Drug Interaction Report

Information for this minor interaction is available on the professional version.

Information for this minor interaction is available on the professional version.

You may experience reduced absorption of ampicillin in the presence of food. The effectiveness of the antibiotic may be reduced. Ampicillin should be administered one hour before or two hours after meals. This will make it easier for your body to absorb the medication. Penicillin V and amoxicillin are not affected by food and may be given without regard to meals.

Do not take ciprofloxacin with dairy products such as milk or yogurt, or with calcium-fortified foods (e.G., cereal, juice). You may eat or drink dairy products or calcium-fortified foods with a regular meal, but do not use them alone when taking ciprofloxacin. They could make the medication less effective. When ciprofloxacin tablets are given with enteral (tube) feedings, ciprofloxacin may not work as well. You could interrupt the feeding for 1 hour before and 2 hours after the ciprofloxacin dose, or your doctor may decide to switch to a different treatment. Ciprofloxacin oral suspension should not be given via nasogastric tubes or feeding tubes. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.

GENERALLY AVOID: The oral bioavailability of quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics may be reduced by concurrent administration of preparations containing polyvalent cations such as aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Therapeutic failure may result. The proposed mechanism is chelation of quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics by di- and trivalent cations, forming an insoluble complex that is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Reduced gastrointestinal absorption of the cations should also be considered.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant administration of oral quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics with preparations containing aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, and/or zinc salts should generally be avoided. Otherwise, the times of administration should be staggered by as much as possible to minimize the potential for interaction. Quinolones should typically be dosed either 2 to 4 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after polyvalent cation preparations, depending on the quinolone and formulation. Likewise, tetracyclines and polyvalent cation preparations should typically be administered 2 to 4 hours apart. The prescribing information for the antibiotic should be consulted for more specific dosing recommendations.

Using caffeine together with ciprofloxacin may increase the effects of caffeine. Contact your doctor if you experience headache, tremor, restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, and increased blood pressure or heart rate. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special test to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.