Ciprodex
Ciprodex is ciprofloxacin with dexamethasone 0.3/0.1%, drops for bacterial ear infections with inflammation, including swimmer's ear, sold in bottles of 1 to 6.
All strengths and pack prices
- Category
- Eye Care
- Active ingredient
- Ciprofloxacin · Dexamethasone
- Route
- Topical
- Form
- Suspension
- Strengths
- 0.3/0.1%
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Bacterial eye/ear infection · Inflammation
- Therapeutic Class
- Antibiotic, Corticosteroid
- Pharmacological Class
- Fluoroquinolone, Glucocorticoid
- Minor Side Effects
- Burning, Stinging
- Moderate Side Effects
- Redness
- Dosage Forms
- Suspension
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- Alcon
- Onset Time
- Within 24–48 hours
- Duration
- Per treatment course
- Storage Instructions
- Store in upright position.
- Drug Interactions
- None major topically
- Age Restrictions
- Follow paediatric guidelines.
What you will receive
Ciprodex is the originator brand name, made by Alcon. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Ciprodex.
- The same active ingredient (Ciprofloxacin / Dexamethasone) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What pack sizes does Ciprodex come in?
Ciprodex comes as bottles of generic ciprofloxacin + dexamethasone 0.3/0.1%. Pack sizes are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 bottles. The pack contains generic ciprofloxacin + dexamethasone, not the original Ciprodex. Larger packs cost less per bottle.
What arrives when I order Ciprodex for delivery to Hong Kong?
Your Ciprodex order arrives as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 bottles of generic ciprofloxacin + dexamethasone 0.3/0.1%. Every parcel is plain and unbranded. Standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, up to 30, and is untracked.
Can I use Ciprodex in my eye?
The Ciprodex sold here is an ear drop, and it is meant for the ear canal. Ciprofloxacin with dexamethasone is also made as a separate eye drop for bacterial eye infection with inflammation, and that is the version made for the eye.
What does 0.3/0.1% mean on the bottle?
Two numbers for two medicines: 0.3% ciprofloxacin and 0.1% dexamethasone. The first figure is the antibiotic, the second the steroid; both are fixed in the bottle, so there is no strength to choose at checkout.
How long should I keep using Ciprodex drops?
One week, twice a day, four drops each time. By day three the soreness has often gone, which is exactly when people stop, and an infection that was only half cleared tends to come back. Count off all fourteen applications before the bottle goes in a drawer.
Can I swim while using Ciprodex?
Pools and baths are what to avoid for now. A wet canal heals slowly, and trapped water is how swimmer's ear usually starts. For a shower or hair wash, a cotton ball smeared with petroleum jelly in the outer ear keeps most of the water out.
Does Ciprodex treat fungal ear infections?
No. Ciprofloxacin kills bacteria and dexamethasone calms inflammation, so neither part works on a fungus. Steroid drops can also make a fungal infection in the canal harder to spot, which is why an itchy, flaky ear with no pus usually needs a different drop.
About Ciprodex
An antibiotic and a steroid in one ear drop
Ciprodex holds two medicines in one bottle. Ciprofloxacin 0.3% is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that kills the bacteria behind the infection; dexamethasone 0.1% is a corticosteroid that settles the swelling, itch and soreness that come with it. It is a liquid suspension, so shake the bottle before each dose.
Ear drops of this pair are used for bacterial infections of the outer ear canal — the red, tender, sometimes weeping ear that is often called swimmer's ear — and for ears that keep draining through a grommet, the small tube some people have in the eardrum. Ciprofloxacin with dexamethasone is also made as eye drops for bacterial eye infection with inflammation; the bottle sold here is the ear form.
Putting the drops in
Dose: four drops in the sore ear, morning and evening, for seven days.
Getting them in is easier with a few steps in order. Warm the shaken bottle between your palms so the liquid is not cold. Lie down with the infected ear facing the ceiling. Draw the ear lobe back and up, drop in the four drops, and stay put for a minute or so while they run down the canal. Try not to let the dropper touch the ear.
Side effects and warning signs
A bitter taste in the mouth is common: some of the drops trickle down the eustachian tube at the back of the throat. A short sting or itch as they go in is common too. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, a spreading rash, or difficulty breathing after a dose is a severe allergic reaction and needs urgent treatment. Because dexamethasone damps down inflammation, an infection that is not bacterial can be less obvious while you use the drops; new pain, more discharge or hearing that gets worse are signs they are not doing the job.
The tendon and nerve warnings that come with ciprofloxacin tablets belong to the tablets. Only a tiny amount of the antibiotic passes into the bloodstream from drops placed in the ear.
Pack sizes and storage
Ciprodex is sold in packs of one to six bottles. One bottle suits a single week-long course; the bigger packs suit people whose ears flare up after swimming more than once. Keep the cap screwed on and the bottle standing upright, out of the sun.
Sources
- Ciprofloxacin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Ciprofloxacin and Dexamethasone Otic: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine