Ciprofloxacin Coupons & Prices

A ciprofloxacin coupon from Rx.com can lower what you pay at the pharmacy counter when you are paying cash or your insurance does not cover the fill. Ciprofloxacin (the generic of Cipro) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for certain bacterial infections, and FDA-approved generic versions are widely marketed. Prices are not the same everywhere: the cash price for the same tablets and the same quantity can be very different from one pharmacy to the next, which is why comparing before you fill matters. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's ciprofloxacin price across more than 60,000 participating pharmacies, then show the free coupon on your phone or printed out at the counter. This page is general information, not medical advice.

What is ciprofloxacin and how does it work?

Ciprofloxacin (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It is bactericidal, meaning it kills bacteria rather than just slowing them down. It works by blocking two bacterial enzymes, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, that bacteria need to copy and repair their DNA. Without those enzymes, the bacteria cannot multiply and die off. The oral forms are immediate-release tablets, extended-release tablets (available as a generic; the brand Cipro XR is no longer marketed in the U.S.), and an oral suspension. Ciprofloxacin is also made as ophthalmic (eye) and otic (ear) solutions, which have their own separate labels and uses. Proquin XR is no longer marketed.

Oral ciprofloxacin is FDA-approved to treat a range of susceptible bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and acute uncomplicated cystitis, acute pyelonephritis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis), acute sinusitis, skin and skin-structure infections, bone and joint infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections (used together with metronidazole), infectious diarrhea, typhoid fever, post-exposure treatment of inhalational anthrax, and treatment of plague (including pneumonic and septicemic plague), as well as plague prophylaxis. Because of the risk of disabling side effects, the FDA advises that ciprofloxacin be reserved for people who have no other treatment option in acute sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (acute uncomplicated cystitis). It is not a first-line choice in children except in specific situations described in the label. Ciprofloxacin does not work on viruses, so it will not help a cold or the flu.

Ciprofloxacin cost and coupons without insurance

Ciprofloxacin is available as an FDA-approved generic, and there is no manufacturer savings card for it. What surprises most people is the spread: the cash price for an identical short course of ciprofloxacin tablets can vary a lot between two pharmacies in the same town, because each pharmacy sets its own cash price. A discount coupon is often less than the cash price, and it can even be less than a copay on some insurance plans, though you cannot combine a coupon with insurance on the same fill.

Rx.com is free to use, requires no signup, and compares prices at more than 60,000 participating pharmacies. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's ciprofloxacin price near you, choose the pharmacy you like, and bring the coupon to the counter. A few ways to keep the cost down:

• Ask your prescriber whether the generic (ciprofloxacin) is appropriate rather than the brand Cipro, and compare the price of each.
• Compare a few pharmacies, including grocery and warehouse-store pharmacies, before you fill.
• Ask whether an equally appropriate, lower-cost antibiotic fits your infection.
• Show the coupon before the pharmacist rings the prescription up, not after.

Ciprofloxacin vs. other antibiotics

The right antibiotic depends on the type of infection, local resistance patterns, your allergies, and your kidney function, so this is a conversation for your prescriber, not a choice to make on price alone. That said, a few other antibiotics are commonly considered for overlapping infections:

• Levofloxacin is another fluoroquinolone and carries the same class boxed warning as ciprofloxacin.
• Nitrofurantoin is often preferred for uncomplicated bladder infections, in part because the FDA now advises saving fluoroquinolones for people with no other option in that setting.
• Amoxicillin, cephalexin, doxycycline, and azithromycin are used for various respiratory, skin, and other infections, depending on the organism.
• Metronidazole is paired with ciprofloxacin for some complicated intra-abdominal infections.

Most of these are available as generics as well. Prices for each vary by pharmacy, so if your prescriber switches you to a different antibiotic, you can search that drug on Rx.com and compare prices the same way.

Ciprofloxacin safety, warnings, and interactions

Ciprofloxacin carries an FDA boxed warning. Fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, are linked to disabling and potentially irreversible serious reactions that can occur together: tendinitis and tendon rupture (the risk is higher over age 60, with corticosteroid use, and in kidney, heart, or lung transplant recipients), peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness), and central nervous system effects such as seizures, confusion, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The boxed warning also states that ciprofloxacin may worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis and should be avoided in those patients. Other important risks include aortic aneurysm or dissection, QT prolongation (a heart rhythm effect), low blood sugar that can be severe, C. difficile-associated diarrhea, sun sensitivity, and serious allergic reactions. Stop the drug and contact your provider right away if you develop tendon pain or swelling, new numbness or tingling, mood or thinking changes, severe diarrhea, or a rash.

Timing and interactions matter a lot with this drug. Antacids, sucralfate, and calcium, iron, zinc, or magnesium supplements sharply reduce how much ciprofloxacin your body absorbs, and so does taking the dose with dairy alone. Ciprofloxacin is contraindicated with tizanidine, and it interacts with theophylline, warfarin, and other medicines processed by the CYP1A2 enzyme, so give your pharmacist a full list of what you take, including vitamins. Drink plenty of fluids, limit sun exposure, and finish the full course as prescribed. This is a summary, not medical advice; talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.