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Suprax vs. Cipro

Are Suprax and Cipro the Same Thing?

Suprax (cefixime) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are antibiotics used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria.

Suprax and Cipro are different types of antibiotics. Suprax is a cephalosporin antibiotic and Cipro is a quinolone antibiotic.

Side effects of Suprax and Cipro that are similar include stomach or abdominal upset/pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, dizziness, anxiety, or drowsiness.

Side effects of Suprax that are different from Cipro include constipation, loss of appetite, gas, increased nighttime urination, runny nose, sore throat, cough, or vaginal itching or discharge.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Suprax?

Common side effects of Suprax include:

  • stomach upset/pain,
  • diarrhea,
  • nausea,
  • constipation,
  • loss of appetite,
  • gas,
  • headache,
  • dizziness,
  • anxiety,
  • drowsiness,
  • increased night-time urination,
  • runny nose,
  • sore throat,
  • cough, or
  • vaginal itching or discharge.

Tell your doctor if you experience rare but very serious side effects of Suprax including:

  • severe stomach or abdominal pain,
  • persistent nausea or vomiting,
  • yellowing eyes or skin,
  • dark urine,
  • unusual tiredness,
  • new signs of infection (e.g., persistent sore throat, fever),
  • easy bruising or bleeding,
  • change in the amount of urine, or
  • mental/mood changes (such as confusion).

What Are Possible Side Effects of Cipro?

Common side effects of Cipro include:

  • diarrhea
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • headache
  • stomach upset
  • abdominal pain
  • nausea/vomiting
  • blurred vision
  • nervousness
  • anxiety
  • agitation
  • sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares), and
  • rash

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Cipro including severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats; sudden pain, snapping or popping sound, bruising, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or loss of movement in any of your joints; watery or bloody diarrhea; confusion, hallucinations, depression, unusual thoughts or behavior; seizure (convulsions); severe headache, ringing in your ears, pain behind your eyes; pale or yellow skin, dark colored urine, fever, weakness; urinating less than usual or not at all; easy bruising or bleeding; numbness, tingling, or unusual pain anywhere in your body; the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

What Is Suprax?

Suprax (cefixime) for Oral Suspension is a cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria.

What Is Cipro?

Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a quinolone antibiotic. Cipro is available as a generic drug and is prescribed to treat infections of the skin, lungs, airways, bones, joints, and urinary tract infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

What Drugs Interact With Suprax?

Other drugs may interact with Suprax. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use. Suprax should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. This drug passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

What Drugs Interact With Cipro?

Cipro may interact with sucralfate, antacids (containing calcium, magnesium, or aluminum), didanosine, lanthanum carbonate or sevelamer, vitamin or mineral supplements (that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, or zinc), cyclosporine, methotrexate, metoclopramide, phenytoin, probenecid, ropinirole, sildenafil, theophylline, blood thinners, diuretics (water pills), heart rhythm medications, insulin or oral diabetes medicines, medicines to treat depression or mental illness, steroids, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Cipro may also interact with tizanidine, clozapine, cyclosporine, glyburide, methotrexate, metoclopramide, phenytoin, probenecid, ropinirole, theophylline, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids.

How Should Suprax Be Taken?

The recommended dosage of Suprax is 70 mg once monthly; some patients may benefit from a dosage of 140 mg once monthly, which is administered as two consecutive subcutaneous injections of 70 mg each.

How Should Cipro Be Taken?

  • Take Cipro exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
  • Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Cipro to take and when to take it.
  • Take Cipro Tablets in the morning and evening at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush or chew the tablet. Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow the tablet whole.
  • Take Cipro Oral Suspension in the morning and evening at about the same time each day. Shake the Cipro Oral Suspension bottle well each time before use for about 15 seconds to make sure the suspension is mixed well. Close the bottle completely after use.
  • Take Cipro XR one time each day at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not split, crush or chew the tablet. Tell your healthcare provider if you cannot swallow the tablet whole.
  • Cipro IV is given to you by intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein, slowly, over 60 minutes, as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
  • Cipro can be taken with or without food.
  • Cipro should not be taken with dairy products (like milk or yogurt) or calcium-fortified juices alone, but may be taken with a meal that contains these products.
  • Drink plenty of fluids while taking Cipro.
  • Do not skip any doses of Cipro, or stop taking it, even if you begin to feel better, until you finish your prescribed treatment unless:
    • you have tendon problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about Cipro?”
    • you have nerve problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about Cipro?”
    • you have central nervous system problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about Cipro?”
    • you have a serious allergic reaction. See “What are the possible side effects of Cipro?”
    • your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking Cipro
  • Taking all of your Cipro doses will help make sure that all of the bacteria are killed. Taking all of your Cipro doses will help lower the chance that the bacteria will become resistant to Cipro. If you become resistant to Cipro, Cipro and other antibacterial medicines may not work for you in the future.

  • If you take too much Cipro, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
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