Side effects of ciprofloxacin

Like all medicines, ciprofloxacin can cause side effects although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Ciprofloxacin side effects affect more than one out of every 100 people. You can help yourself cope by doing the following:

• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Diarrhea
• Redness or discomfort in the eye
• Bad taste in the mouth
• White specks on the surface of your eye
• Speak with a doctor or pharmacist if this coping advice does not help and a side effect persists 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 eye drops or ear drops.

These serious side effects can happen in less than 1 in 100 people. Stop taking ciprofloxacin and tell your doctor or contact 111 straight away if 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
• 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
• severe tiredness, feeling anxious or very low in mood or difficulty sleeping or remembering things
• ringing in your ears (tinnitus), loss of taste, seeing double, or any other changes in your sight, smell, taste or hearing
• diarrhea (perhaps with muscle cramps) that contains blood or mucus – if you have severe diarrhea without blood or mucus for more than 4 days, also speak to a doctor
• a faster or irregular heartbeat, or heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable (palpitations)
• sudden breathlessness, especially when you're lying down
• swollen ankles, feet, or stomach

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Call 999 if:

• you have sudden, severe pain in your stomach, chest or back
• you have seizures or fits

Serious allergic reaction

• In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to ciprofloxacin.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

• you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
• you're wheezing
• you get tightness in the chest or throat
• you have trouble breathing or talking
• your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in the hospital.