Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. This includes bone and joint infections, intra abdominal infections, certain type of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract infections, among others.
Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Because of the serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolones they should not be used for treating certain infections unless there are no other alternatives.
What are the side effects Cipro?
The common side effects of cipro include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, or trouble sleeping. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: unusual bruising/bleeding, signs of a new infection (such as new/persistent fever, persistent sore throat), signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine, red/pink urine), signs of liver problems (such as unusual tiredness, stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine).
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: severe dizziness, fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, signs of a tear/break in the main blood vessel called the aorta (sudden/severe pain in the stomach/chest/back, cough, shortness of breath).
This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a type of resistant bacteria. This condition may occur during treatment or weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Tell your doctor right away if you develop: persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool.
Do not use anti-diarrhea or opioid medications if you have any of these symptoms because these products may make them worse.
Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush or a new yeast infection. Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or other new symptoms.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
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).
Ciprofloxacin Side Effects Remedies
Nausea is a queasy feeling in your stomach — you may feel seasick, or you may feel you’re about to vomit. Medications that commonly cause nausea as a side effect include antibiotics, such as cipro.
To combat nausea from cipro, follow these steps:
- Talk to your doctor about dosage timing. Discuss the severity and frequency of your nausea with your doctor. He may be able to alter the timing and dosages of your medications to reduce the unpleasant feeling or prescribe a nausea medication to help.
- Talk to your doctor about anti-nausea medication. If your doctor has prescribed an anti-nausea medication, take it as soon as you begin to feel nauseated.
- Spread your day’s food. Instead of three large meals per day, spread your day’s food over five smaller meals. Choose easy-to-digest foods and stop eating before you feel full; overeating can increase nausea. Before taking your medication, try nibbling on a few saltines or toast. Avoid sugary snacks and drinks.
- Monitor your drinks. Avoid drinking too much liquid with your meals, and drink slowly between meals to prevent triggering nausea. Take small sips of lemon water or suck on ice chips to reduce nausea.
- Rest. Let your stomach settle after meals. Avoid vigorous activity for 30 minutes or so, but do not lie down right after eating. Read a book or magazine to keep your mind occupied. When feeling nauseous at other times, place a cold cloth on your forehead and lie down in a dark room.
- Drink enough fluids to cope with diarrhea. To counter a mild loss of fluids from diarrhea, drink more water. For a more-severe loss, drink fluids that contain water, sugar and salt. Try broth or fruit juice that isn’t high in sugar. Avoid beverages that are high in sugar or contain alcohol or caffeine, such as coffee, tea and colas, which can worsen your symptoms. For infants and children with diarrhea, ask your doctor about using an oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, to replenish fluids and electrolytes.
- Avoid certain foods. It’s a good idea to avoid fatty and spicy foods while you have diarrhea. You can usually get back to a normal diet soon after your symptoms resolve.
- Ask about anti-diarrheal medications. In some cases of mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea, your doctor may recommend anti-diarrheal medications, such as loperamide (Imodium A-D). But check with your doctor before taking anti-diarrheal medications because they can interfere with your body’s ability to eliminate toxins and lead to serious complications.
- To cope with headaches People can try many of these remedies right away, and some of them might help to prevent headaches in the future:
Drinking enough water. Water may help prevent headaches or reduce their severity. Dehydration can be an underlying cause of many simple headaches. It may also alter how a person feels, acts, or thinks. As a study in the journal Antioxidants notes, even slight dehydration may alter how people think and function, making them feel worse, with or without a headache.
A cold compress. A cold compress may be a simple headache solution that many people have on hand. Applying an ice pack or another cold item to the head or neck may help constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation in the area. Doing so could temporarily relieve headache pain.
Warm compress. In other cases, such as with a tension headache where the muscles are too tight, a warm compress may help relax these muscles and bring relief. A warm compress could be as simple as a heated towel. People may be able to get the same effect from a tepid shower or bath.
Turn off light. Some people who get headaches become sensitive to light. Bright office lights or even the bright light from a smartphone may make symptoms worse. It may help to rest in a dark or dimly lit room while recovering from a headache. Some people who take ciprofloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than they are normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn, skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration.
Abstain from Alcohol
Antibiotics and alcohol can cause similar side effects, which are compounded when you take them together. Some medications can trigger more severe reactions when taken with alcohol, including:
- Flushing
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased heart rate
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