Key takeaways

  • Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat certain bacterial infections.
  • It can cause side effects that range from mild to serious.
  • Examples include nausea, diarrhea, heart rhythm problems, and many others.

Specifically, Cipro is prescribed to treat several types of bacterial infections in adults and children. Some of those infections include:

Your doctor may prescribe Cipro for other types of infections, too.

The active ingredient of Cipro is called ciprofloxacin. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Ciprofloxacin is also available as a generic drug. The side effects of Cipro and ciprofloxacin are generally the same.

Keep reading to learn about common, mild, and serious Cipro side effects.

Cipro has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Cipro treatment. Examples of Cipro’s more commonly reported side effects include:

  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • skin rash
  • temporary increase in liver enzymes

Other side effects are possible with Cipro. Read on to find out more.

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Cipro include:

Cipro may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Cipro unless your doctor recommends it.

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Serious side effects, many of which are rare, have been reported with Cipro. These include:

Note: Cipro has a boxed warning for the risk of certain serious side effects and worsening of myasthenia gravis symptoms. A boxed warning is the strongest warning the FDA requires. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Due to the risk of serious side effects, doctors usually will not prescribe Cipro for certain infections unless no other treatment options are available.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Cipro, 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.

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 Suicide and Crisis 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.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Cipro and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Cipro can cause an allergic reaction.

But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

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

What might help?

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Cipro.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Cipro, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Cipro toxicity refers to the damage that Cipro may cause to the body. Some people describe the damage as being “floxed.” Fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro are known to cause certain serious side effects, as listed below. These are rare but are more likely to occur in people with certain risk factors.

In fact, Cipro has a boxed warning about the risk of such side effects. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the FDA. They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. (For more information, see the “Side effects explained” section.)

Due to the risk of serious side effects, doctors usually will not prescribe Cipro for certain infections unless no other treatment options are available.

Symptoms vary depending on the side effects. For example, if you develop nerve damage, you may feel pain, tingling, or numbness. Symptoms may last months, and sometimes, they may be permanent, though this is rare.

Recovery is usually possible, but will depend on the side effect. Knowing what symptoms to watch for and contacting your doctor about them right away can help you to get treatment sooner. Your doctor may also have you stop taking Cipro immediately.

To learn more about the serious side effects Cipro toxicity may cause, possible symptoms, and what can help recovery, see the “Side effects explained” section below. Your doctor or pharmacist can also tell you more about Cipro’s serious side effects.

Cipro is used to treat certain infections in children, including complicated UTIs. But this medication can increase a child’s risk of joint damage. Because of this serious side effect, doctors usually do not prescribe Cipro as the first-choice treatment for UTIs in children.

Symptoms of joint damage include:

If your child takes Cipro and has any of these symptoms, contact their doctor immediately.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Cipro’s side effects.

Yes, older adults (ages 65 years and older) have a higher risk of some Cipro side effects than younger people.

When taking Cipro, older adults have a higher risk of the side effects involving the aorta (the main artery from the heart):

These side effects are serious and can be life threatening. Symptoms include:

If you have these symptoms while taking Cipro, seek immediate medical attention.

Older adults who take Cipro also have a higher risk of a heart problem called long QT syndrome. And people ages 60 years and older have a higher risk of tendonitis and ruptured tendon. Cipro has a boxed warning for this side effect.

To learn more about side effects of Cipro in older adults, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

It depends. While the highest strength available for these drugs in tablet form is 500 milligrams (mg), doctors may prescribe higher doses depending on the infection being treated. The side effects for Cipro and generic ciprofloxacin are usually the same at all recommended dosages.

But if you have kidney problems, your body may not be able to get rid of these drugs as well as it should. In this case, a higher dosage of Cipro or ciprofloxacin may increase the risk of side effects. Tell your doctor about any kidney problems you have. They’ll likely prescribe a lower dosage of Cipro or ciprofloxacin.

If you have questions about the risk of side effects from higher dosages of Cipro or ciprofloxacin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Read more about Cipro dosage.

It’s possible. Most common side effects of Cipro and generic ciprofloxacin go away when you stop taking either medication. (The side effects of Cipro and ciprofloxacin are generally the same.)

But certain side effects can occur after treatment. Others can continue after you stop taking Cipro or ciprofloxacin.

For example, a ruptured tendon, a serious side effect of Cipro, can occur during treatment and up to several months after stopping the medication.

If you have concerns about side effects occurring after you stop taking Cipro or ciprofloxacin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Many common Cipro side effects, such as diarrhea and nausea, go away soon after you stop taking the medication. But some serious side effects can last a long time, even after you stop Cipro treatment.

Examples of Cipro side effects that can be long term include:

  • long QT syndrome
  • tendinitis and ruptured tendon (Cipro has a boxed warning for this side effect.)
  • nerve damage (Cipro has a boxed warning for this side effect.)

In rare cases, Cipro may cause permanent side effects.

Safety tip: Knowing what side effects Cipro can cause and what symptoms to notify your doctor about may help you to get treatment sooner. This could affect how long any side effects you develop may last.

For more information about some of Cipro’s serious side effects and their symptoms, see the “Side effects explained” section. Your doctor or pharmacist can also discuss symptoms to watch for during Cipro treatment.

To help avoid long-term side effects, your doctor likely will not prescribe Cipro to you if other safer options are available to treat your infection.

If you have concerns about Cipro’s long-term side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some adverse effects Cipro can cause and how to limit or recover from Cipro side effects.

Risk of certain serious side effects

Cipro has a boxed warning for the risk of certain serious side effects. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the FDA. They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

These serious side effects, which are discussed below, include:

  • tendinitis and ruptured tendon
  • nerve damage
  • CNS effects

Tendinitis and ruptured tendon

Tendinitis and ruptured tendon can happen within hours of starting Cipro and up to several months after stopping treatment. Tendons are strong, flexible tissues that connect muscles to bones. Tendinitis is the term for inflammation of the tendons, and ruptured tendon refers to tears that can occur in this tissue.

Certain factors may increase the risk of these tendon-related side effects. These include:

Symptoms of tendinitis and ruptured tendon include:

  • pain or swelling in a tendon
  • popping or snapping sound when moving the affected joint
  • weakness in the joint or inability to put weight on the joint

Nerve damage

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro can cause damage to certain nerves. This is an uncommon but serious side effect of Cipro. In rare cases, nerve damage can be permanent.

Areas usually affected include the arms, hands, legs, or feet. Symptoms of nerve damage include the following sensations in any of these areas:

Central nervous system effects

Cipro and other fluoroquinolones can increase your risk of certain CNS side effects. Some of these can be mental health issues. Examples include:

What might help

Due to the risk of the serious side effects discussed above, doctors usually will not prescribe Cipro to treat the following infections unless no other options are available:

If you have any of the symptoms listed above for tendon-related side effects, nerve damage, or CNS side effects, contact your doctor right away. They’ll determine what is causing your symptoms.

If you’ve developed a serious side effect from Cipro treatment, your doctor will have you stop taking the drug immediately. And they probably will not prescribe Cipro or other fluoroquinolones to you in the future.

For more information about the serious side effects Cipro can cause, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Risk of worsening muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis

Cipro also has a boxed warning for the risk of worsening muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis. While this side effect was not reported in studies of Cipro, it has occurred in people taking the drug after it became available for use. This side effect can lead to severe reactions and may even be fatal.

What might help

Due to the risk of worsening muscle weakness, doctors likely will not prescribe Cipro for people with myasthenia gravis if other effective treatments are available.

It’s important to discuss your health history with your doctor before starting any treatment. If you have myasthenia gravis, they’ll likely recommend a different antibiotic for your condition.

For more information about this serious side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Cipro treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Cipro affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Cipro comes with several warnings, which may affect whether the drug is a good treatment for your condition.

Boxed warnings

Cipro has boxed warnings, which are listed below. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the FDA. They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

  • Risk of certain serious side effects: Cipro can cause certain serious side effects that may be permanent, though this is rare. These include tendinitis and ruptured tendon, nerve damage, and CNS side effects. Due to this risk, doctors usually will not prescribe Cipro to treat the following infections unless no other options are available: sinus infections, UTIs, and bronchitis.
  • Risk of worsening muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis: Cipro can worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis. Due to this risk, doctors may not prescribe Cipro to people with this condition.

To learn more about these boxed warnings, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Other warnings

Cipro may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether Cipro is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Cipro. The list below includes factors to consider:

  • heart problems
  • kidney problems
  • liver problems
  • seizures
  • diabetes
  • allergic reaction to Cipro or any of its ingredients

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Cipro

There are no studies on taking Cipro during pregnancy. But information gathered over many years suggests that Cipro does not increase the risk of harm in someone who is pregnant or their fetus.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting Cipro. They’ll discuss whether Cipro is a suitable treatment option for you during pregnancy.

Cipro passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. For this reason, it is not recommended that you breastfeed while taking Cipro or for 2 days after stopping treatment.

Talk with your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. They’ll discuss safe ways to feed your child during this time.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.