Does Ciprofloxacin Interact with Pirfenidone?
Ciprofloxacin and Pirfenidone have a major drug interaction according to U.S. FDA drug labeling data. Moderate CYP1A2 inhibitor that moderately increases pirfenidone exposure. Dosage reduction recommended if ciprofloxacin 750 mg twice daily cannot be avoided; monitor closely with lower doses. The mechanism involves inhibition of cyp1a2-mediated metabolism of pirfenidone. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This information is based on official FDA drug labeling sourced from OpenFDA and the NIH National Library of Medicine.
- Severity
- Major
- Ciprofloxacin Class
- Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial
- Pirfenidone Class
- Pyridone
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
How This Interaction Works
The interaction between Ciprofloxacin and Pirfenidone occurs because inhibition of cyp1a2-mediated metabolism of pirfenidone. Clinically, this means moderate cyp1a2 inhibitor that moderately increases pirfenidone exposure. dosage reduction recommended if ciprofloxacin 750 mg twice daily cannot be avoided; monitor closely with lower doses. This is classified as a major interaction, meaning it could cause serious harm if not properly managed. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust dosages, substitute one medication, or increase monitoring frequency.
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Ciprofloxacin and your doctor is considering prescribing Pirfenidone (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider