Ciprofloxacin and Diclofenac Transdermal Patch: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Ciprofloxacin
No brand names on recordDiclofenac Transdermal Patch
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
An increased risk of convulsions
Interaction Deep Dive
Use with caution with coadministration of ciprofloxacin and NSAIDs as it may provoke convulsions12. In a single-dose crossover pharmacokinetic study, coadministration of ciprofloxacin and diclofenac resulted in increased ciprofloxacin exposure and plasma levels, and decreased ciprofloxacin Tmax and total body clearance 3.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Unknown
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) A single-dose, crossover, pharmacokinetic study in 12 healthy volunteers (mean age, 23.1 years +/- 1.7 years) showed a significant increase in the mean Cmax of oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg from 2.48 mcg/mL (7.48 mcmol/L) when administered alone to 3.91 mcg/mL (11.8 mcmol/L) when coadministered with oral diclofenac 50 mg. There were also increases in ciprofloxacin mean AUC from 12.93 +/- 2.47 mcg x hr/L when given alone to 18.92 +/- 5.845 mcg x hr/L when coadministered with diclofenac. In addition, the ciprofloxacin mean Tmax decreased from 2.02 +/- 0.3 hours to 1.49 +/- 0.2 hours, while total body clearance decreased from 40.22 +/- 0.86 L/kg/hr to 28.97 +/- 9.327 L/kg/hr. Lastly, the plasma half life and the elimination rate constant of ciprofloxacin was increased from 4.3 +/- 0.33 hours to 5.4 +/- 0.032 hours and 0.24 +/- 0.03 hour to 0.25 +/- 0.031 hour, respectively 3.
Common questions
Can I take Ciprofloxacin and Diclofenac Transdermal Patch together?
An increased risk of convulsions Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Ciprofloxacin and Diclofenac Transdermal Patch interaction?
It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "rapid". Effects can appear quickly, often within about 24 hours of combining the drugs.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "established". Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Ciprofloxacin or Diclofenac Transdermal Patch need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?
References (3)
- Product Information: CIPROFLOXACIN oral tablets, ciprofloxacin oral tablets. Solco Healthcare US, LLC (per Dailymed), Somerset, NJ, 2024. DailyMed
- Product Information: CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE oral tablets, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride oral tablets. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc (per Dailymed), East Windsor, NJ, 2024. DailyMed
- Iqbal Z, Khan A, Naz A, et al: Pharmacokinetic interaction of ciprofloxacin with diclofenac: a single-dose, two-period crossover study in healthy adult volunteers. Clin Drug Investig 2009; 29(4):275-281. PubMed
Keep reading about Ciprofloxacin
Keep reading about Diclofenac Transdermal Patch
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