Drug interactions
Calcium carbonate + Ciprofloxacin
Severity: Moderate
Calcium carbonate and Ciprofloxacin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Calcium chelates ciprofloxacin in the gut and lowers its absorption, risking subtherapeutic antibiotic levels and treatment failure. Calcium taken in a meal has a smaller effect than calcium supplements or antacids.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium carbonate and Ciprofloxacin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Calcium carbonate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Ciprofloxacin belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Chelation of ciprofloxacin by calcium cations forms poorly absorbed complexes.
What to do
Give ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after calcium carbonate.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Calcium carbonate
Other interactions of Ciprofloxacin
- Agomelatine + Ciprofloxacin Contraindicated
- Ciprofloxacin + Fezolinetant Contraindicated
- Ciprofloxacin + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Ciprofloxacin + Tizanidine Contraindicated
- Ciprofloxacin + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Alosetron + Ciprofloxacin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium carbonate with Ciprofloxacin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium carbonate and Ciprofloxacin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Calcium chelates ciprofloxacin in the gut and lowers its absorption, risking subtherapeutic antibiotic levels and treatment failure. Calcium taken in a meal has a smaller effect than calcium supplements or antacids.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium carbonate and Ciprofloxacin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after calcium carbonate.
What other medicines interact with Calcium carbonate?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Calcium carbonate with, for example, Acalabrutinib, Alendronate, Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan. The full list is on the Calcium carbonate page.
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