Ciprofloxacin and supplements: 4 sourced interactions
Fluoroquinolone antibiotic, also sold as Cipro and Cipro XR. Of these, 4 named by an FDA label or NIH page. Plus 5 predicted from how each works (not established). Plus 1 food and drink line. Each links its source and the date it was checked.
From the Interaction Map Sources checked Oct 25, 2026
A combination missing here is not on our list; that does not mean it is safe together.
Ciprofloxacin with supplements
Most serious first. Open a row for the mechanism, the source's words and the date checked.
Educational only. Check with your pharmacist or prescriber before changing anything you take.
Major
1CalciumLabel or NIHThe FDA label names this pair (absorption in the gut).
major · Named by an FDA label or NIH page · Absorption in the gut
In the source’s own words; rated major from that wording, not from a study of the pair.
“Simultaneous use of calcium supplements and quinolone antibiotics—such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), and moxifloxacin (Avelox)—can reduce the absorption of quinolones”
“CIPRO should be taken at least two hours before or six hours after Multivalent cation-containing products administration [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].”
“Avoid concomitant administration of CIPRO with dairy products (like milk or yogurt) or calcium-fortified juices alone since decreased absorption is possible”
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · Office of Dietary Supplements · Calcium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Interactions with Medications > Quinolone antibiotics
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 12.3
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
Moderate
4IronLabel or NIHThe FDA label names this pair (cause not established).
moderate · Named by an FDA label or NIH page · Cause not established
In the source’s own words; rated moderate from that wording, not from a study of the pair.
“CIPRO should be taken at least two hours before or six hours after Multivalent cation-containing products administration [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].”
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 7
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
MagnesiumLabel or NIHThe FDA label names this pair (absorption in the gut).
moderate · Named by an FDA label or NIH page · Absorption in the gut
In the source’s own words; rated moderate from that wording, not from a study of the pair.
“These antibiotics should be taken at least 2 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after a magnesium-containing supplement”
“CIPRO should be taken at least two hours before or six hours after Multivalent cation-containing products administration [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].”
“Concurrent administration of antacids containing magnesium hydroxide or aluminum hydroxide may reduce the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin by as much as 90% [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) and Drug Interactions (7)].”
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · Office of Dietary Supplements · Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Interactions with Medications > Antibiotics
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 12.3
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
ZincLabel or NIHThe FDA label names this pair (absorption in the gut).
moderate · Named by an FDA label or NIH page · Absorption in the gut
In the source’s own words; rated moderate from that wording, not from a study of the pair.
“Both quinolone antibiotics (such as Cipro) and tetracycline antibiotics (such as Achromycin and Sumycin) might interact with zinc in the gastrointestinal tract, which could inhibit the absorption of both zinc and the antibiotic if they are taken at the same time”
“CIPRO should be taken at least two hours before or six hours after Multivalent cation-containing products administration [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].”
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · Office of Dietary Supplements · Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Interactions with Medications > Antibiotics
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 7
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
MelatoninPredictedCiprofloxacin may raise Melatonin levels: it slows CYP1A2, an enzyme that breaks Melatonin down.
moderate · Predicted from how each works, not established · Breakdown by liver enzymes
Predicted from what each is known to do, not studied as a pair and not established.
Ciprofloxacin may raise Melatonin levels: it slows CYP1A2, an enzyme that breaks Melatonin down.
- FDA table of drugs that interact with CYP enzymes · Ciprofloxacin: CYP1A2 moderate inhibitor (Table 1, row "ciprofloxacin", column "CYP Mod INH")
- FDA table of drugs that interact with CYP enzymes · Melatonin: CYP1A2 sensitive substrate (Table 1, row "melatonin", column "CYP SENS SUB")
- Checked Oct 23, 2026
Minor
4Asian ginsengPredictedBoth lower blood sugar, which may add up.
minor · Predicted from how each works, not established · Blood sugar lowering
Predicted from what each is known to do, not studied as a pair and not established.
Both lower blood sugar, which may add up.
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · Ciprofloxacin: lowers blood sugar (CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 5.19)
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · Asian ginseng: lowers blood sugar (Asian Ginseng: Usefulness and Safety, What Do We Know About Safety?)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
BerberinePredictedBoth lower blood sugar, which may add up.
minor · Predicted from how each works, not established · Blood sugar lowering
Predicted from what each is known to do, not studied as a pair and not established.
Both lower blood sugar, which may add up.
- LiverTox (NIH) · Berberine: lowers blood sugar (Berberine. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury (NIDDK), Background)
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · Ciprofloxacin: lowers blood sugar (CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 5.19)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
ChromiumPredictedBoth lower blood sugar, which may add up.
minor · Predicted from how each works, not established · Blood sugar lowering
Predicted from what each is known to do, not studied as a pair and not established.
Both lower blood sugar, which may add up.
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · Ciprofloxacin: lowers blood sugar (CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 5.19)
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements · Chromium: lowers blood sugar (Office of Dietary Supplements · Chromium, Interactions with Medications · Metformin and other antidiabetes medications)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
Red yeast ricePredictedBoth lower blood sugar, which may add up.
minor · Predicted from how each works, not established · Blood sugar lowering
Predicted from what each is known to do, not studied as a pair and not established.
Both lower blood sugar, which may add up.
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · Ciprofloxacin: lowers blood sugar (CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 5.19)
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · Red yeast rice: lowers blood sugar (Red Yeast Rice: What You Need To Know, Are red yeast rice products effective?)
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
Ciprofloxacin with food and drink
Food and drink
1CoffeeLabel or NIHThe FDA label names this pair (breakdown by liver enzymes).
moderate · Named by an FDA label or NIH page · Breakdown by liver enzymes
In the source’s own words; rated moderate from that wording, not from a study of the pair.
“Co-administration of CIPRO and other drugs primarily metabolized by CYP1A2 (for example, theophylline, methylxanthines, caffeine, tizanidine, ropinirole, clozapine, olanzapine and zolpidem), results in increased plasma concentrations of the co-administered drug and could lead to clinically significant pharmacodynamic adverse reactions of the co-administered drug [see Drug Interactions (7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].”
“CIPRO inhibits the formation of paraxanthine after caffeine administration (or pentoxifylline containing products).”
- FDA drug label (DailyMed) · CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE) TABLET, FILM COATED CIPRO (CIPROFLOXACIN) KIT [BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.], section 7
- Checked Oct 25, 2026
How these lines are sourced
Three kinds of line
- Studied in people (PubMed): PubMed records that were opened and read, graded A (several controlled studies, or a finding in the dosing guidance), B (at least one controlled human study) or C (case reports, observational data or mechanism only).
- Named by an FDA label or NIH page: quoted word for word from that page. Its severity comes from the source’s wording, not from a study of the pair.
- Predicted from how each works, not established: built from sourced facts about each substance, such as the FDA’s table of enzyme roles. Never rated major.
Interaction MapCheck Ciprofloxacin with everything else you take, together
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