out any unused medicine when treatment is completed.
Drink extra fluids so you will urinate more often and avoid crystals forming in the urine.
What to do if you miss a dose of Cipro
If a dose is missed, take it when remembered if the next dose isn’t due for another six hours or more.
Skip the missed dose if the next dose is to be taken in less than six hours. Take that next dose at its regular time.
Never take extra doses of Cipro to compensate for a missed dose.
Cipro contraindications
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you have had an allergic reaction to ciprofloxacin or other fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
Cipro warnings
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are on ciprofloxacin.
The doctor may need to regularly perform check-ups and lab tests to ensure treatment is working and not causing side effects. Keep all appointments.
Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women who are breastfeeding must stop breastfeeding to take Cipro. They can’t start breastfeeding again until at least two days after the last dose is taken.
Tell the prescriber if you have tendon problems or myasthenia gravis. Doctors avoid giving Cipro to people with these conditions because of the risk of side effects.
Also tell the prescriber if you have:
Kidney problems
Liver problems
Central nervous system disorders, including a history of seizures
Nerve problems such as peripheral nerve damage
Joint problems
Diabetes
Low potassium
Low magnesium
A heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation
Cipro must be discontinued for anyone who experiences:
Tendinitis or tendon rupture
Peripheral nerve damage
Central nervous system problems, including seizures, increased cranial pressure, or mental health disorders
Cipro can cause other serious problems, including:
Liver damage
Aortic aneurysm
Heart rhythm changes
Joint problems
Low or high blood sugar
Severe allergic reactions or drug reactions
Because of the risk of side effects, Cipro is only supposed to be used as a last resort treatment in people with:
Chronic bronchitis
Bladder infection
Sinus infection
This medicine can cause diarrhea up to two months after treatment ends. Contact a healthcare professional if you experience severe, continual, watery, or bloody diarrhea. Do not take any antidiarrheal medicine until consulting with a doctor.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
Call the prescriber if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may interfere with the diagnosis of other diseases or alter the results of important blood tests.
Cipro interactions
Ciprofloxacin has many drug interactions. The prescribing healthcare provider will need to know about all the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you are taking.
Ciprofloxacin is never combined with the muscle relaxant tizanidine.
Ciprofloxacin can cause significant problems when combined with:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen
Corticosteroids such as prednisone
Diabetes medications
Heart rhythm medications
Cyclosporine, duloxetine, lidocaine, methotrexate, pentoxifylline, phenytoin, probenecid, ropinirole, sildenafil, theophylline, zolpidem
Some drugs reduce the effectiveness of Cipro. To avoid problems, Cipro tablets must be taken at least two hours before or six hours after taking:
Antacids or multivitamins that contain aluminum, magnesium, lanthanum, iron, or zinc
The stomach protectant sucralfate
The HIV/AIDS drug didanosine
Ciprofloxacin may increase the effects of caffeine, such as restlessness, nervousness, and trouble sleeping. People on ciprofloxacin may need to reduce their intake of caffeine.
Tell any other healthcare professional who treats you that you are taking Cipro before they prescribe any new medication.
Find more detailed information about ciprofloxacin interactions to avoid here.
Cipro side effects
Serious side effects
Contact a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of a possible serious side effect, including:
Severe, watery, continual, or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps
Tendon pain, tendon swelling, bruising around the tendons, inability to move a tendon, sudden popping or snapping noise at a tendon
Seizures
Severe headache
Unusual thoughts or behaviors, trouble sleeping, feeling anxious, confused, or depressed, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
Numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
Sudden chest, stomach, or back pain, trouble breathing, pain in the arms, neck, or jaw
Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat
Change in how much or how often you urinate, cloudy or bloody urine
Dark urine, pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
Blood in the stools, black and tarry stools, blood or blood clots in the vomit
Severe abdominal pain
Loss of hearing
Vision changes
Pain, stiffness, swelling, or bruises around your ankle, leg, shoulder, or other joints
Severe sunburn, blisters, or skin swelling when exposed to the sun
Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Less serious side effects
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Skin rash
Elevated liver enzymes (indicated liver dysfunction)
Find more detailed information about ciprofloxacin side effects here.
Sources:
Cipro ciprofloxacin tablet, ciprofloxacin kit prescribing information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)
Cipro drug summary, Prescriber’s Digital Reference (PDR)
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