Class Explorer · Anti-infectives
Fluoroquinolones
DNA gyrase/topoisomerase IV inhibitors: concentration-dependent killing, excellent oral bioavailability.
Members
Also in this class: Levofloxacin (respiratory) · Moxifloxacin (respiratory, no urinary role, most QT). Full pages arrive as the library grows.
Compare the members
Ciprofloxacin
- Niche
- Gram-negative, urinary
- Distinguishing point
- Weakest respiratory (pneumococcus) activity
Shared across the class
- Indications
- Complicated UTI/pyelonephritis · Selected respiratory and GI infections, increasingly reserve agents
- Adverse effects
- Tendinopathy · QT prolongation · CNS effects · C. difficile · Cation chelation (administration failure)
- Contraindications
- Prior quinolone tendinopathy
- Monitoring
- Tendon pain · QT-relevant co-medication · 48-72 h response
What makes each agent different
- Ciprofloxacin owns gram-negatives and urine; moxifloxacin owns the chest and never the bladder (no urinary concentration).
- QT ranking: moxifloxacin > levofloxacin > ciprofloxacin.
Every fluoroquinolone counselling session includes the dairy/antacid separation speech.
Last reviewed 2026-08-15 · Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed.