Health Encyclopedia > Drug Interaction by Drug Name > Ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin

Brand Name: Ciloxan®, Cipro®

Ciprofloxacin Information

is member of the fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics. It is used to treat bacterial infections. penetrates many hard-to-reach tissues in the body and kills a wide variety of bacteria.

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
(for details about the summarized interactions, read the full article)

May be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them.	Vitamin K*
May be Beneficial: Side effect reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication.	Bifidobacterium longum* Lactobacillus acidophilus* Lactobacillus casei* Saccharomyces boulardii* Saccharomyces cerevisiae* Vitamin K*
May be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better.	Saccharomyces boulardii*
Avoid: Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability—Avoid these supplements when taking this medication since the supplement may decrease the absorption and/or activity of the medication in the body.	Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc (if taken at the same time) Dandelion* Fennel Yogurt
Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results.	Caffeine

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Ciprofloxacin Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Minerals
Minerals such as aluminum, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc can bind to ciprofloxacin, greatly reducing the absorption of the drug.¹ ² ³ ⁴ Because of the mineral content, people are advised to take ciprofloxacin two hours after consuming dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and others), antacids (Maalox®, Mylanta®, Tums®, Rolaids®, and others), and mineral-containing supplements.⁵

Probiotics
A common side effect of antibiotics is diarrhea, which may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found in the colon. Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic microorganisms—such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, or Saccharomyces boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced diarrhea.⁶

The diarrhea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii⁷ or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)⁸ —helps prevent recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent clostridium infection.⁹ Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop diarrhea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.

Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans) in the vagina (candida vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”). Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida vaginitis.¹⁰

Vitamin K
Several cases of excessive bleeding have been reported in people who take antibiotics.¹¹ ¹² ¹³ ¹⁴ This side effect may be the result of reduced vitamin K activity and/or reduced vitamin K production by bacteria in the colon. One study showed that people who had taken broad-spectrum antibiotics had lower liver concentrations of vitamin K2 (menaquinone), though vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) levels remained normal.¹⁵ Several antibiotics appear to exert a strong effect on vitamin K activity, while others may not have any effect. Therefore, one should refer to a specific antibiotic for information on whether it interacts with vitamin K. Doctors of natural medicine sometimes recommend vitamin K supplementation to people taking antibiotics. Additional research is needed to determine whether

Ciprofloxacin Interactions with Herbs

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
In an animal study, administration of an extract of the whole plant dandelion (actually Taraxacum mongolicum, a close relative of the more common western dandelion, Taraxacum officinale) concomitantly with ciprofloxacin decreased absorption of the drug.¹⁶ The authors found this was due to the high mineral content of the dandelion herb. Until further information is available, ciprofloxacin should not be taken within two hours of any dandelion supplement including teas.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Preliminary research in animals has shown that fennel may reduce the absorption of ciprofloxacin.¹⁷ This interaction may be due to the rich mineral content of the herb; it has not yet been reported in humans. People taking ciprofloxacin should avoid supplementing with fennel-containing products until more is known.

Ciprofloxacin Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Food
Food in general¹⁸ and yogurt in particular has been found to reduce absorption of ciprofloxacin. should be taken two hours before eating.¹⁹

Calcium supplements are known to interfere with the absorption of ciprofloxacin. The same interference has been shown to occur when calcium-fortified orange juice is taken at the same time as ciprofloxacin.²⁰

Caffeine
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, guaraná (Paullinia cupana), nonprescription drug products, and supplement products containing caffeine. may decrease the elimination of caffeine from the body, causing increased caffeine blood levels and unwanted actions.²¹ People taking ciprofloxacin may choose to limit their caffeine intake to avoid problems. They should read food, beverage, drug, and supplement labels carefully for caffeine content.

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Medication Reviews & Side Effects for Ciprofloxacin

Write an online review of Ciprofloxacin

Review Date: 3/3/2007
Medication: Ciprofloxacin -

- I Love It
Medication Type: Generic
Length Taken: Less than 1 month
Strength: 500 mg X 2 times per day
Side Effects: Depression, Dizziness, Euphoria, Mood Swings, Loss of Appetite, Loss of Sleep, Loss of Energy, Increased Appetite, Increased Sleep
Other Products Taken: Throid Medication

I was in terrible pain from a bacterial infection in my colon. After I started taking Ciprofloxacin, the pain was reduced by more than 75%. Even though the pain was reduced, it did come with some side effects such as feeling "out of it", no appetite and I am also unable to be in sunlight. I am on the 6th day of treatment and would like to stop so I can feel like myself. Food has also been a problem as I am too weak to fix anything, but the pain was severe and it is now gone so I guess it has been worth it.

Mirra Whitepine
Half Moon Bay, CA USA

Review Date: 8/25/2008
Medication: Ciprofloxacin -

- Stay Far Away
Medication Type: Generic
Length Taken: Less than 1 month
Strength: 500 X 1 times per day
Side Effects: High Blood Pressure, Rapid Heartbeat, Loss of Sleep
Other Products Taken:

Don't take Ciprofloxacin unless other antibiotics fail. It can cause rapid, irregular heartbeat, and total insomnia (no sleep). I took only (7) 500 mg tablets and am slowly recovering weeks later.

Anonymous
Michigan, USA

Review Date: 11/28/2008
Medication: Ciprofloxacin -

- Stay Far Away
Medication Type: Generic
Length Taken:
Strength: X 1 times per day
Side Effects: Anxiety, Headache, Gave Me A Rash, Rapid Heartbeat, Upset Stomach / Diarreha, Loss of Sleep
Other Products Taken:

I would give this a Negative 100 stars if I could. I had taken this when I was younger and had no problems, but last year I had horrible allergic reactions which my doctor dismissed as an STD! After a month of tests, nothing was found and the doctor dismissed it as a reaction to soap, not Cipro. A year later I took Cipro again for UTI and had the exact same reactions. A huge red circular rash on my right buttocks and another rash around my pant line. An incredibly uncomfortable burning sensation in the vaginal area (not like a UTI, but twenty times worse!). The reaction lasted a week even though I only took one tablet. Months later I still have a slight discoloration where the one red circular rash was on my skin. I would never recommend this!

Anonymous
PA, USA

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. The "reviews" listed for any medical condition, prescription drug, condition or symtpom is provided specifically from eVitamins and is not associated with healthnotes.

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