The prescribed dosage for ciprofloxacin may vary depending on a person’s individual treatment plan. Factors such as your medical history and body weight may also affect your dosage of ciprofloxacin.
Ciprofloxacin is used in adults and certain children to treat some bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infection (UTI). Ciprofloxacin is also approved to help prevent infections from inhaled anthrax.
Ciprofloxacin is a generic drug that belongs to a drug class called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin oral tablet is available in a brand-name version.
This article describes the dosages of ciprofloxacin, as well as its strengths and how to take it. For a detailed overview of this drug, check out this in-depth ciprofloxacin article.
Your doctor will likely start by prescribing a low dosage and adjusting it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for ciprofloxacin. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those shown here.
Ciprofloxacin forms
Ciprofloxacin is available as an oral tablet.
Ciprofloxacin also is available as an intravenous (IV) solution, ear drops, powder for oral suspension, and eye drops. This article focuses on the dosages for the oral tablet form of the drug.
Ciprofloxacin strengths
Ciprofloxacin oral tablet comes in the following strengths:
- 250 milligrams (mg)
- 500 mg
- 750 mg
Ciprofloxacin is approved to treat the following conditions in adults:
- skin infections
- bone and joint infections
- abdominal infections, taken together with metronidazole (Flagyl)
- diarrhea due to infection
- typhoid fever
- gonorrhea
- plague
- chronic prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)
- lower respiratory tract infections
- UTIs
- acute cystitis (sudden bladder inflammation caused by a bacterial infection)
- sinus infections
Ciprofloxacin is also approved to help prevent infections from inhaled anthrax.
The prescribed ciprofloxacin dosage may vary depending on the condition it’s being used to treat. Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Notify them if you experience any side effects that may prevent you from taking your medication.
Typical dosages in adults
Below are the usual dosages of ciprofloxacin in adults for each infection it is used to treat or prevent:
| Infection | Dosage | Length of treatment |
|---|---|---|
| skin infections | 500 to 750 mg every 12 hours | 14 days |
| bone and joint infections | 500 to 750 mg every 12 hours | 4 to 8 weeks |
| abdominal infections | 500 mg every 12 hours | 7 to 14 days |
| diarrhea due to infection | 500 mg every 12 hours | 5 to 7 days |
| typhoid fever | 500 mg every 12 hours | 10 days |
| gonorrhea | 250 mg for 1 dose | 1 dose |
| plague | 500 to 750 mg every 12 hours | 14 days |
| chronic prostatitis | 500 mg every 12 hours | 28 days |
| lower respiratory tract infections | 500 to 750 mg every 12 hours | 7 to 14 days |
| UTIs | 250 to 500 mg every 12 hours | 7 to 14 days |
| acute cystitis | 250 mg every 12 hours | 3 days |
| sinus infections | 500 mg every 12 hours | 10 days |
| anthrax | 500 mg every 12 hours | 60 days |
If you have questions about your dosage of ciprofloxacin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Ciprofloxacin is used to:
- treat kidney infections or complicated UTIs in children ages 1 year and older
- treat plague in children of any age
- help prevent infections from inhaled anthrax in children of any age
Dosages of ciprofloxacin for children are based on their body weight in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb). Here are the typical dosages of ciprofloxacin for children:
| Use | Dosage | Length of treatment |
|---|---|---|
| kidney infections or complicated UTIs | 10 to 20 mg/kg (up to 750 mg) every 12 hours | 10 to 21 days |
| plague | 15 mg/kg (up to 500 mg) every 8 to 12 hours | 14 days |
| anthrax | 15 mg/kg (up to 500 mg) every 12 hours | 60 days |
For more information about ciprofloxacin’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you specific instructions for taking ciprofloxacin. Typically, recommendations for taking ciprofloxacin include:
- You can take your dose with or without food, but sometimes taking it with food can help ease the digestive side effects of the drug.
- Certain foods or drinks, such as dairy products, can interact with ciprofloxacin and make it less effective, so it is best to take your dose at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after consuming dairy products or products that contain calcium.
- Tablets should be swallowed whole.
- It is important to complete your whole treatment of ciprofloxacin, even if you start to feel better.
How long do you take ciprofloxacin?
Ciprofloxacin is typically prescribed for a limited time. Your doctor will determine your individual treatment plan, including how long you will take ciprofloxacin.
Do not take more ciprofloxacin than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
What to do in case you take too much ciprofloxacin
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much ciprofloxacin. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.