As with other drugs, ciprofloxacin can cause side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. If you are not able to tolerate side effects from ciprofloxacin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Ciprofloxacin is a generic drug that’s prescribed for certain bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Ciprofloxacin comes as an oral tablet. Ciprofloxacin also comes in forms IV solution, ear drops, and eye drops, but this article does not cover them.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects of ciprofloxacin. For more information about ciprofloxacin, including details about its uses, see this ciprofloxacin overview.

Ciprofloxacin has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Ciprofloxacin: Boxed warnings” section.

Ciprofloxacin can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects persist, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took ciprofloxacin in clinical trials:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abnormal results of liver function tests, which may be a sign of liver damage
  • skin rash

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Ciprofloxacin: Side effect specifics” section.

Mild side effects can occur with ciprofloxacin use. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to ciprofloxacin’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with ciprofloxacin include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abnormal results of liver function tests, which may be a sign of liver damage
  • skin rash
  • abdominal pain
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • joint pain or stiffness
  • muscle weakness
  • blurry vision

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects continue, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking ciprofloxacin and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Ciprofloxacin: Side effect specifics” section.

Ciprofloxacin may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to ciprofloxacin’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking ciprofloxacin, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, ciprofloxacin can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to ciprofloxacin, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Ciprofloxacin has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of worsening myasthenia gravis

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, may worsen the rare condition myasthenia gravis in people who already have it.

Myasthenia gravis causes muscle fatigue and weakness.

Rarely, taking fluoroquinolones can lead to the need for a ventilator and can be fatal for people with myasthenia gravis.

What you can do

Due to this risk, doctors are not likely to prescribe ciprofloxacin if you have myasthenia gravis. Your doctor can recommend a different treatment option for you.

Risk of tendon problems, nerve problems, and central nervous system (CNS) problems

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, may cause certain serious side effects. These include:

Tendon problems: With ciprofloxacin, there is a risk of tearing or inflammation of tendons. (Tendons are tissues that attach your muscles to your bones.) Symptoms of tearing or inflammation of tendons can include:

  • bruising
  • swelling
  • severe pain in the affected area

Nerve problems: With ciprofloxacin, there is a risk of peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage. Symptoms can include:

  • numbness
  • tingling
  • burning in your arms, hands, legs, or feet

Central nervous system (CNS) problems: The CNS controls many of the body’s functions, such as movement, thinking, and memory. Some examples of CNS effects that may happen with ciprofloxacin include:

Factors that may increase your risk for some of these side effects include:

What you can do

If you have the side effects above while taking ciprofloxacin, tell your doctor as soon as possible. They’ll likely recommend that you stop taking the medication. In some cases, serious side effects from ciprofloxacin may not go away after you stop taking the drug. Your doctor can advise you on how to manage these side effects if they occur.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Learn more about some of the side effects that ciprofloxacin may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for ciprofloxacin.

Nausea and vomiting

Having nausea and vomiting was a common side effect reported in studies of ciprofloxacin. It was typically mild and temporary.

What you can do

If you experience nausea and vomiting during ciprofloxacin treatment, talk with your doctor. They may recommend taking your dose with food to help ease your symptoms.

But certain foods and drinks can reduce the level of ciprofloxacin in your body, making it less effective. This includes dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, and juices that contain calcium. (You should take ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after consuming any dairy products or juices that contain calcium.) If you are taking your dose of ciprofloxacin with food to help ease symptoms of nausea and vomiting, you may want to avoid those types of foods or drinks.

Abnormal results of liver function tests

Abnormal results of liver function tests were a common side effect reported in studies of ciprofloxacin. This can be a sign of liver damage. Symptoms of liver damage may include:

  • dark-colored urine
  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of your eyes)
  • loss of appetite
  • abdominal pain
  • weakness

What you can do

If you experience symptoms of liver damage while taking ciprofloxacin, talk with your doctor right away. They may recommend stopping treatment with ciprofloxacin.

Are side effects of ciprofloxacin in older adults different than those seen in younger adults?

Not really. The side effects of ciprofloxacin in adults ages 65 years and older are similar to those seen in younger people.

Older adults may be at a higher risk of certain side effects from ciprofloxacin. These include:

  • abnormal heart rhythm
  • aortic aneurysm (bulging of an artery called the aorta)
  • aortic dissection (tear in the aorta)
  • tendinitis and tendon rupture

Also, older adults may have other health conditions, such as kidney or liver problems, that affect how their bodies respond to ciprofloxacin. These conditions could increase the risk of older adults experiencing side effects from ciprofloxacin.

If you have questions about your risk of side effects from ciprofloxacin, talk with your doctor.

How do side effects of ciprofloxacin in males compare with those seen in females?

They are expected to be the same. There were no differences in side effects between males and females taking ciprofloxacin in the drug’s studies.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about side effects of ciprofloxacin.

Note: In this article, we use the terms “females” and “males” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For more information, see this article about the difference between sex and gender.

Take note of the following important information before taking ciprofloxacin.

Ciprofloxacin has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Ciprofloxacin: Boxed warnings” section.

Other precautions

Before taking ciprofloxacin, discuss your health history with your doctor. Ciprofloxacin may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.