There are things you should stay away from when taking Cipro in order to optimize the treatment and get the best results in the shortest time possible. These things are related either to specific medication, or even to food and drinks. Before reading the list though, you should be aware that even your daily schedule can influence the efficiency of Cipro. Here's how:

• If you're stressed, you influence your cardiac rhythm, your BP, and the normal functioning of your brain. Taking antibiotics induces a certain state of fatigue and being already tired at the beginning of the treatment does no good overall.
• If you didn't sleep enough, you may trigger dizziness and drowsiness or, on the contrary, insomnia when taking Cipro.
• If you eat fatty meals, drink pops, a lot of coffee, black tea, etc., you risk side effects to a greater extent than persons who are moderate with their food.
• Exposure to sun may lead to sunburns, due to the increase sensitivity of the skin during the treatment with ciprofloxacin. If you have to expose your body to sun light, use cream with sunscreen (sun protection factor of 25 or higher). Avoid, by all means, tanning beds.

Apart from the abovementioned factors, here is another set of elements which can objectively influence your treatment.

• Some antacids. It is the case of antacids containing magnesium, calcium and aluminum.


• Sucralfate (used in the treatment of ulcer).
• Minerals or vitamins containing iron, zinc or calcium.

You should ask your doctor what other substances may negatively influence your condition and your treatment. The easiest way to help the medicine fight the bacterial infection is to stick to these rules. For example, stop drinking coffee for the duration of the treatment. If that's difficult, reduce it as much as possible. Same goes for alcohol. Taking antibiotics after drinking alcohol reduces the effect of the drug to the point when it becomes completely ineffective. Even one beer can compromise a dose, and this is the last thing you need when you have a bacterial infection.