ciprofloxacin vs ofloxacin
Side-by-side comparison of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Cipro
Floxin, Ocuflox
Ciprofloxacin eye drops are an antibiotic medicine. They treat bacterial infections in the eye.
Ofloxacin ear drops are an antibiotic medicine. They fight bacteria to treat ear infections.
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.
This medicine treats ear infections caused by certain bacteria. It can treat outer ear infections in adults and kids over 6 months old. It also treats middle ear infections with a hole in the eardrum in people 12 and older, and middle ear infections with ear tubes in kids 1 year and older.
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It stops bacteria from growing and multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Ofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to clear up the infection in your ear.
- • Burning or discomfort in the eye
- • White crystal-like build-up in the eye
- • Application site reaction
- • Itching
- • Taste changes
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 5,673
- Pain 5,586
- Tiredness 5,504
- Diarrhea 5,328
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,300
- Drug not working 345
- Eye pain 345
- Using the drug for something it's not approved for 306
- Headache 284
- Pain 278
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.
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to ofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics, or any of the ingredients in the drops.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if ofloxacin ear drops will harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This ciprofloxacin vs ofloxacin Comparison
ciprofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while ofloxacin 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 ofloxacin has 1,558. 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 ofloxacin — 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.