ciprofloxacin hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Fluoroquinolone antibacterial.
Available forms
Selected products include film-coated tablets, eye drops and preservative-free single-dose ear drops.
Systemic-use restriction
Tablets should be prescribed only when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate.
What is ciprofloxacin hydrochloride used for?
Licensed uses depend on the formulation and bacterial susceptibility.
Tablets: selected respiratory, sinus, middle-ear, urinary, genital, gastrointestinal, intra-abdominal, skin, soft-tissue, bone and joint infections; malignant external otitis; meningococcal prophylaxis; inhalation anthrax; and some infections associated with neutropenia.
Specialist-led tablet use in children and adolescents includes certain severe infections, bronchopulmonary infection associated with cystic fibrosis, complicated urinary infection, pyelonephritis and inhalation anthrax.
Eye drops: corneal ulcers and superficial bacterial infections of the eye and surrounding structures.
Ear drops: acute otitis externa caused by susceptible bacteria in adults and children older than one year with an intact eardrum.
How does ciprofloxacin hydrochloride work?
Ciprofloxacin blocks bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Without these enzymes, susceptible bacteria cannot correctly copy, repair or organise their DNA, leading to bacterial death.
ciprofloxacin hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 0.3% w/v
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg
How to take ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
Use only the prescribed formulation and follow its directions.
Swallow tablets whole with fluid. They may be taken with or without a meal, but not alongside dairy products or mineral-fortified drinks taken alone.
Wash your hands before using eye drops, avoid touching the dropper tip and do not wear contact lenses while treating an eye infection. Use eye ointments after other eye preparations.
Warm a single-dose ear container in your hands, lie with the affected ear upwards, apply it as directed and discard the container after use.
ciprofloxacin hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Tablets: nausea and diarrhoea.
- Eye drops: eye discomfort or redness, altered taste and deposits on the cornea.
- Ear drops may cause local discomfort, itching, headache or dizziness, although these are classified as uncommon in the selected product information.
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic reaction with swelling, breathing difficulty or widespread blistering rash.
- Tendon inflammation or rupture, joint or muscle symptoms, persistent nerve sensations or weakness.
- Severe psychiatric symptoms, suicidal thoughts, seizures or major changes in the senses.
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea, significant liver symptoms, abnormal heart rhythm or sudden severe chest, abdominal or back pain.
ciprofloxacin hydrochloride in pregnancy
Oral ciprofloxacin is usually avoided in pregnancy when a suitable alternative is available, although available information finds no good evidence that quinolones harm the baby and supports use when a doctor considers it necessary. Selected ear drops may be used because systemic exposure is negligible; the selected eye-drop licence advises use only when expected benefit outweighs potential risk.
ciprofloxacin hydrochloride while breastfeeding
ciprofloxacin hydrochloride interactions
Clinically important interactions mainly concern oral ciprofloxacin; systemic interactions are unlikely with correctly used eye or ear drops.
Tizanidine
Do not combine with oral ciprofloxacin because increased tizanidine exposure can cause excessive sedation and low blood pressure.
Antacids, sucralfate and mineral supplements
Products containing calcium, magnesium, aluminium, iron or zinc can reduce ciprofloxacin absorption.
Theophylline or aminophylline
Ciprofloxacin can increase exposure and toxicity; clinical assessment and concentration monitoring may be required.
Common questions about ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is oral ciprofloxacin reserved for certain infections?
Systemic fluoroquinolones can rarely cause disabling, long-lasting or irreversible effects involving tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, mental health and the senses. Regulators therefore restrict them to situations where commonly recommended alternatives are inappropriate.
What should I do if ciprofloxacin causes tendon pain?
Stop oral ciprofloxacin, rest the painful area and contact the prescriber immediately. Tendon injury can begin during treatment or after treatment has ended.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.