Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections. This includes, among other things, bone and joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, certain types of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract infections. It is used in conjunction with other antibiotics to treat some conditions. It can be administered orally, intravenously, or as eye or ear drops.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects. Serious side effects include increased tendon rupture, hallucinations, and nerve damage. Muscle weakness worsens in people with myasthenia gravis. Side effect rates are higher for some antibiotic classes, such as cephalosporins, but lower than for others, such as clindamycin. Other animal studies raise concerns about use during pregnancy. However, no problems were found in the children of many women who took the medication. It appears to be tissue while breastfeeding. It is a second-generation fluoroquinolone with a broad spectrum of activity that typically kills bacteria.
Ciprofloxacin was patented in 1980 and first commercialized in 1987. It is on the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List. Ciprofloxacin is classified as critical for human medicine by the World Health Organization. It is available as a generic drug. It was the 132nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States in 2020, with over 4 million prescriptions.
