Health Library

Ciprofloxacin betaine/ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (By mouth)

Ciprofloxacin (sip-roe-FLOX-a-sin), Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride (sip-roe-FLOX-a-sin hye-droe-KLOR-ide)

Treats a urinary tract infection or kidney infection that is caused by bacteria. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone (quinolone) antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Cipro XR

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Long Acting Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
• This extended-release tablet form of ciprofloxacin (Cipro® XR) is NOT the same as other kinds of ciprofloxacin. Use the exact medicine that your doctor prescribed. Do not use a different medicine, even if the names look alike.
• You may take this medicine with or without food. Do not take this medicine with milk, yogurt, or other dairy products. Do not drink any juice with calcium added when you take this medicine. It is okay to have dairy products or juice as part of a larger meal and then take this medicine with that meal.
• Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
• Drink extra fluids so you will urinate more often and help prevent kidney problems.
• Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

If a dose is missed:

• Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not take more than one tablet per day.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, Medrol®, Decadron®). Using a steroid together with this medicine may increase your chance of having tendon problems.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using theophylline (T-phyl®, Uniphyl®). Your doctor will need to monitor you more closely if you use ciprofloxacin while you are also using theophylline.
• Tell your doctor if you are also using cyclosporine (Sandimmune®, Neoral®), metoclopramide (Reglan®), methotrexate (Trexall®, Rheumatrex®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), or probenecid (Benemid®).
• Tell your doctor if you are using a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), diabetes medicine (such as glyburide, metformin, Actos®, Diabeta®, Glucotrol®, Glynase®, Micronase®), or pain or arthritis medicine (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®).
• Some medicines, including antacids and mineral supplements, can change with the way ciprofloxacin works in your body. Tell your doctor if you use any antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (such as Maalox® or Mylanta®), or any kind of vitamin or mineral supplement that contains calcium, zinc, or iron. Also talk with your doctor if you use sucralfate (Carafate®) or didanosine (Videx®) powder or chewable buffered tablets. If you use any of these medicines, take them at least 6 hours before or 2 hours after you take ciprofloxacin.
• Avoid caffeine while you are using this medicine. Caffeine is found in foods and drinks such as coffee, sodas, and chocolate. Ciprofloxacin may cause caffeine to stay in your body longer than usual.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease. Make sure your doctors knows if you have a history of seizures, epilepsy, head injury, or stroke.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
• Your tendons may be more easily injured while you are using this medicine. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor if you have pain or swelling in your knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, hand, or wrist. You may also need to avoid exercise or certain physical activities. Children and elderly patients are more likely to have tendon problems. This risk of tendon problems may also increase if you have rheumatoid arthritis or if you have received an organ (such as heart, kidney, or lung) transplant.
• This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• Use this medicine to treat only the infection your doctor has prescribed it for. Do not use this medicine for any infection that has not been checked by a doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Blood in your urine, or change in how much or how often you urinate.
• Chest pain.
• Confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior.
• Diarrhea that may contain blood.
• Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat.
• Numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
• Pain or swelling in your knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, hand, or wrist.
• Unexplained fever.
• Seizures, severe headache.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Feeling nervous, restless, or anxious.
• Headache, bad dreams, or trouble sleeping.
• Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
• Vaginal itching.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024