CriticalFluoroquinolone antibacterials×Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Updated · Methodology
Mechanism
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone, and its SmPC lists concomitant QT-prolonging drugs among the risk factors that call for caution. The escitalopram SmPC contraindicates any QT-prolonging drug alongside it: the ban is written broadly, and the classes in brackets are examples.
Symptoms
QTc prolongation on ECG, palpitations, dizziness, syncope. The end point is polymorphic ventricular tachycardia of the torsade type progressing to ventricular fibrillation. The risk is higher with hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, bradycardia, decompensated heart failure and in women.
Management
The pair sits in the escitalopram SmPC contraindications, so the question is which drug stays, not how far to cut the dose. Ciprofloxacin's cardiac effect is weaker than moxifloxacin's, yet the SSRI ban makes no exception for weaker effects. Urinary tract infections have replacements outside the fluoroquinolones.
Check the full regimen, not just this pair
Opens the checker with these two drugs prefilled. Add the rest of the regimen and recompute additive risks.
Summary of a multi-drug list →
Medicine list: everything you take in one place →
Sources
- FDA: Lexapro (escitalopram) prescribing information (2023)– FDA label, Allergan, Inc., DailyMed setid 13bb8267-1cab-43e5-acae-55a4d957630a, revised 10/2023, sections 4, 5.2 and 7
- AEMPS: Ficha técnica de Ciprofloxacino Cinfa 500 mg (2025)– AEMPS CIMA, nregistro 62765, revisión 11/2025, secciones 4.4 y 4.5
- AEMPS: Ficha técnica de Cipralex 10 mg (escitalopram) (2026)– AEMPS CIMA, nregistro 65230, revisión 03/2026, secciones 4.3 y 4.5