Food and medicine interaction
Coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate and ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and some other quinolone antibiotics
EstablishedEvidence level: established. Shown in drug labeling or in controlled studies in people.
Last reviewed
What can happen
Ciprofloxacin slows the body's clearance of caffeine, so caffeine lingers and its effects build up. MedlinePlus says the antibiotic may increase nervousness, sleeplessness, heart pounding and anxiety caused by caffeine.
- Why it happens
- Ciprofloxacin slows the liver's breakdown of caffeine; in 10 healthy men it raised caffeine's half-life from about 5 to about 8 hours.
- At ordinary food amounts
- MedlinePlus says not to drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products while taking ciprofloxacin; it does not say to avoid caffeine entirely.
What to do
Cut back on caffeine during the course and ask your pharmacist if you have jitters or trouble sleeping. Do not stop the antibiotic early because of side effects without talking to your prescriber.
Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to the prescriber.
Common questions
Can I have coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks and chocolate while taking antibiotics?
Cut back on caffeine during the course and ask your pharmacist if you have jitters or trouble sleeping. Do not stop the antibiotic early because of side effects without talking to your prescriber. MedlinePlus says not to drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products while taking ciprofloxacin; it does not say to avoid caffeine entirely.
Sources
Related
- RemedyCoffee: the full evidence pageThe most widely used stimulant in the US. Caffeine's short-term effect on alertness is well tested; the long-term health links come from observational studies.
- Interaction · EstablishedCoffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate and theophylline (Theo-24, Elixophyllin) for asthma or COPD
- Interaction · EstablishedCoffee, tea, juice, milk and mineral water and alendronate (Fosamax) and other oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis
- Interaction · EstablishedMagnesium and zinc supplements and tetracyclines such as doxycycline, and quinolones such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin
- Interaction · EstablishedMilk, yogurt, cheese and calcium-fortified juice and tetracycline antibiotics and fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin
- Interaction · EstablishedSalt, fluids and caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) and lithium (Lithobid) for bipolar disorder