"Cipro" redirects here. For the Rome Metro station, see Cipro (Rome Metro).
Ciprofloxacin
Systematic (IUPAC) name
1-cyclopropyl- 6-fluoro- 4-oxo- 7-piperazin- 1-yl- quinoline- 3-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number 85721-33-1
ATC code J01MA02 S01AX13 S02AA15 S03AA07
PubChem 2764
DrugBank APRD00424
ChemSpider 2662
Chemical data
Formula C17H18FN3O3
Mol. mass 331.346
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 69%[1]
Metabolism Hepatic, including CYP1A2
Half life 4 hours
Excretion Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat. B3(AU) C(US)
Legal status Prescription Only (S4) (AU) POM (UK)
Routes Oral, intravenous, topical (ear drops, eye drops)
YesY(what is this?)  (verify)

Ciprofloxacin (INN) is a synthetic chemotherapeutic antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone drug class [2][3] It is a second generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial. It kills bacteria, such as anthrax, by interfering with the enzymes that cause DNA to rewind after being copied, which stops DNA and protein synthesis.

Ciprofloxacin is marketed worldwide with over three hundred different brand names. In the United States, Canada and the UK, it is marketed as Baycip, Ciloxan, Ciflox, Cipro, Cipro XR, Cipro XL, Ciproxin and most recently, Proquin. Additionally, ciprofloxacin is available as a generic drug under a variety of different brand names and is also available for limited use in veterinary medicine.

Ciprofloxacin was first patented in 1983 by Bayer A.G. and subsequently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987. Ciprofloxacin has 12 FDA-approved human uses and other veterinary uses, but it is often used for non-approved uses (off-label). Ciprofloxacin interacts with other drugs, herbal and natural supplements, and thyroid medications.