Question 1

What is ciprofloxacin?

Accepted Answer

CILOXAN ® (ciprofloxacin ophthalmic ointment) 0.3% is a synthetic, sterile, multiple dose, antimicrobial for topical use. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial. It is available as the monohydrochloride monohydrate salt of 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid. Ciprofloxacin is a faint to light yellow crystalline powder with a molecular weight of 385.82 g/mol. Its empirical formula is C 17 H 18 FN 3 O 3 •HCl•H 2 O and its chemical structure is as follows: Ciprofloxacin differs from other quinolones in that it has a fluorine atom at the 6-position, a piperazine moiety at the 7-position, and a cyclopropyl ring at the 1-position. Each gram of CILOXAN ® (ciprofloxacin ophthalmic ointment) 0.3% contains: Active: ciprofloxacin HCl 3.33 mg equivalent to 3 mg base. Inactives: mineral oil, white petrolatum. chemical structure

Question 2

What kind of drug is ciprofloxacin?

Accepted Answer

The FDA classifies ciprofloxacin as a fluoroquinolone antibacterial. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Question 3

How long does ciprofloxacin stay in your system?

Accepted Answer

The elimination half-life of ciprofloxacin is about 4 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the serum elimination half-life in adults with normal kidney function; it is slightly longer when kidney function is reduced and about 20% longer in older adults, and no metabolite has a materially longer half-life. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.

Question 4

Can you take ciprofloxacin with other medicines?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run ciprofloxacin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

Question 5

What brand names is ciprofloxacin sold under?

Accepted Answer

We track 8 ciprofloxacin-containing products in the U.S.: Ciloxan, Ciprofloxacin in Dextrose 5% in Plastic Container, Cetraxal, Cipro in Dextrose 5% in Plastic Container, Cipro in Sodium Chloride 0.9% in Plastic Container, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, Otiprio and Proquin XR. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

Question 6

What forms does ciprofloxacin come in?

Accepted Answer

Across the brands we track, ciprofloxacin is currently marketed as topical, injectable, drops, solution, tablet and tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Question 7

Is there a generic ciprofloxacin?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our catalog lists 2 generic ciprofloxacin products alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Question 8

Has ciprofloxacin been recalled?

Accepted Answer

The FDA's Enforcement database lists at least 5 recall records whose product description mentions ciprofloxacin. The most recent: Ciprofloxacin 0.3% and Dexamethasone 0.1% Otic Suspension Rx Only (Aug 13, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Ciloxan	64/100	Prescription	Topical	Generic	$4	View →
2	Ciprofloxacin in Dextrose 5% in Plastic Container Boxed warning

Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
L54	500 mg	white	capsule	—
Y102	500 mg	white	oval	—
E451	500 mg	white	oval	—
L54	500 mg	white	capsule	—
L53	250 mg	white	round	—
L54	500 mg	white

Ciprofloxacin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Key facts

How ciprofloxacin is dosed

Ciprofloxacin side effects

Who shouldn’t take ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin drug interactions

Ciprofloxacin and food

Every ciprofloxacin product we track (8)

What ciprofloxacin pills look like

Combination products containing ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin recalls

How long ciprofloxacin stays in your system

Frequently asked questions