Ciprofloxacin is a common antibiotic medication used to treat a variety of conditions, including urinary tract infections (UTI). A UTI occurs when foreign bacterium finds its way into the urethra or bladder. Using ciprofloxacin for bladder infection can be a top choice of treatment depending on what kind of bacterium is causing the infection. Ciprofloxacin is a strong antibiotic and is often prescribed to treat bladder infections that cannot be cured using other types of antibiotics.

Many bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Women are more likely than men to get bladder infections, because the female urethra is in very close proximity to the rectum. Simply wiping the wrong way after using the restroom can cause bacteria to infect a woman's urethra. A doctor may prescribe ciprofloxacin to treat an E. coli urinary tract infection, but many other antibiotics also may work.

Using ciprofloxacin for bladder infection is often the prime choice when dealing with more serious and less common UTIs caused by bacteria such as pseudomonas. A doctor can take an in-office urine sample and use a dip stick to determine if a patient has a bladder infection. The urine may need to be sent out to a lab and cultured for the doctor to identify the specific bacteria causing the problem. A doctor may choose to start a patient on ciprofloxacin for bladder infection and decide to switch the patient to a different antibiotic once the lab results are back.

While taking ciprofloxacin for bladder infection, patients should be aware of possible side effects. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headache. Ciprofloxacin is a very strong medication, so women run the risk of it wiping out all the bacteria in their systems, including the good bacteria. When a woman's vaginal bacteria balance is disrupted, there is the chance a yeast infection may occur. A woman should call her doctor if she experiences unusual discharge or vaginal itching while taking ciprofloxacin for bladder infection.

Patients should avoid caffeine while taking ciprofloxacin for bladder infection. Ciprofloxacin can temporarily increase a person's anxiety, and drinking beverages such as coffee and soda may only make this worse. Caffeine also is not an optimal beverage for a person looking to promote bladder healing. People with urinary tract infections should stick with water and cranberry juice to help flush out the bacteria and to stay hydrated.