What are the possible side effects of ciprofloxacin?

Ciprofloxacin may cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about ciprofloxacin?”
• Serious allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions, including death, can happen in people taking fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, even after only 1 dose. Stop taking ciprofloxacin and get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a severe allergic reaction:
  • hives
  • trouble breathing or swallowing
  • swelling of the lips, tongue, face
  • throat tightness, hoarseness
  • rapid heartbeat
  • faint
  • skin rash
  Skin rash may happen in people taking ciprofloxacin even after only 1 dose. Stop taking ciprofloxacin at the first sign of a skin rash and call your healthcare provider. Skin rash may be a sign of a more serious reaction to ciprofloxacin.
  
• Liver damage (hepatotoxicity). Hepatotoxicity can happen in people who take ciprofloxacin. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have unexplained symptoms such as:
  • nausea or vomiting
  • stomach pain
  • fever
  • weakness
  • abdominal pain or tenderness
  • itching
  • unusual tiredness
  • loss of appetite
  • light colored bowel movements
  • dark colored urine
  • yellowing of the skin and whites of your eyes
  Stop taking ciprofloxacin and tell your healthcare provider right away if you have yellowing of your skin or white part of your eyes, or if you have dark urine. These can be signs of a serious reaction to ciprofloxacin (a liver problem).
  
• Aortic aneurysm and dissection. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever been told that you have an aortic aneurysm, a swelling of the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body. Get emergency medical help right away if you have sudden chest, stomach, or back pain.
• Intestine infection (Clostridioides difficile - associated diarrhea). Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) can happen with many antibacterial medicines, including ciprofloxacin. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get watery diarrhea, diarrhea that does not go away, or bloody stools. You may have stomach cramps and a fever. CDAD can happen 2 or more months after you have finished your antibacterial medicine.
• Serious heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation and torsade de pointes). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a change in your heart beat (a fast or irregular heartbeat), or if you faint. Ciprofloxacin may cause a rare heart problem known as prolongation of the QT interval. This condition can cause an abnormal heartbeat and can be very dangerous. The chances of this event are higher in people:
  • who are elderly.
  • with a family history of prolonged QT interval.
  • with low blood potassium (hypokalemia) or low magnesium (hypomagnesemia).
  • who take certain medicines to control heart rhythm (antiarrhythmics).
• Joint Problems. Increased chance of problems with joints and tissues around joints in children under 18 years old can happen. Tell your child's healthcare provider if your child has any joint problems during or after treatment with ciprofloxacin.
• Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity). See “What should I avoid while taking ciprofloxacin?”
• Changes in blood sugar. People who take ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolone medicines with oral anti-diabetes medicines or with insulin can get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for how often to check your blood sugar. If you have diabetes and you get low blood sugar while taking ciprofloxacin, stop taking ciprofloxacin and call your healthcare provider right away. Your antibiotic medicine may need to be changed.

The most common side effects of ciprofloxacin include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• changes in liver function tests
• vomiting
• rash

Keep ciprofloxacin and all medicines out of the reach of children. General Information about the safe and effective use of ciprofloxacin.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use ciprofloxacin for a condition for which it is not prescribed. Do not give ciprofloxacin to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about ciprofloxacin. If you would like more information about ciprofloxacin, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ciprofloxacin that is written for healthcare professionals.