Like all medicines, ciprofloxacin can cause side effects although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects
These common side effects of ciprofloxacin happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Feeling sick (nausea)
If you feel sick after taking the tablets or liquid, stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food while you're taking this medicine. It might help to take ciprofloxacin after you have had a meal or snack.
Diarrhoea
If you get diarrhoea after taking the tablets or liquid, drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark strong-smelling pee.
Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Redness or discomfort in the eye
If you feel a stinging, burning or gritty feeling in your eye after using the eye drops, this should go away on its own. Do not drive, ride a bike or operate heavy machinery until your eyes feel comfortable again and your vision is clear.
Bad taste in the mouth
If you get a bad taste in your mouth after using ciprofloxacin eye drops, it does not usually last long. Drink some water or juice, or chew some sugar-free gum.
White specks on the surface of your eye
If you get white specks on the surface of your eye after using the eye drops, keep using your ciprofloxacin but tell your doctor if it bothers you or does not go away.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if this advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or lasts more than a few days.
Serious side effects
Very few people taking or using ciprofloxacin have serious side effects.
They are less likely to happen with the eye drops or ear drops.
These serious side effects can happen in less than 1 in 100 people. Stop taking ciprofloxacin and call your doctor or call 111 now if:
- you, or your friends or family, notice changes in your mood or behaviour
- you have severe tiredness, feel anxious, low in mood or depressed, or have panic attacks
- you have confusion, or have difficulty sleeping or remembering things
- you have confusion, anxiety or depression
- you have muscle weakness, pain or swelling in your joints or tendons. This often begins in the ankle or calf, but could also be in your shoulder, arms or legs. It can happen in the first 2 days of taking ciprofloxacin or even several months after stopping. It is more common in children
- you have pain or abnormal sensations (such as pins and needles that do not go away, tingling, tickling, numbness or burning) or weakness in your body, especially in your legs or arms
- you have ringing in your ears (tinnitus), loss of taste, are seeing double, or have any other changes in your sight, smell, taste or hearing
- you have diarrhoea (perhaps with muscle cramps) that contains blood or mucus – if you have severe diarrhoea without blood or mucus for more than 4 days, also speak to a doctor
- you have a faster or irregular heartbeat, or heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable (palpitations)
- you have sudden breathlessness, especially when you're lying down
- you have swollen ankles, feet or stomach
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life
Immediate action required: Call 999 if:
- you have sudden, severe pain in your stomach, chest or back
- you have seizures or fits
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to ciprofloxacin.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of ciprofloxacin. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.