Ciprofloxacin and Theophylline Interaction
Drug interaction information between Ciprofloxacin and Theophylline.
Ciprofloxacin and Theophylline have a documented minor interaction in FDA labeling.
FDA drug labeling documents a minor-severity interaction between Ciprofloxacin and Theophylline. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.
How They Interact
Ciprofloxacin makes it harder for your body to clear theophylline. This results in higher than normal levels of theophylline in your blood.
FDA Label Information
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.
Ciprofloxacin Also Interacts With
- Tizanidine major
- Cyclosporine minor
- Carbamazepine minor
- Clozapine minor
- Duloxetine minor
Theophylline Also Interacts With
- Metoprolol major
- Albuterol major
- Omeprazole major
- Amoxicillin major
- Famotidine major
Frequently Asked Questions
What SPL severity band is on file for Ciprofloxacin + Theophylline?
Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair minor. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.
Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?
Theophylline has 86 labeled pairs on file vs Ciprofloxacin's 14. In the minor band specifically: Ciprofloxacin has 13 (also Cyclosporine, Carbamazepine, Clozapine, Duloxetine); Theophylline has 54 (also Propranolol, Methotrexate, Diazepam, Lithium).
What mechanism field is on file for Ciprofloxacin and Theophylline?
Ciprofloxacin makes it harder for your body to clear theophylline. This results in higher than normal levels of theophylline in your blood.
Theophylline carries more major-labeled pairs than Ciprofloxacin
SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is minor · classes on file: Ciprofloxacin (Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic); Theophylline (Methylxanthine Bronchodilator).
Theophylline has 27 major-labeled pairs vs Ciprofloxacin's 1. This page itself is in the minor band, not the major band.
1 major · 0 moderate · 13 minor · 14 total
- Other minor peers for Ciprofloxacin
- Cyclosporine
- Carbamazepine
- Clozapine
- Duloxetine
27 major · 5 moderate · 54 minor · 86 total
- Other minor peers for Theophylline
- Propranolol
- Methotrexate
- Diazepam
- Lithium
Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.