Ciprofloxacin - Do I take with food?

Some general considerations to keep in mind during treatment with ciprofloxacin include the following:

This medication comes in many different forms. The particular directions for each product can vary substantially, so make sure to refer to the information for your specific ciprofloxacin product.

When taking ciprofloxacin by mouth, it usually does not matter if you take it with or without food. However, one of the extended-release ciprofloxacin products, Proquin® XR, should be taken with your main meal of the day. Try taking other ciprofloxacin products with food if they upset your stomach.

When using the oral liquid suspension, shake the bottle well for about 15 seconds before each dose to make sure the medicine is thoroughly mixed.

Ciprofloxacin tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not crush, cut, or chew them. Also, do not chew the tiny capsules in the liquid suspension.

You should not take ciprofloxacin oral products with dairy products alone (such as milk or yogurt) or with calcium-fortified juices (such as orange juice). However, you can take ciprofloxacin with meals that contain these food items.

Take care, best wishes!