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ciprofloxacin vs delafloxacin

Side-by-side comparison of ciprofloxacin and delafloxacin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
ciprofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
delafloxacin Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
Type
ciprofloxacin Prescription
delafloxacin Prescription
Summary
ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin eye drops are an antibiotic medicine. They treat bacterial infections in the eye.

delafloxacin

Baxdela is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat certain skin infections and pneumonia.

What It Treats
ciprofloxacin

These eye drops treat corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis (pink eye) caused by certain bacteria. Corneal ulcers are open sores on the eye. Conjunctivitis is an infection that makes the eye red and swollen.

delafloxacin

Baxdela treats acute bacterial skin infections and skin structure infections in adults. It can treat infections caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Streptococcus, and others. Baxdela also treats community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults, caused by bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and others.

How It Works
ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It stops bacteria from growing and multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.

delafloxacin

Baxdela belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.

Common Side Effects
ciprofloxacin
  • Burning or discomfort in the eye
  • White crystal-like build-up in the eye
delafloxacin
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Changes in liver enzyme tests
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
ciprofloxacin
  • Allergic reaction to the medicine 5,673
  • Pain 5,586
  • Tiredness 5,504
  • Diarrhea 5,328
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 5,300
delafloxacin

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
ciprofloxacin

Do not inject this medicine into your eye. Some people have had very bad allergic reactions, even after the first dose. Get emergency help right away if you have trouble breathing, pass out, or have swelling of the face, throat, or tongue.

delafloxacin

Baxdela has a boxed warning. It can cause serious side effects like tendon problems, nerve damage, and central nervous system problems. It can also make muscle weakness worse if you have myasthenia gravis. Stop taking Baxdela right away if you have any of these side effects.

Pregnancy
ciprofloxacin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if ciprofloxacin eye drops will harm an unborn baby. It is also not known if ciprofloxacin passes into breast milk.

delafloxacin

It is not known if Baxdela will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Baxdela passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Baxdela.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ciprofloxacin vs delafloxacin Comparison

ciprofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while delafloxacin sits within the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ciprofloxacin has 27,391 submissions while delafloxacin has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between ciprofloxacin and delafloxacin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.