How to relieve Ciprofloxacin-induced nausea?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
How to relieve Ciprofloxacin-induced nausea?
There are a few things you can do to relieve Ciprofloxacin-induced nausea or to prevent it. These include:
- Take Ciprofloxacin with food
- Stick to a light diet
- Drink plenty of water
- Take Probiotics
- Try natural nausea aids
- Medications
Take Ciprofloxacin with food
It’s best to take Ciprofloxacin with food, even if it doesn’t cause nausea. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common with antibiotics and they increase significantly when you take these meds on an empty stomach.
This is why it’s best to take Ciprofloxacin in between your meals. However, I don’t recommend taking it with milk or any other dairy products. This is because calcium in dairy products can chelate with Ciprofloxacin and form an insoluble complex.
In simple words, milk can interfere with the absorption of Ciprofloxacin. This reduces the bioavailability of this antibiotic, as a lesser amount of medication remains to fight against bacteria.
Stick to a light diet
It’s best to opt for lighter foods while you’re experiencing gastrointestinal side effects like nausea on Ciprofloxacin. This antibiotic can also cause diarrhoea, which is often triggered by a poor diet.
So it’s recommended to eat healthy and lighter foods to not put a digestive burden on your already-affected stomach.
Drink plenty of water
Drink plenty of water while you’re taking antibiotics or any other medication. Water often removes unwanted toxins from your body and can help your symptoms overall. Dehydration can increase the intensity of your side effects.
Take Probiotics
Probiotics are a must-have with antibiotics. This is because antibiotics non-selectively target bacteria. This surely kills the disease-causing bacteria, but our bodies have good bacteria as well, especially in the gut.
These bacteria actually facilitate your gut functions. Taking antibiotics kills or damages your gut microflora, causing more intense gastrointestinal side effects. So make sure you take supplemental Probiotics to replenish the lost good bacteria.
Try natural nausea aids
You can try natural nausea aids to relieve Ciprofloxacin-induced nausea. Peppermint, lemon, and ginger are well known for their nausea and vomiting-relieving properties.
The best way to consume them is to make tea out of these ingredients and drink half an hour to an hour after meals.
Medications
If your Ciprofloxacin-induced nausea is severe, talk to your healthcare provider. There are plenty of medications that you can take for nausea, both OTC and prescription meds.
OTC meds like Pepto-Bismol, Gravol, etc are effective. However, some people may need a low-dose prescription medication to go with Ciprofloxacin. It’s best to consult your doctor before taking any medication with Ciprofloxacin.
Why does Ciprofloxacin cause nausea?
There are a number of potential causes of nausea, which is a common adverse effect of using Ciprofloxacin. One reason could be the medication’s direct impact on the digestive tract (1).
Ciprofloxacin can alter the balance of microorganisms in the gut, which can cause irritation and inflammation. Another cause may be an allergic reaction to the medication, which can result in a variety of symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
In some cases, nausea may be a symptom of a more severe side effect, such as liver injury or pancreatic inflammation. To determine the best course of action for any symptoms you have while taking Ciprofloxacin, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor.
Final words
Ciprofloxacin-induced nausea is generally nothing to worry about and can get resolved by taking the antibiotic with food. You can also try the tips we discussed to control the intensity of nausea while you are taking Ciprofloxacin.
However, if your side effect is severe and beyond your tolerance, you should seek medical attention.
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References
1.-
Ball P. Ciprofloxacin: an overview of adverse experiences. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986 Nov;18 Suppl D:187-93. doi: 10.1093/jac/18.sd.187. PMID: 3542945. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3542945/