Written by Dr.Albana Greca Sejdini, Md, MMedSc

Cipro Side Effects Elucidated!

Cipro Side Effects

Before going through Cipro side effects, let's have some info on Cipro itself.

What is Cipro used for?

Cipro is an anti-bacterial drug (antibiotic), the generic name of which is Ciprofloxacin. It is the most effective drug of the powerful group of the Fluoroquinolones, used for the treatment of many bacterial infections.

The most common observed Cipro side effects

Although most of the patients using Cipro do not experience any side effect during their treatment; however, there are some other patients who have different experiences.

In addition, there is no relation between the dosage of the drug and side effects. The most common side effects are:

A. GASTROINTESTINAL: As for any other oral-administered drug, gastrointestinal symptoms are very common, indicating the intolerance towards this drug. These symptoms include:

1. Upset stomach

2. Vomiting

3. Diarrhea

4. Headache

5. Stomach pain

6. Restlessness

Although the above gastrointestinal symptoms will appear the when the first pills will be eaten; however, several studies have suggested that people will start tolerating the drug better, after having taken several pills.

The less common Cipro side effects

1. Alteration in your tasting ability.

2. Alteration in your skin:

a. Increased sensitivity of the skin to the light of the sun

b. Your skin could start blistering

c. Presence of itching

d. Swelling (or edema)

e. The skin could be turn red

Although these side effects were observed only in some patients, the clinical trials and the statistical data is rather poor to determine the real presence of the side effects.

Rare and dangerous Cipro side effects


You must pay attention to and report any of the following symptoms to your doctor, which indicate an immediate threat to the patient’s health. They include:

1. Liver problems:

a. Yellowing in the eyes or/and skin

b. Dark urine or Coca-Cola like urine

c. Itching

d. Hives

e. Problems with the digestion

Ciprofloxacin could harm the liver by causing its inflammation and/or even liver failure. If you note any of the changes listed above, call your doctor immediately. You might need to take certain drugs, which help in the protection of the liver.

Keep in mind that liver failure is a lethal complication of the drug.

2. Cipro side effects related to the nervous system:

a. Seizures - if you are suffering from seizures, Cipro could aggravate your situation, leading to more often seizure episodes.

b. Convulsions

c. Vision changes

3. Allergic reactions:

a. Skin rash

b. Difficulties in breathing and swallowing

c. Swelling in the face and/or throat

d. Pain in the chest

You can also teach other people on how to recognize these symptoms, because it might be possible that you can lose consciousness during an allergic reaction. Then, your life will depend on the people around you and their adequate actions.

Furthermore, you must tell your doctor, if you have experienced any allergic reactions in any time of your life.

4. Muscle problems:

a. Tendon - it might rupture

b. Inflammation in the muscles

c. Pain in the muscles



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