Who can and cannot take or use ciprofloxacin

Most adults and children aged 1 year and over can take or use ciprofloxacin.

Ciprofloxacin is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking or using it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to ciprofloxacin or any other medicine
• have ever had a serious side effect with ciprofloxacin or another antibiotic (particularly a fluroquinolone)
• have had diarrhoea while taking antibiotics before
• have ever had depression, anxiety, suicidal feelings or any another mental health condition
• have an abdominal aortic aneurysm or any other problem with the aorta (the large blood vessel running from the heart to the abdomen), or if someone in your family has had this
• have a fast, pounding heartbeat, or irregular heartbeats
• have a heart infection, congenital heart disease or heart valve disease
• have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• have rheumatoid arthritis, Behcet's disease or a connective tissue disorder such as Marfan syndrome
• have problems with your tendons
• have epilepsy or another health problem that puts you at risk of seizures or fits
• have problems with your kidneys
• have diabetes, as ciprofloxacin might affect your blood sugars
• are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding