Ciprofloxacin oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

Medically reviewed by Amber Watson, PharmD on May 1, 2023

Ciprofloxacin oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Cipro. Ciprofloxacin also comes in other forms: oral liquid, injection, eye drops, and ear drops. These forms aren’t described in this article, but you can learn more about them by talking with your doctor.

This article describes ciprofloxacin oral tablet’s dosages, its strengths, and details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for ciprofloxacin.

If you want to know more about ciprofloxacin oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of worsening myasthenia gravis and serious side effects. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

See the end of this article for more information about these warnings.

Form and strengths of ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin oral tablet comes as follows:

• Form: tablet that you swallow
• Strengths: 100 milligrams (mg), 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg

Dosage of ciprofloxacin

This article describes the recommended dosages* for ciprofloxacin oral tablet.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should take the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of ciprofloxacin oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

* The drugmaker provides these recommended dosages.

Usual recommended dosages of ciprofloxacin in adults

Your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of ciprofloxacin oral tablet that gives the desired outcome for your condition. The tables below show dosages for the various conditions ciprofloxacin treats.

Dosage for urinary tract infection (UTI) and other conditions

Ciprofloxacin is approved to treat several infections caused by bacteria. It’s also approved to prevent infection after exposure to anthrax.

Some conditions are treated in 2 weeks or less. The table below shows typical dosages of ciprofloxacin for these conditions in milligrams (mg).

Some conditions require several weeks of treatment or longer. The table below shows typical dosages of ciprofloxacin for these conditions in mg.

Dosages of ciprofloxacin in children

Ciprofloxacin is approved for certain uses in some children. These uses include treating certain infections and preventing infection after exposure to anthrax.

Your child’s doctor will determine the right dosage for your child. The right dosage is based on your child’s body weight in kilograms (kg) and the severity of the infection. (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].)

The table below shows typical dosages of ciprofloxacin for these conditions in mg per kg (mg/kg).

* If your child is unable to swallow ciprofloxacin tablets, talk with their doctor or a pharmacist. They can tell you whether other forms of ciprofloxacin, such as the oral liquid, can be used instead. You can learn more in the “How ciprofloxacin is taken” section below.

For example, assume a doctor prescribes ciprofloxacin to treat a UTI in a child weighing 25 kg (about 55 lb). So if the doctor prescribes 15 mg/kg, the child’s dosage would be 375 mg.

Dosage adjustments for ciprofloxacin

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of ciprofloxacin oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and its severity
• your age
• other health conditions you may have
• other medications you may take
• your kidney and liver function

Missed dose of ciprofloxacin

If you realize you forgot to take a dose of ciprofloxacin oral tablet, check when your next dose is due.

• If your next dose is due in 6 hours or later: Take your missed dose.
• If your next dose is due sooner than 6 hours: Skip the missed dose. But take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

If you’re not sure whether to take a missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away.

For tips on how to plan your doses of ciprofloxacin oral tablet 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 ciprofloxacin oral tablet and its dosage.

How many days do I take ciprofloxacin for a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

It depends on the condition. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage and length of treatment that best meets your needs.

For adults with UTI, the usual treatment with ciprofloxacin lasts for 7 to 14 days. For children with a serious UTI, the typical treatment with ciprofloxacin lasts for 10 to 21 days. For adults and children, treatment may be longer or shorter depending on the infection.

Talk with your doctor or your child’s doctor to learn more about treating UTI with ciprofloxacin.

Is ciprofloxacin used for a chest infection? If so, what is the dosage?

Yes, ciprofloxacin is used for lung infections in adults. A lung infection is sometimes called a chest infection because your lungs are in your chest. It’s also called a lower respiratory tract infection.

In adults, the dose of ciprofloxacin for lower respiratory tract infection is 500 mg to 750 mg. You take the drug every 12 hours for 7 to 14 days. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes. They may adjust it depending on the severity of your infection.

Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your ciprofloxacin dosage.

Is ciprofloxacin taken long term?

No, doctors don’t typically prescribe ciprofloxacin oral tablet as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended for short-term use.

If you have questions about how long you should take ciprofloxacin oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How ciprofloxacin is taken

You’ll swallow ciprofloxacin oral tablet. For most uses, you’ll take it once every 12 hours. You should swallow the tablet whole and not chew, split, or crush it.

Typically, you’ll need to allow time between your ciprofloxacin dose and certain foods and medications. Take ciprofloxacin 2 hours before or 6 hours after the following foods and medications:

• milk products
• juices that contain added calcium
• certain medications, such as antacids

Milk products and juices that contain added calcium can stop your body from absorbing enough ciprofloxacin. Antacids can also interact with ciprofloxacin. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to schedule your ciprofloxacin dose. They can also tell you about other medications pertaining to the above list.

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.

If it’s hard for you or your child to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you or your child are having difficulty taking the medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it or other forms of ciprofloxacin. For example, they can advise whether the oral liquid form of ciprofloxacin can be used instead of the tablet.

Ciprofloxacin coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for ciprofloxacin when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of ciprofloxacin

It’s important that you do not take more ciprofloxacin oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to serious side effects.

What to do if you take too much ciprofloxacin

If you think you’ve taken too much ciprofloxacin, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for ciprofloxacin oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of ciprofloxacin oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take ciprofloxacin oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Will a higher dosage of ciprofloxacin put me at higher risk of side effects?
• Which foods should I avoid when I take my dose of ciprofloxacin?
• How long will it take for my ciprofloxacin dose to make me feel better?
• What will my ciprofloxacin dose be if I have low kidney function?
• How much time should I allow between my ciprofloxacin dose and my other medications?

Boxed warnings for ciprofloxacin

This drug has boxed warnings about the risks of worsening myasthenia gravis (MG) and serious side effects. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Worsening MG. Like other fluoroquinolone antibiotics, ciprofloxacin can worsen MG, which is a medical condition that causes muscle weakness. Due to this risk, doctors usually won’t prescribe ciprofloxacin to people who have MG.

Serious side effects, such as tendon problems, nerve problems, and central nervous system (CNS) effects. Like other fluoroquinolone antibiotics, ciprofloxacin can cause serious side effects. Sometimes these side effects can be permanent. The serious side effects include:

• CNS side effects, such as seizures, dizziness, and memory trouble
• tendon problems, such as injury or tearing of tendons (tendons are the body tissue that connects muscles to bones)
• problems in nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, such as damage to blood flow and digestion or numbness in the hands and feet

Due to this risk, your doctor will monitor you closely during treatment. If you experience one of these serious side effects, your doctor likely will stop your ciprofloxacin dosage. And they may recommend a different medication.

Also, due to this risk, doctors may prefer to prescribe treatments other than ciprofloxacin for specific conditions. This is because other antibiotics that treat these conditions are less likely to cause serious side effects. If you have one of the following, they’ll prescribe ciprofloxacin only if no other treatment option exists:

• sinus infection
• bladder infection
• lower respiratory tract infection (chest infection or lung infection)

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these warnings.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.