Ciprofloxacin × Iron oral (salts: sulfate, bisglycinate, fumarate, gluconate, polymaltose; heme iron polypeptide, lactoferrin)
MajorFluoroquinolone antibacterials×Oral iron preparations; antianaemic agents
Updated · Methodology
Mechanism
Iron belongs to the same multivalent cation list in the label. Chelation with fluoroquinolones is among the most pronounced described: the antibiotic's bioavailability falls substantially when the two meet in the stomach.
Symptoms
Cystitis or prostatitis that relapses shortly after the course ends, with the same organism on the follow-up culture.
Management
The same interval applies: 1–2 hours before or 4 hours after. If iron is being taken for anaemia and cannot pause, concentrate it in a single evening dose and spread the antibiotic across the rest of the day. In serious infection the prescriber may prefer a class without this problem.
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.
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Sources
- AEMPS: Ficha técnica Ciprofloxacino Cinfa 250 mg comprimidos recubiertos EFG (2024)– AEMPS, CIMA, nº registro 62768, sección 4.5
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron – Health Professional Fact Sheet (2025)– NIH ODS, Iron, Interactions with Medications