Doxycycline vs. Cipro

Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, treats various infections, including respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It is also used for non-gonococcal urethritis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, brucellosis, anthrax, chancroid, cholera, syphilis, acne, and periodontal disease.

Cipro (ciprofloxacin), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, treats bacterial infections in the skin, lungs or airways, bones, joints, and urinary tract. It also treats infectious diarrheas caused by E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Shigella bacteria; anthrax patients with fever and low white blood cell counts, intra-abdominal infections; typhoid fever; cervical and urethral gonorrhea due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae; chronic bacterial prostatitis; and acute uncomplicated cystitis.

What are the side effects of doxycycline and Cipro?

Doxycycline

Doxycycline is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects are tooth discoloration in children below 8 years old and sunburn if exposed to sunlight during treatment.

Cipro

Fluoroquinolones, including Cipro, have serious side effects and should only be used when no alternatives are available. These side effects include:

• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis
• Acute bacterial sinusitis

Warning: Serious side effects of Cipro

Cipro and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been associated with tendonitis and tendon rupture, particularly the Achilles tendon. Patients should avoid vigorous exercise during treatment. Cipro can also worsen muscle weakness in individuals with myasthenia gravis.

What are the common side effects of Cipro?

The most common side effects of Cipro are:

Anaphylaxis, or shock, is a rare allergic reaction to this drug. Seek immediate medical help if experiencing symptoms of shock, including cardiovascular collapse, facial or throat swelling, shortness of breath, hives, or itching.

What are the serious side effects of Cipro?

Possible serious side effects of Cipro include:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Central nervous system effects (CNS), such as toxic psychosis, nervousness, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares, paranoia, dizziness, tremors, depression, and hallucinations
• Hyperglycemia
• Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)
• Abnormal heart beats
• Liver dysfunction
• Stroke
• Convulsions
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Vasculitis
• Allergic pneumonitis
• Interstitial nephritis
• Acute kidney failure
• Hepatitis
• Jaundice
• Liver failure
• Anemia
• Leukopenia

Other serious side effects of Cipro include:

• Use with caution in patients with central nervous system diseases, such as seizures
• Avoid use in children and adolescents under 18 years old
• Inflammation of the colon (pseudomembranous colitis)
• Cardiac arrest
• Respiratory failure

What is the dosage for doxycycline vs. Cipro?

Doxycycline

• Doxycycline can be taken with or without food.
• For most infections, take doxycycline once or twice daily for 7 to 14 days.
• The usual dose for adults is 200 mg on the first day of treatment followed by 100 to 200 mg/day.

Cipro

• The recommended oral dose for adults is 250-750 mg (immediate release tablets) every 12 hours or 500-1000 mg (extended release tablets) every 24 hours.
• The usual intravenous dose is 200-400 mg every 8-12 hours.

What drugs interact with doxycycline and Cipro?

Doxycycline

• Avoid taking doxycycline with antacids, minerals, or bismuth subsalicylate as they can decrease its absorption.
• Doxycycline may interact with warfarin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, penicillins, methoxyflurane, and oral contraceptives.

Cipro

• Avoid taking Cipro with theophylline, tizanidine, iron salts, antacids, sevelamer, diabetic medications, sildenafil, and sun exposure.
• Cipro can interact with theophylline, tizanidine, iron salts, antacids, warfarin, sevelamer, diabetic medications, and sildenafil.

Are doxycycline and Cipro safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Doxycycline

Tetracyclines like doxycycline are not recommended during pregnancy due to potential toxic effects on fetal bone development. Use in nursing mothers is of concern because of possible toxicity on the infant’s bone.

Cipro

Cipro is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding due to safety concerns.

Summary

Doxycycline and Cipro are antibiotics used to treat different bacterial infections. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic and Cipro is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.