About ciprofloxacin (2024)

FAQs

What happens to your body when you take ciprofloxacin? ›

Nerve Problems.

Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are taking ciprofloxacin. Stop taking ciprofloxacin and call your healthcare provider if you develop pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Do not take the liquid or tablets with dairy products (such as milk, cheese and yoghurt) or drinks with added calcium (such as some dairy-free milks). They stop ciprofloxacin entering the body from the stomach. Leave a gap of at least 2 hours between taking ciprofloxacin and having this type of food and drink.

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic which means that it's used to treat a number of bacterial infections, such as: uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) where other antibiotics are not suitable and complicated UTIs. chest infections (including pneumonia) skin and bone infections.

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

It treats a wide variety of infections, including urinary tract, gut, and lung infections. The most common ciprofloxacin side effects are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Skin rashes and liver changes are also possible.

Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, or chocolate. Ciprofloxacin may increase nervousness, sleeplessness, heart pounding, and anxiety caused by caffeine. Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids every day while you are taking ciprofloxacin.

However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney or heart problems, or develop severe tendon problems (including tendon rupture), which may require caution in patients receiving ciprofloxacin.

Iron tablets (such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate), calcium and zinc supplements can affect ciprofloxacin. Leave 2 hours in between taking supplements and your dose of ciprofloxacin tablets or liquid.

You may swallow the Cipro® tablet whole or break it in half at the score line. Do not crush or chew it. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing the tablet. Swallow the extended-release tablet whole.

Although ciprofloxacin starts working within hours of taking it, you may not notice an improvement in your symptoms for 2 to 3 days. For some infections, such as osteomyelitis (a bone infection), it may take up to a week before you show any improvement.

What bacteria does Cipro get rid of? ›

Ciprofloxacin is particularly effective against Gram-negative bacteria (such as Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Moraxella catarrhalis, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), but is less effective against Gram-positive bacteria (such as methicillin- ...

have epilepsy or another health problem that puts you at risk of seizures or fits. have problems with your kidneys. have diabetes, as ciprofloxacin might affect your blood sugars. are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are taking aluminum or magnesium-containing antacids, iron supplements, multivitamins, didanosine (Videx®), lanthanum carbonate (Fosrenol®), sevelamer (Renagel®), sucralfate (Carafate®), or any products containing calcium or zinc, do not take them at the same time that you take this medicine.

Ciprofloxacin Food

Do not take ciprofloxacin with dairy products such as milk or yogurt, or with calcium-fortified foods (e.G., cereal, juice). You may eat or drink dairy products or calcium-fortified foods with a regular meal, but do not use them alone when taking ciprofloxacin.

Research has shown an association between fluoroquinolone use, whether in oral form or by injection, and severe and sometimes permanent side effects including damage to tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and the central nervous system.

Ciprofloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Official answer. Ciprofloxacin should be out of your system around 22 hours after your last dose. The serum elimination half-life of ciprofloxacin with normal kidney function is approximately 4 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by half.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro can cause damage to certain nerves. This is an uncommon but serious side effect of Cipro. In rare cases, nerve damage can be permanent. Areas usually affected include the arms, hands, legs, or feet.