Can Ciprofloxacin INCREASE Appetite?

Answer

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Most of the time, ciprofloxacin is associated with a loss of appetite, not an increase. Common sources like Drugs.com and WebMD typically only mention decreased appetite (or “anorexia”) as a possible side effect, and that aligns with what we see in clinical trials and U.S. prescribing information (CIPRO (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride)). Loss of appetite is actually mentioned a few times in the U.S. prescribing information.

However, there are some rare reports of increased hunger or appetite while taking ciprofloxacin. For example, the official Canadian product monograph for ciprofloxacin (CIPRO XL) lists “increased appetite” as a very rare adverse reaction (less than 1% of patients): source.

It’s also been mentioned in other places, such as the ciprofloxacin IV monograph from Baxter. These cases are based on post-marketing data, which means they were reported after the drug was already on the market rather than observed in clinical trials. These reports tend to be less reliable to attribute a side effect to a drug, but are valuable, nonetheless.

So, while appetite loss is not common, it has been observed. It's also possible that if your UTI is improving, you may simply be regaining your appetite as your overall health returns to normal.

Final Words

So, overall, increased appetite isn’t a typical side effect of ciprofloxacin, but it has been documented in rare cases and is noted in Canadian labeling for the drug.

As always, let your doctor or pharmacist know if you experience side effects that are bothersome or persist.

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