Two medicines, side by side
Ciprofloxacin vs fluconazole
Ciprofloxacin and fluconazole are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ciprofloxacin since 1987 and of fluconazole since 1990. Pharmacies paid $0.123 per ciprofloxacin HCl 500 mg tablet and $0.380 per fluconazole 200 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Ciprofloxacin's other strengths are brand-only: $1.25 per mL (Cipro 5% suspension). In FDA's classes, ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial and fluconazole an azole antifungal.
Check it at the source: the ciprofloxacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026); the fluconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 7, 2026).
Highlights of the ciprofloxacin record
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) · label of March 2, 2026
SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDING TENDINITIS, TENDON RUPTURE, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS AND EXACERBATION OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
Fluoroquinolones, including CIPRO ® , have been associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions that have occurred together [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )], including:
Tendinitis and tendon rupture [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )].
Peripheral neuropathy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )].
Used for
From the label: indicationsCIPRO is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial indicated in adults (18 years of age and older) with the following infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria and in pediatric patients where indicated: • Skin and Skin Structure Infections ( 1.1 ) • Bone and Joint Infections ( 1.2 ) • Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections ( 1.3 ) • Infectious Diarrhea ( 1.4 ) • Typhoid Fever (Enteric Fever) ( 1.5 ) • […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 22, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 54 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.123 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Highlights of the fluconazole record
Fluconazole (Diflucan) · label of April 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFluconazole tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Vaginal candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections due to Candida ). Oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 29, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.380 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ciprofloxacin label of March 2, 2026, Fluconazole label of April 7, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ciprofloxacin and fluconazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial and fluconazole an azole antifungal.
Half-life, in each label's words: Ciprofloxacin, “The serum elimination half-life in subjects with normal renal function is approximately 4 hours.”; Fluconazole, “Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma …”
Only the ciprofloxacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: ciprofloxacin since 2004; fluconazole since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ciprofloxacin | Fluconazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Diarrhea, Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections | Fungal infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial, Quinolone Antimicrobial | Azole Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | Ciprofloxacin is a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The serum elimination half-life in subjects with normal renal function is approximately 4 hours. | Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma elimination half-life of approximately 30 hours (range: 20 to 50 hours) after oral administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 22, 1987 | January 29, 1990 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 2004 | July 29, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 54 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.123 per tablet (Ciprofloxacin HCl 500 mg tablet) | $0.380 per tablet (Fluconazole 200 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 96,726 | 69,671 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to ciprofloxacin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions