How Effective Is Ciprofloxacin for Bladder Infection?

Ciprofloxacin is a common antibiotic medication used to treat a variety of conditions, including urinary tract infections (UTI). A UTI occurs when foreign bacteria finds its way into the urethra or bladder. Using ciprofloxacin for bladder infection can be a top choice of treatment, depending on what kind of bacteria is causing the infection. It is a strong antibiotic and is often prescribed to treat bladder infections that cannot be cured using other medications.

Many bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Women are more likely than men to get bladder infections, because the female urethra is in very close proximity to the rectum. Simply wiping the wrong way after using the restroom can cause bacteria to infect a woman's urethra. A medical professional may prescribe ciprofloxacin to treat an E. coli urinary tract infection, but many other antibiotics also may work.

Ciprofloxacin is often the first choice when dealing with more serious and less common UTIs caused by bacteria such as pseudomonas. A medical professional can take an in-office urine sample and use a dip stick to determine if a patient has a bladder infection. The urine may need to be sent out to a lab and cultured so that the specific bacteria causing the problem can be identified, but the healthcare professional may choose to start a patient on ciprofloxacin and decide to switch the patient to a different antibiotic once the lab results are back.

While taking ciprofloxacin for bladder infection, patients should be aware of possible side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headache. It is a very strong medication, so women run the risk of it wiping out all the bacteria in their systems, including the beneficial bacteria. When a woman's vaginal bacteria balance is disrupted, there is the chance that she could develop a yeast infection. A woman should visit a medical professional if she experiences unusual discharge or vaginal itching while taking any antibiotic medication.

Patients should avoid caffeine while taking ciprofloxacin, since this drug can temporarily increase a person's anxiety, and drinking beverages such as coffee and soda may only make this worse. Caffeine also is not a good beverage for a person looking to promote bladder healing. People with urinary tract infections should stick with water and cranberry juice to help flush out the bacteria and to stay hydrated.