ciprofloxacin vs sucralfate
Side-by-side comparison of ciprofloxacin and sucralfate. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
In all case studies to date (cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, digoxin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and ranitidine), dosing the concomitant medication 2 hours before sucralfate eliminated the interaction.
Recommendation: Take ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before you take your dose of sucralfate. This timing helps your body absorb the antibiotic properly.
Cipro
Carafate
Ciprofloxacin eye drops are an antibiotic medicine. They treat bacterial infections in the eye.
Sucralfate is a medicine that helps heal and protect ulcers in your small intestine. It creates a coating over the ulcer to shield it from stomach acid.
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.
Sucralfate is used to treat active duodenal ulcers, which are sores in the first part of your small intestine. It can help heal these ulcers over a period of 4 to 8 weeks. Sucralfate can also be used as maintenance therapy at a lower dose to prevent ulcers from coming back after they have healed.
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It stops bacteria from growing and multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Sucralfate works by forming a protective layer over the ulcer. This coating acts like a bandage, shielding the ulcer from stomach acid and enzymes. This protection helps the ulcer heal.
- • Burning or discomfort in the eye
- • White crystal-like build-up in the eye
- • Constipation (2%)
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 5,673
- Pain 5,586
- Tiredness 5,504
- Diarrhea 5,328
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,300
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,262
- Feeling very tired 1,733
- Loose, watery stools 1,701
- General discomfort 1,482
- Pain in your head 1,381
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.
Inadvertent injection of sucralfate has led to fatal complications, including blood clots in the lungs and brain. Sucralfate is not intended for intravenous administration.
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.
It is not known if sucralfate can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare ciprofloxacin with
How to Read This ciprofloxacin vs sucralfate Comparison
ciprofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while sucralfate sits within the Mucosal Protective Agent class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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 sucralfate has 8,559. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking sucralfate at the same time as ciprofloxacin prevents the antibiotic from being fully absorbed into your blood. this can make the antibiotic less effective at fighting your infection.. 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 sucralfate - 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.