Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections caused by various types of bacteria. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones and works by killing the bacteria that cause an infection. Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which means that it can be used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. Some of the infections that ciprofloxacin is commonly used to treat include:
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
- Pneumonia
- Gonorrhea
- Typhoid fever
- Infectious diarrhea
- Skin infections
- Bone and joint infections
- Abdominal infections
- Prostate infections
- Plague
- Inhalation anthrax
Ciprofloxacin is also used to help prevent people from getting meningitis if they have been in close contact with someone with the infection. Ciprofloxacin is available only with a prescription and comes in various forms, including tablets, a liquid that you drink, ear drops, and eye drops. It is also given by injection, but this is usually done in a hospital. Ciprofloxacin tablets and liquid are not used as often as some other types of antibiotics because theres a risk of serious side effects. The most common side effects of ciprofloxacin tablets and liquid are feeling sick (nausea) and diarrhea. It is important to avoid taking the tablets or liquid together with dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt or products with added calcium, as they stop ciprofloxacin from entering the body from the stomach. Ciprofloxacin is not usually prescribed for more than 3 months at a time to help avoid getting more serious side effects.
