This article describes Cipro’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for Cipro. If you want to know more about Cipro, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Cipro is a brand-name medication that comes as an oral tablet and liquid suspension (a liquid mixture). It’s available in a generic version called ciprofloxacin. This article describes dosages of Cipro.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the risk of serious side effects and use in people with myasthenia gravis. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
See the end of this article for more information about these warnings.
Forms and strengths of Cipro
Cipro comes in the following forms and strengths. The strengths are in milligrams (mg) and milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL)
| Form | How to take | Strengths |
| oral tablet | take by swallowing | • 250 mg • 500 mg |
| liquid suspension (a liquid mixture) | take by swallowing | • 250 mg/5 mL • 500 mg/5 mL |
Dosage of Cipro
This article describes the recommended dosages for Cipro. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of Cipro without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of Cipro in adults
Dosage for certain bacterial infections
The following table outlines the recommended dosages of Cipro for adults, including the dosage for a urinary tract infection (UTI).
| Condition | Recommended dosage | Treatment length |
| skin infections | 500–750 mg every 12 hours | 7–14 days |
| bone and joint infections | 500–750 mg every 12 hours | 4–8 weeks |
| stomach infections | 500 mg every 12 hours | 7–14 days |
| diarrhea | 500 mg every 12 hours | 5–7 days |
| UTI | 250–500 mg every 12 hours | 7–14 days |
| gonorrhea of the cervix or urethra | 250 mg as a single dose | single dose |
| bladder infections | 250 mg every 12 hours | 3 days |
| sinus infections | 500 mg every 12 hours | 10 days |
| chronic (long-term) prostatitis | 500 mg every 12 hours | 28 days |
| lower respiratory tract infections | 500–750 mg every 12 hours | 7–14 days |
| typhoid fever | 500 mg every 12 hours | 10 days |
| inhalation anthrax | 500 mg every 12 hours | 60 days |
| plague | 500–750 mg every 12 hours | 14 days |
Dosages of Cipro in children
Doctors will typically prescribe Cipro liquid suspension (a liquid mixture) for certain types of bacterial infections in children.
The following table outlines the recommended dosages of Cipro for children. Your child’s doctor will prescribe a dosage based on their body weight. The dosages listed are in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
| Age | Condition | Recommended dosage | Maximum dose | Treatment length |
| 1–17 years of age | complicated UTI and kidney infections | 10–20 mg/kg every 12 hours | 750 mg per dose | 10–21 days |
| under 18 years of age | inhalation anthrax | 15 mg/kg every 12 hours | 500 mg per dose | 60 days |
| under 18 years of age | plague | 15 mg/kg every 8–12 hours | 500 mg per dose | 14 days |
Dosage adjustments for Cipro
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of Cipro based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- other health conditions you may have
Missed dose of Cipro
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of Cipro. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
For tips on how to plan your doses of Cipro and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Cipro and its dosage.
How does the dosage of Cipro compare with the dosage of Bactrim?
Cipro and Bactrim are both antibiotics used to treat certain bacterial infections. This includes UTIs and chronic bronchitis flare-ups.
The table below shows the recommended dosages of both Cipro and Bactrim for certain bacterial infections in adults.
| Condition | Cipro dosage for adults | Bactrim dosage for adults |
| UTIs | 250–500 mg every 12 hours for 7–14 days | 1 Bactrim DS* tablet or 2 Bactrim† tablets every 12 hours for 10–14 days |
| chronic bronchitis flare-up | 500–750 mg every 12 hours for 7–14 days | 1 Bactrim DS* tablet or 2 Bactrim† tablets every 12 hours for 14 days |
* Bactrim double strength (DS) tablets contain 800 mg sulfamethoxazole/160 mg trimethoprim.
† Bactrim tablets contain 400 mg sulfamethoxazole/80 mg trimethoprim.
Talk with your doctor if you have further questions about how the dosage of Cipro compares with the dosage of Bactrim, including the dosage for children.
Is Cipro taken long term?
No, doctors don’t typically prescribe Cipro as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended for short-term use.
If you have questions about how long you should take Cipro, talk with your doctor.
How Cipro is taken
You’ll typically swallow Cipro once every 12 hours, as prescribed by your doctor. You can take it with or without food.
Be sure not to take Cipro with any dairy products or juices that are fortified with calcium. Doing so may prevent your body from absorbing the medication properly. This can make the drug less effective. You should take Cipro at least 2 hours before or after consuming these types of products.
Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.
Cipro tablets are scored, which means they can be cut in half on the score line (groove) if needed. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
Cipro coupon
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Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
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