ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin is used to treat or prevent certain infections caused by bacteria such as pneumonia; gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease); typhoid fever (a serious infection that is common in developing countries); infectious diarrhea (infections that cause severe diarrhea); and infections of the skin, bone, joint, abdomen (stomach area), and prostate (male reproductive gland), Ciprofloxacin is also used to treat or prevent plague (a serious infection that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack) and inhalation anthrax (a serious infection that may be spread by anthrax germs in the air on purpose as part of a bioterror attack). Ciprofloxacin may also be used to treat bronchitis, sinus infections, or urinary tract infections but should not be used for bronchitis and sinus infections, or certain types of urinary tract infections if there are other treatment options. Ciprofloxacin extended-release (long-acting) tablets are used to treat kidney and urinary tract infections; however, some types of urinary tract infections should only be treated with ciprofloxacin extended release tablets if no other treatment options are available. Ciprofloxacin is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by killing bacteria that cause infections. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
Full drug information on MedlinePlus →This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy and breastfeeding decisions should always be made with your healthcare provider.
Can taking ciprofloxacin affect fertility or make it harder to get pregnant?
It is not known whether taking ciprofloxacin can make it harder to become pregnant. Anyone with questions about fertility and this medication should discuss them with their healthcare provider.
Does taking ciprofloxacin increase the risk of miscarriage?
Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. The fact sheet notes that two studies including more than 2,000 pregnancies exposed to ciprofloxacin in the first trimester did not find an increased chance of miscarriage, though one was a prescription registry study that cannot confirm whether the medication was actually taken. Specific concerns should be reviewed with a healthcare provider.
Does taking ciprofloxacin increase the risk of birth defects?
Every pregnancy starts with a 3–5% background risk of a birth defect. The fact sheet reports that most studies have not found an increased chance of birth defects when ciprofloxacin is taken during the first trimester, though most of these studies involved only 5–7 days of use; longer use is less well studied, although 7 pregnancies with 3 weeks to 3 months of use did not show an increased chance of birth defects. Individual circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Can taking ciprofloxacin during pregnancy cause other pregnancy-related complications?
The fact sheet states that studies have not been done to determine whether ciprofloxacin increases the chance of other pregnancy-related issues such as preterm delivery (before 37 weeks) or low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams). Questions about these outcomes should be brought to a healthcare provider.
Can taking ciprofloxacin during pregnancy affect the child's brain development, learning, or behavior?
According to the fact sheet, studies have not been conducted to determine whether taking ciprofloxacin during pregnancy can cause behavior or learning problems in the child. Anyone with concerns about long-term child development should discuss them with their healthcare provider.
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking ciprofloxacin?
The fact sheet describes 13 case reports on ciprofloxacin use during breastfeeding, which suggest that a nursing baby receives much smaller amounts than the dose given directly to a baby when treatment is needed. Babies should be watched for symptoms such as diarrhea and candidiasis (thrush or diaper rash), and the child's healthcare provider should be contacted if these are suspected; eye or ear drop forms are expected to reach breast milk in even smaller amounts than oral use. Decisions about breastfeeding while taking this medication should be made with a healthcare provider.
Source: National Library of Medicine
ciprofloxacin