Reviewed by Virginia Chachati MPharm
(2013, University College London)
GPhC Registration number: 2087654
Information last reviewed 14/05/21
Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that belongs to the fluoroquinolone family. Ciprofloxacin is most commonly used to treat bacterial traveller’s diarrhoea, but can also be used to treat other bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, ears, sinuses, urinary tract, genital tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissue, and bones and joints.
Ciprofloxacin can be used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin is used to treat traveller’s diarrhoea. However, due to resistance, sometimes Azithromycin is the preferred treatment.
Ciprofloxacin helps relieve the symptoms of traveller’s diarrhoea within 24 to 48 hours. Treatment with Ciprofloxacin can take a number of days depending on the type and severity of the infection. You must complete the full course of antibiotics your doctor has prescribed to prevent your bacterial infection from recurring and the potential development of resistance.
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic and is only used to treat bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin works by attacking two enzymes involved in the replication and repair of bacterial DNA. This stops bacteria from multiplying and they die, preventing the infection from spreading and allowing your body’s immune system to remove the bacteria.
Your dose of Ciprofloxacin and your duration of treatment depends upon the type of infection you are being treated for. A typical treatment course for traveller’s diarrhoea is one 500 mg Ciprofloxacin tablet twice a day, with a twelve-hour interval, for up to three days.
Ciprofloxacin tablets should be swallowed with plenty of fluid, with or without food. The tablets should not be chewed or crushed and should not be taken directly with milk, yoghurt or calcium-fortified fruit juices.
You can take Ciprofloxacin at any time of day, as long as you maintain regular intervals between doses. Scheduling your dose for the same time each day will also help you remember to take your medicine.
You should always continue taking Ciprofloxacin for the duration of time recommended by your doctor, regardless of whether your symptoms have already improved.
Ciprofloxacin can cause side effects in some patients. Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) include:
Uncommon side effects can affect up to 1 in 100 people and include:
Rare side effects, which may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people, include:
Extremely rarely (around 1 in 10,000) the patient may experience the following:
If you notice any of the following serious side effects, you should stop taking Ciprofloxacin and contact your doctor immediately:
Seizure
You should not take Ciprofloxacin if:
Before taking Ciprofloxacin, consult your doctor if:
Before taking Ciprofloxacin, tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicine. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking:
You should avoid drinking alcohol whilst taking Ciprofloxacin, as it can make you feel dizzy or tired. You should not drive after drinking alcohol if you are taking Ciprofloxacin.
Speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a baby before you take Ciprofloxacin. Do not take Ciprofloxacin if you are breastfeeding, as it can pass through breast milk and can be harmful to your child.
Ciprofloxacin should not be taken with milk, yoghurt or calcium-fortified juices, as it can reduce the absorption and effectiveness of the medicine. You can eat or drink dairy products with your meals or as a part of your daily routine other than at the time you take Ciprofloxacin.
The best way to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea is to maintain good hygiene standards while travelling. The following tips may help when travelling:
Be prepared for traveller’s diarrhoea by staying well-hydrated at all times. It is also possible to order a private prescription of Ciprofloxacin in advance of your travels if you are expecting to have limited access to a doctor.
Ciprofloxacin is the most commonly used antibiotic for treating traveller’s diarrhoea, and can be taken at 12 hour intervals until symptoms subside. It is used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections, which unfortunately means that bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to Ciprofloxacin. In this case, Azithromycin is the antibiotic of choice for treating traveller’s diarrhoea. Azithromycin can be taken at 24 hour intervals for up to three days, and although it has a narrower spectrum of usage than Ciprofloxacin, it is sufficient treatment for most cases of traveller’s diarrhoea.
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone family of medicines, which are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections.
Medium risk areas include Eastern Europe, South Africa and the Caribbean Islands. Higher risk areas are most of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central America and South America. It may be worth ordering a private prescription of Ciprofloxacin in advance of travelling to high-risk areas. Ciprofloxacin works against the most common bacterial causes of traveller’s diarrhoea, most notably E. Coli, and is suitable treatment in cases of mild to severe traveller’s diarrhoea.
However, the global rise in resistance of E. Coli to fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin is particularly problematic in India and South East Asia, where other antibiotic treatments, such as Azithromycin, may be preferable.
Even if your symptoms appear to have resolved and you feel better, it is vital that you continue to take Ciprofloxacin for the period of time prescribed by your doctor. Make sure to complete the course to prevent recurrent bacterial infections and reduce the chances of resistance.
Unless you have reached the end of your dose, you should not stop taking Ciprofloxacin without consulting your doctor. If your symptoms fail to improve or worsen, speak to your doctor. It may be that your infection is caused by a bacteria that is resistant to Ciprofloxacin, or your infection may be caused by a virus or protozoa and requires a different treatment.
Ciprofloxacin is not related to Penicillin and is generally safe to use in individuals who are allergic to Penicillin.
The time taken for Ciprofloxacin to leave your system varies from person to person but usually takes two to three days.
While Ciprofloxacin can clear up a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in a matter of a few days, this is dependent on the severity of the infection and on the patient as an individual. Treatment may be required for two weeks and beyond. It is important to keep taking Ciprofloxacin for the period of time recommended by your doctor.
Ciprofloxacin contains the active ingredient ciprofloxacin hydrochloride.
The inactive ingredients of Ciprofloxacin are cellulose microcrystalline, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, maize starch, silica colloidal anhydrous, hypromellose, macrogol 4000, and titanium dioxide (E171).
Please Note: Different brands of generic medications can contain different inactive ingredients. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet provided for further details
Ciprofloxacin is not commonly associated with causing a severe allergic reaction, unless you are specifically allergic to one of the active or inactive ingredients in the medication. However, if you notice symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (hives, facial swelling, lightheadedness, tightening of the chest, finding it difficult to breathe) you should seek emergency medical help right away.
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