ciprofloxacin
Brand names: Cipro
Ciprofloxacin eye drops are an antibiotic medicine. They treat bacterial infections in the eye.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$1.46/unit
Generic Price
$1.10/unit
Generic Savings
25%
Generic Available
Yes (21 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
These eye drops treat corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis (pink eye) caused by certain bacteria.
Common side effects
Burning or discomfort in the eye, White crystal-like build-up in the eye
Key warnings
Do not inject this medicine into your eye.
How It Works
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It stops bacteria from growing and multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
For corneal ulcers, put two drops in the affected eye every 15 minutes for the first 6 hours, then every 30 minutes for the rest of the first day. On the second day, use two drops hourly. From day 3 to 14, use two drops every four hours. For conjunctivitis, put one or two drops in the affected eye(s) every two hours while you are awake for two days, then one or two drops every four hours while awake for the next five days.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Then, go back to your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from light, in its original container.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 50,231 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 89,398 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1997–2025.
Total Reports
89,398
Death-Related Reports
9,101
Hospitalization Reports
34,823
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 5,673 |
| 2 | PAIN | 5,587 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 5,503 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 5,326 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 5,298 |
| 6 | ARTHRALGIA | 5,211 |
| 7 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 4,633 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 4,502 |
| 9 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 4,395 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 4,098 |
| 11 | OFF LABEL USE | 4,035 |
| 12 | PYREXIA | 3,886 |
| 13 | ANXIETY | 3,810 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 3,723 |
| 15 | HEADACHE | 3,680 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.2 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Strong CYP1A2 Inhibitors Concomitant use of tizanidine with strong cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) inhibitors (e.g., fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin) is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Ciprofloxacin stops the body from breaking down tizanidine. This can cause tizanidine to build up to dangerous levels in your system.
What to do: Do not take these two medicines together. Ask your doctor for a different antibiotic or muscle relaxer.
However, the systemic administration of some quinolones has been shown to elevate plasma concentrations of theophylline, interfere with the metabolism of caffeine, enhance the effects of the oral anticoagulant, warfarin, and its derivatives, and has been associated with transient elevations in serum creatinine in patients receiving cyclosporine concomitantly.
Mechanism: Taking these two drugs together can cause a temporary increase in creatinine levels, which is a sign of stress on the kidneys.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your kidney function tests while you are on both medications.
However, the systemic administration of some quinolones has been shown to elevate plasma concentrations of theophylline, interfere with the metabolism of caffeine, enhance the effects of the oral anticoagulant, warfarin, and its derivatives, and has been associated with transient elevations in serum creatinine in patients receiving cyclosporine concomitantly.
Mechanism: Ciprofloxacin makes it harder for your body to clear theophylline. This results in higher than normal levels of theophylline in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood levels and adjust your theophylline dose.
Drugs that have been shown, or would be expected, to increase plasma carbamazepine levels include aprepitant, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, danazol, diltiazem, macrolides (e.g., erythromycin, clarithromycin), fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, trazodone, omeprazole, oxybutynin, isoniazid, niacinamide (nicotinamide), azoles (e.g., ketaconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole), acetazolamide, verapamil, ticlopidine, grapefruit juice, and protease inhibitors.
Mechanism: Ciprofloxacin slows down how your body gets rid of carbamazepine, which can cause the drug to build up to high levels.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood levels and may need to lower your carbamazepine dose.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use of Strong CYP1A2 Inhibitors : Reduce VERSACLOZ dose to one third when coadministered with strong CYP1A2 inhibitors (e.g., fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin, enoxacin) ( 2.7 , 7.1 ). Reduce the VERSACLOZ dose to one third of the original dose when VERSACLOZ is coadministered with strong CYP1A2 inhibitors (e.g., fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin, or enoxacin).
Mechanism: Ciprofloxacin is a strong blocker of the enzyme that clears clozapine, which can cause clozapine levels to become very high.
What to do: Your doctor should reduce your clozapine dose to one-third of your normal dose when you are taking ciprofloxacin.
Common Questions
Can I use these eye drops with my contact lenses?
What if I am using other eye drops?
How long should I use these drops?
What should I do if the drops make my vision blurry?
Can I touch the dropper tip to my eye?
What if I accidentally swallow some of the eye drops?
Can I share these eye drops with someone else?
How will I know if the drops are working?
What do I do if I get a lot of burning when I use the drops?
How do I keep the eye drops clean?
What are the common side effects of ciprofloxacin?
Does ciprofloxacin interact with other medications?
What drug class is ciprofloxacin?
Is there a generic version of ciprofloxacin?
Is ciprofloxacin safe during pregnancy?
Has ciprofloxacin been recalled?
Active Recalls
Temperature Abuse
Sandoz Inc
Defective container: Unable to get the solution out of the bottle as the spike of the cap was lodged in the nozzle of the product bottle
FDC Limited
Defective Container: Unable to get the solution out of the bottle as the spike of the cap was lodged in the nozzle of the product bottle
Direct Rx
Defective container: Unable to get the solution out of the bottle as the spike of the cap was lodged in the nozzle of the product bottle
FDC Limited
Related Medications in Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near ciprofloxacin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with ciprofloxacin →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with ciprofloxacin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with ciprofloxacin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with ciprofloxacin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with ciprofloxacin →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
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What the FDA Data Shows for ciprofloxacin
The FDA label for ciprofloxacin (sold under brand names such as Cipro) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic class. These eye drops treat corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis (pink eye) caused by certain bacteria. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Burning or discomfort in the eye, White crystal-like build-up in the eye.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 50,231 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.10 versus $1.46 for the brand — a 25% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 4 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: May 2, 2022
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages