![]() structure | |
![]() 3D model of ciprofloxacin | |
Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Cipro, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a688016 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous, topical (ear drops, eye drops) |
Drug class | Fluoroquinolone |
ATC code | |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 70%[3] |
Protein binding | 30%[3] |
Metabolism | Liver |
Elimination half-life | 3.5 hours[3] |
Excretion | Kidney |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.123.026 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C17H18FN3O3 |
Molar mass | 331.347 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections.[4] This includes bone and joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, certain types of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract infections, among others.[4] For some infections it is used in addition to other antibiotics.[4] It can be taken by mouth, as eye drops, as ear drops, or intravenously.[4][5]
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.[4] Severe side effects include tendon rupture, hallucinations, and nerve damage.[4] In people with myasthenia gravis, there is worsening muscle weakness.[4] Rates of side effects appear to be higher than some groups of antibiotics such as cephalosporins but lower than others such as clindamycin.[6] Studies in other animals raise concerns regarding use in pregnancy.[7] No problems were identified, however, in the children of a small number of women who took the medication.[7] It appears to be safe during breastfeeding.[4] It is a second-generation fluoroquinolone with a broad spectrum of activity that usually results in the death of the bacteria.[4][8][9]
Ciprofloxacin was patented in 1980 and introduced by Bayer in 1987.[10][11] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[12] The World Health Organization classifies ciprofloxacin as critically important for human medicine.[13] It is available as a generic medication.[4][14] In 2022, it was the 181st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2 million prescriptions.[15][16]