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Cipro HC Coupon - Cipro HC 10ml of 0.2%/1% ear dropper

Cipro HC

ciprofloxacin / hydrocortisone
Used for Ear Infection

Cipro HC is a combination otic (ear drop) suspension containing ciprofloxacin (a fluoroquinolone antibiotic) and prednisone (a corticosteroid). It's used to treat outer ear infections, also known as swimmer's ear, in adults and children ages 1 year and older. The dosage is 3 drops placed into the affected ear(s) twice per day for 7 days. Side effects aren't common, but can include headache and itching.

Reviewed by:
reviewerRobert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP
reviewerDaisy Chau, PharmD
Last reviewed on November 19, 2024
basics-icon

What is Cipro HC?

What is Cipro HC used for?

  • Outer ear canal infections (swimmer's ear or otitis externa) in people age 1 year and older

How Cipro HC works

Cipro HC is a combination of two medications:

  • Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It works by blocking a protein that bacteria need to grow, repair their DNA, and survive.
  • Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid that helps to lower inflammation. When used directly in the ear, it helps treat itching, swelling, redness, and pain in the ear.

Drug facts

Common Brands
Cipro HC
Drug ClassFluoroquinolone antibiotic / Corticosteroid
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
side-effects-icon

Side effects of Cipro HC

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Headache (1%)

Less Common Side Effects

  • Itching
  • Dizziness
  • Blocked or clogged ears
  • Hearing changes

Cipro HC serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Serious allergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fast heartbeat

Source: DailyMed

The following Cipro HC side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

Blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

cracked, dry, or scaly skin

hives or welts

itching

redness of the skin

skin rash

swelling

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Headache

Incidence not known

Cough

hair loss or thinning of hair

headache, severe and throbbing

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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$437.99(Save 19.74%)
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Pros and cons of Cipro HC

Pros

  • Combines two medications into a single ear drop
  • Works well to treat outer ear infections
  • Safe for people with a penicillin allergy or sulfa allergy
  • Safe children as young as 1 year old

Cons

  • Need to use twice a day
  • Can be difficult for some people to administer correctly
  • Dropper cap contains latex, which can be a problem for anyone with a latex allergy
  • Can only treat ear infections caused by bacteria, not infections caused by fungi or viruses
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Pharmacist tips for Cipro HC

pharmacist
  • Finish your treatment course and take Cipro HC exactly as prescribed. Never change your dose or stop treatment early, even if your ear symptoms get better. Stopping the medication too soon can cause your infection to come back and become harder to treat.
  • Cipro HC can cause allergic reactions. If you experience symptoms such as a rash, hives, trouble breathing, or swelling, let your prescriber know right away. You might need to stop the medication and switch to something else.
  • Let your prescriber know if you're pregnant or breastfeeding before starting Cipro HC. It's not completely known how safe this medication is during pregnancy, and it's not known if it passes into breast milk. Your prescriber can discuss the risks and benefits of using it.
  • Store the Cipro HC ear drops at room temperature.
  • Throw away any unused Cipro HC after you finish your course of treatment.

How to use Cipro HC:

  • Wash your hands before and after putting Cipro HC in your ears. Avoid letting the dropper tip touch your ear, hands, or any other surface to keep the ear drops from getting contaminated with germs.
  • Warm up Cipro HC by rolling the bottle between your hands for 1 to 2 minutes. This can prevent dizziness that you might have if you put cold ear drops in your ear.
  • Shake the bottle well right before using Cipro HC. This makes sure the medication hasn't settled at the bottom.
  • Lie down on your side and keep the affected ear upward. Then, squeeze 3 drops of Cipro HC into the ear. Stay with the affected ear up for about 30 to 60 seconds. This allows the medication to reach deep into your ear. If both ears are infected, repeat this process on the other side.
faq-icon

Common questions about Cipro HC

In general, it takes about 1 to 3 days to feel better after starting an antibiotic. But, even if you feel better, you still need to use Cipro HC for the full time it was prescribed to make sure it can completely fight off the infection. Talk to your prescriber if your ear infection symptoms, such as ear pain, trouble hearing, and fever don't get better after a week. They might consider a different treatment for you.

Cipro HC and Ciprodex are both combination ear drops containing ciprofloxacin and a corticosteroid. Cipro HC contains hydrocortisone, whereas Ciprodex contains dexamethasone. Though both are used to treat outer ear infections, they haven't been directly compared so it's not known which works better. Ciprodex is also approved to treat middle ear infections . In addition, the age cut-offs slightly differ: Cipro HC is approved for children age 1 year and older, while Ciprodex is approved for children as young as 6 months. Speak with your prescriber to learn about the differences between these medications.

Yes, Cipro HC can expire. There's an expiration date that's typically printed on the medication box and bottle. Don't use Cipro HC past its expiration date because it might not work well to help treat your ear infection. Using expired medication can lead to new infections if it has been contaminated with germs.

No. ear drops like Cipro HC shouldn't ever be used in the eyes because it's not safe. If you accidentally put Cipro HC in your eyes, rinse them with room temperature water for 15 to 20 minutes. If you still feel pain, get medical help. Always follow your prescriber's instructions on how to use this medication to treat your infection.

No, there isn't an available generic for Cipro HC.

No, Cipro HC is only available by prescription from a healthcare professional.

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Risks and warnings for Cipro HC

Cipro HC can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Severe allergic reactions

  • Risk factors: Latex allergy

Severe allergic reactions to Cipro HC are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Let your provider know if you have a latex allergy because the dropper cap contains latex. If you notice hives, rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after using Cipro HC, get medical attention right away.

Development of new infection

Using Cipro HC might allow bacteria or fungi that it doesn’t target to overgrow in the ear. If your ear infection doesn’t improve after a week, contact your prescriber for follow-up. You might need additional testing or treatment.

Use only in the ear

Cipro HC is only for use in your ears and shouldn’t be used any other way. If you think this medication isn’t the right fit for you or find it difficult to use properly, talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about other options.

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Cipro HC dosage

The average cost for 1 ear dropper of 10ml of 0.2%/1% of Cipro HC is $351.52 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 19.74% off the average retail price of $437.99.
ear dropperEar dropper
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
10ml of 0.2%/1%1 ear dropper$351.52$351.52

Typical dosage for Cipro HC

Cipro HC contains 0.2% of ciprofloxacin and 1% of hydrocortisone.

The typical dose is 3 drops into the affected ear(s) two times per day for 7 days.

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Interactions between Cipro HC and other drugs

Cipro HC may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Cipro HC. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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How much does Cipro HC cost?

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Cipro HC (brand)
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contraindications-icon

Cipro HC contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cipro HC will not be safe for you to take.

  • Allergy to quinolones antibiotics or any other ingredients in this medication
  • Ear infections caused by a virus, such as herpes simplex infections, or fungus
  • Tear in the eardrum
alternatives-icon

What are alternatives to Cipro HC?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Cipro HC. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Cipro HC
Used for:
  • Outer ear canal infections (swimmer's ear or otitis externa) in people age 1 year and older
$351.52Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone)
Used for:
  • Middle ear infections (otitis media) in children ages 6 months and older with surgically-placed ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes)
  • Outer ear canal infections (swimmer's ear or otitis externa) in people 6 months and older
$63.79Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Ofloxacin ear drops
Used for:
$14.53Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
images-icon

Cipro HC images

white - CIPRO HC 0.2%-1% Otic Suspension
This medicine is White Ear Dropper.white - CIPRO HC 0.2%-1% Otic Suspension

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References

Best studies we found

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (2023). CIPRO HC- ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and hydrocortisone suspension/ drops [package insert]. DailyMed.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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