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Is It Safe to Combine Ciprofloxacin and Ibuprofen?

Jillian O Keeffe
Jillian O Keeffe

Ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen perform two different functions in medicine. While ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic and combats bacterial infections, ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication. Both of these drugs, however, can act on the central nervous system and, together, increase the risk of convulsions.

Scientists typically group medicines together by molecular similarity. Ciprofloxacin is part of the quinolone group, which contains a variety of antibiotics. Generally, specific groups share many biological characteristics, such as mode of action and possible side effects. If doctors notice one particular quinolone antibiotic has an unwanted effect on the body, then as a precaution, they assume the other quinolones have the potential to cause the same problem.

Combining ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen may  cause convulsions.
Combining ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen may cause convulsions.

In the case of ciprofloxacin, the problem that scientists noticed with certain members of the group was that the drugs could be toxic to the central nervous system. Patients under treatment with the antibiotics could suffer tremors and muscle twitches and experience hallucinations. Seizures could also occur, especially if the patient had had seizures in the past. How the drug acts on the body to cause these problems is not yet known, as of 2011, although it may be because the medication blocks certain brain signals.

People who take ciprofloxacin should steer clear of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
People who take ciprofloxacin should steer clear of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Ibuprofen is also part of a group of medications. In this case, the group members are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs.) Diclofenac and aspirin are other members of the NSAID group. The presence of ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen in the same body together can make the potentially toxic effect of the quinolone to the nervous system worse than if the antibiotic were present alone.

Ibuprofen can be unsafe when combined with other medications.
Ibuprofen can be unsafe when combined with other medications.

Despite the theoretical risk of a treatment regimen with both ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen, a doctor may be able to prescribe the two medications together. In this case, he or she makes an informed decision about the risks with the patient, balancing the potential for convulsions against the damage to the patient from the illness. Anyone with a history of epilepsy or other brain problems may be ruled out as a potential candidate for the treatment.

Taking ciprofloxacin may cause some patients to experience sensitivity to light.
Taking ciprofloxacin may cause some patients to experience sensitivity to light.

As well as potential problems with ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin may be unsuitable for people using corticosteroid drugs or people who have allergies to the quinolone group of antibiotics. Medical conditions that may rule out ciprofloxacin treatment regimes include myasthenia gravis, a muscle condition, previous issues with tendinitis, and diabetes. Patients with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and those with kidney problems also need to inform the doctor prior to taking the drug. Children, pregnant women, or breast-feeding women may also be safer with a different form of treatment.

Discussion Comments

anon1006792

I came across this post because I was doing a little research after taking Cipro and ibuprofen, together at the same time, two doses a day for three days now, which was prescribed to me by a pharmacist. I don't have any kidney issues, or stomach issues either, but for the past 17hours now, my head is killing me. I can't even sleep because it feels like my brain is breathing, so I stopped taking the medications. I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow.

kjmaustin

Do not mix Cipro and Ibuprofen. I was prescribed Ciprofloxacin for a stomach parasite. After three days, my stomach felt better, but I developed a sore lower back. I took an Advil to relieve the back pain and about 30 minutes later, I felt dizzy and had a panic attack while driving. I never had even mild anxiety before this.

I called the doctor's office and the nurse said my episode was not related to the mixing of Cipro and Advil and for me to continue taking the Cipro. I took one more dose of Cipro that evening and felt like I was having a seizure. My entire body felt like it was on fire. It ruptured blood vessels on both sides of my neck and chest. My ears were ringing loudly. I should have called 911 but my husband was on a business trip and I didn't want to frighten the kids.

I went to the doctor immediately the next morning and she did an EKG and did not believe that mixing Cipro and Advil would cause this reaction. She was completely uninterested in finding out what happened and wanted to put me on an anti-anxiety meds, which I refused to take.

I couldn't believe this was happening to me. I was usually so cautious and would google things like this before mixing medicines. I was 40 years old, healthy and fit. I had never experienced sensitivities to any medications before.

It has taken me two years to recover. I found a doctor who was willing to listen and help me figure out exactly what happened. I now know the parasite taxed my liver which caused the Cipro to build up in my system and it then reacted to the Advil.

The reaction caused peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, adrenal fatigue, hormonal depletion, and systemic inflammation. I still suffer from mild tinnitus and remain on bio-identical hormones (at age 42). If you are reading this and have just had a bad experience with floroquinolone antibiotics, I want to reassure you, you will get better with time. Find yourself a doctor who is interested in you, not the quick fix and you will get better.

sunnySkys

I actually know someone that did get a seizure as a result of taking ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen together. However, he was epileptic, so he was already at risk.

When he started on the ciprofloxacin, his doctor actually warned him not to combine it with ibuprofen because of the possibility of seizures. However, he completely forgot after he'd been on the antibiotic for about a week. He took some ibuprofen for a headache, and ended up having a seizure. There was no lasting harm done, but it's obviously not desirable to have a seizure at any time.

Monika

@KaBoom - You would think doctors would warn people about this possibility. Since ciprofloxacin is used to treat stuff like sinus infections, it makes sense that a lot of people taking ciprofloxacin would also need to take something like ibuprofen for pain. At least if people knew about the possible complications, they could make informed decisions.

This is why I usually do a little bit of research online before taking anything new. Also, I like to talk to the pharmacist and ask if there are any possible interactions or side effects. Pharmacists usually know even more about medications than doctors do.

KaBoom

I've taken ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen together several times. I was on the ciprofloxacin because I was sick, and I took the ibuprofen because I had a horrible headache and my whole body kind of hurt. I didn't have any reactions, and in fact my doctor didn't even warn me that seizures were a possibility.

I'm glad I didn't have a reaction that time, but I think if I'm ever on ciprofloxacin again, I'll play it safe and avoid ibuprofen. I'd rather suffer through some aches and pains than worry about having a seizure.

candyquilt

@ZipLine, @burcinc-- This combination is not dangerous unless you have kidney problems as the article already mentioned. The reason for that is because those whose kidneys do not function normally will have trouble eliminating drugs from their system.

So someone with kidney problems will have more ciprofloxacin stay in their system than someone who doesn't. The reason that ibuprofen is problematic is because it will reduce the elimination of ciprofloxacin from the system even further. This means that there is going to be increased blood flow in the body and that's where the risk for seizures comes from.

But if you don't have kidney problems and as long as you adjust the doses of the drugs with the help of your doctor of pharmacist, taking ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen is not dangerous for most people.

If it's not necessary for you to use them together, obviously don't. But if you have a condition where you need to take them both together and if you're generally healthy, I don't see why you couldn't. It's still important to get permission from your doctor though.

burcinc

@ZipLine-- It's good you mentioned that. I don't believe that taking ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen together is dangerous. But it's true that NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can cause upset the stomach, so taking them together does increase the likelihood of that.

I take ibuprofen regularly for my arthritis and I have been prescribed ciprofloxacin several times by my doctor for upper respiratory infections. But I didn't have any problems because I always take my medicines with food or milk. This makes a huge difference, it doesn't bother my stomach when I do this. I also try to take them several hours apart so that they don't go through my stomach at the same time.

ZipLine

Oh wow, I didn't know that ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen could cause so many problems together. I'm on ciprofloxacin for an infection and the other day, I took a dose of ibuprofen for my migraine. But I realized it was a bad idea later because they gave me upset stomach together. I had acidity and had to take antacids.

So I guess, even if it doesn't cause more serious problems, it can be damaging to the stomach. I bet this could be detrimental to people who have stomach acidity in general or if they've suffered from stomach ulcers in the past.

I'm never going to combine ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen again in the future, that's for sure.

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      Combining ciprofloxacin and ibuprofen may cause convulsions.
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