Experiences with
Ciprofloxacin

About ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones.

It is used to treat serious infections, or infections when other anitbiotics have not worked.

It's used to treat bacterial infections, such as:

chest infections (including pneumonia)
skin and bone infections
sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
conjunctivitis
eye infections
ear infections

It can be used to help stop people getting meningitis if they have been really close to someone with the infection.

Ciprofloxacin is only available on prescription.

It comes as tablets, a liquid that you drink, eardrops, eyedrops and an eye ointment. It's also given by injection, but this is usually done in hospital.

Ciprofloxacin tablets and liquid are not used as often as some other types of antibiotics because there's a risk of serious side effects.

Key facts

Most adults and children can take ciprofloxacin.
The most common side effects of ciprofloxacin tablets and liquid are feeling sick (nausea) and diarrhoea.
Avoid taking the tablets or liquid together with dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt.
Ciprofloxacin is also known by the brand names Ciproxin (tablets and liquid), Ciloxan (eyedrops and eye ointment) and Cetraxal (eardrops).
Ciprofloxacin eardrops also come mixed with other medicines, such as dexamethasone (known as Cetraxal Plus) and fluocinolone (known as Cilodex).

Who can and can't take ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin can be taken by most adults and children from the age of 1 year.

Ciprofloxacin is not suitable for some people.

To make sure ciprofloxacin is safe for you, tell your doctor if:

you have had an allergy to ciprofloxacin or any other medicine
you have had a serious side effect with ciprofloxacin or another antibiotic (particularly a fluroquinolone) in the past
you had diarrhoea when you have taken antibiotics before
you or someone in your family has an abdominal aortic aneurysm or any other problem with the aorta (the large blood vessel running from the heart to the abdomen)
you have fast, pounding or irregular heartbeats
you have problems with tendons
you have epilepsy or another health problem that puts you at risk of seizures
you have problems with your kidneys
you have diabetes, as ciprofloxacin might affect your blood sugars

How and when to take it

How you take your medicine depends on the type of ciprofloxacin and what you're taking it for. Follow the instructions that come with it.

Try to space the doses evenly throughout the day. Keep taking or using this medicine until the course is finished, unless your doctor tells you to stop.

How to take the tablets and liquid

Ciprofloxacin comes as 250mg, 500mg and 750mg tablets. It also comes as a liquid that contains 250mg in a 5ml spoonful (250mg/5ml).

The usual dose of ciprofloxacin is 250mg to 750mg twice a day. For some infections you might only need to take a single dose.

Doses are usually lower for children and people with kidney problems.

Swallow the tablets whole with lots of water. Do not chew them.

Ciprofloxacin liquid comes as granules that you need to dissolve in the special liquid provided. Follow the instructions that comes with your medicine.

Before taking ciprofloxacin liquid, shake the bottle for 15 seconds to make sure the granules have dissolved.

The liquid comes with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you take the right amount. If you do not have one, ask your pharmcist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right dose.

You can take ciprofloxacin tablets and liquid with or without food. however, avoid dairy produce like milk, cheese and yoghurt, as they can affect how your medicine works.

How to apply the eyedrops

You'll usually put 1 or 2 drops into the affected eye 4 times a day.

For severe infections, your doctor may tell you to use the drops as often as every 15 minutes for the first 6 hours. You can then reduce how often you use it.

Gently pull down your lower eyelid with a clean finger and tilt your head back.
Hold the bottle over your eye and allow a single drop to fall into the space between your lower lid and your eye.
Wipe away any extra liquid with a clean tissue.
Put in a second drop if you have been told to.

Do not touch your eye or eyelid with the dropper as it may cause infection to spread.

How to use the eye ointment

Put just over 1 centimetre of ointment on the affected eye 2 or 3 times a day, or as your doctor advises. If the infection is severe, your doctor may tell you to use it as often as every hour, and throughout the night.

Gently pull down your lower eyelid with a clean finger and tilt your head back.
Hold the tube with the nozzle close to your eye and gently squeeze the ointment into the space between your lower lid and your eye.

Do not touch your eye or eyelid with the nozzle as it may cause infection to spread.

How to use the eardrops

Put up to 5 drops into the affected ear twice a day, or as your doctor advises.

Warm the drops by holding the container in your hands for a few minutes.
Tilt your head and bring the container up to the affected ear, with the open end close to your ear hole.
Squeeze the drops into your ear.
If you can, lie down for at least 5 minutes afterwards.
If you are only treating 1 ear, turn your head to one side, so your affected ear is towards the ceiling.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just skip the missed dose and take your next one as normal.

Make sure you finish your full course of antibiotics. Do not have a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines

What if I take or use too much?

If you're using the eye ointment or the eye or eardrops, do not worry if you accidentally use a bit too much. This usually will not cause any problems.

Ciprofloxacin tablets or liquid

If you take more than your dose of the tablets or liquid, you may get side effects. These include feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting), diarrhoea and a pounding or irregular hearbeat. If you have epilepsy, you might have seizures or fits.

Side effects

Like all medicines, ciprofloxacin can cause side effects although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of ciprofloxacin happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Tell your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away:

feeling sick (nausea) after taking the tablets or liquid
diarrhoea after taking the tablets or liquid
red or uncomfortable eye with a stinging, burning or gritty feeling after using the eyedrops or ointment
bad taste in the mouth with the eyedrops or ointment
white specks on the surface of your eye after using the eyedrops or ointment

Serious side effects

Very few people taking or using ciprofloxacin have serious side effects.

They are less likely to happen with the eyedrops, eye ointment or eardrops.

These serious side effects can happen in less than 1 in 100 people. Stop taking ciprofloxacin and tell your doctor straight away if you have:

muscle weakness, pain or swelling in your joints or tendons. This often begins in the ankle or calf, but could also be in your shoulder, arms or legs. It can occur in the first 2 days of taking ciprofloxacin or even several months after stopping. It is more common in children
pain or abnormal sensations (such as pins and needles that do not go away, tingling, tickling, numbness or burning) or weakness in your body, especially in the legs or arms
severe tiredness, feel anxious or very low in mood, or have difficulty sleeping or remembering things
ringing in your ears (tinnitus), loss of taste, are seeing double, or have any other changes in your sight, smell, taste or hearing
diarrhoea (perhaps with muscle cramps) that contains blood or mucus – if you have severe diarrhoea without blood or mucus for more than 4 days, you should also speak to a doctor
a faster or irregular heartbeat
seizures or fits (this side effect can happen if you have epilepsy)

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to ciprofloxacin.

These are not all the side effects of ciprofloxacin.

For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

feeling sick – stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food while you're taking this medicine. It might help to take ciprofloxacin after you have had a meal or snack
diarrhoea after taking the tablets or liquid – drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor
discomfort or redness in the eyes after using the drops or ointment – this should go away on its own. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until your eyes feel comfortable again and your vision is clear
bad taste in your mouth after using the eyedrops or ointment – this should not last long after using your medicine. Drink some water or juice, or chew some sugar-free gum
white specks on the surface of your eye after using the eyedrops or ointment – keep taking your ciprofloxacin but tell your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Ciprofloxacin is not usually recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding.

However, it is OK to use the ear or eyedrops or the eye ointment.

If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ciprofloxacin.

For more information about how ciprofloxacin can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.

Tell your doctor if you're:

trying to get pregnant
pregnant
breastfeeding

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines can affect the way ciprofloxacin works. They can also make you more likely to get side effects.

It's important to tell your doctor if you take any of the following medicines before taking ciprofloxacin:

antacids for heartburn or indigestion – take ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours after antacids. Do not take another antacid until at least 4 hours after your ciprofloxacin
methotrexate, a medicine used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
phenytoin, a medicine for epilepsy
steroids, such as prednisolone
theophylline or aminophylline for asthma
tizanidine, a medicine used for muscle stiffness
warfarin, a blood thinner (anticoagulant)

Mixing ciprofloxacin with herbal remedies and supplements

Iron tablets (such as ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate), calcium and zinc supplements can affect ciprofloxacin. Leave 2 hours in between doses of these supplements and ciprofloxacin.

There are no known problems with taking other supplements and herbal remedies with ciprofloxacin.