Zithromax vs. Cipro

• Are Cipro and Zithromax the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zithromax?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Cipro?
• What is Zithromax?
• What is Cipro?
• What Drugs Interact with Zithromax?
• What Drugs Interact with Cipro?
• How Should Zithromax Be Taken?
• How Should Cipro Be Taken?

Zithromax Z-PAK (azithromycin) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are antibiotics used to treat susceptible bacterial infections. Zithromax and Cipro belong to different antibiotic classes. Zithromax is a macrolide antibiotic and Cipro is a quinolone antibiotic.

Common side effects of Zithromax include:

• diarrhea or loose stools,
• nausea,
• abdominal pain,
• stomach upset,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• dizziness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• nervousness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• skin rash or itching,
• ringing in the ears,
• hearing problems,
• or decreased sense of taste or smell.

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

Zithromax Z-PAK (azithromycin) is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic used for treating:

• otitis media (middle ear infection),
• tonsillitis,
• laryngitis,
• bronchitis,
• pneumonia,
• and sinusitis caused by susceptible bacteria.

Zithromax is also effective against several sexually transmitted infectious diseases (STDs) such as nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis. Zithromax is available in generic form.

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.

Zithromax may interact with blood thinners, cyclosporine, other antibiotics, theophylline, cholesterol-lowering medicines, heart medications, HIV medicines, sedatives or seizure medicines.

Zithromax may also interact with arsenic trioxide, pimozide, tacrolimus, antidepressants, anti-malaria medications, ergot medicines, blood pressure medications, medicine to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, migraine headache medicines, narcotics, or tranquilizers.

Cipro may interact with blood thinners, cyclosporine, or seizure medicines.

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

A typical oral dose of Zithromax consists of 500 mg for 1 day then 250 mg for 4 days. A typical intravenous dose consists of 500 mg for 2 days followed by 500 mg orally daily for an additional 5-8 days.

Dosage of Cipro ranges from 500 mg once every 24 hours for 3 days for uncomplicated infections, to 1000 mg once every 24 hours for 7-14 days for complicated or acute infections.