NutriStack
Ciprofloxacin and Zinc, timing-sensitive.
Zinc chelates ciprofloxacin in the GI tract, reducing absorption and potentially causing treatment failure. Zinc-containing multivitamins have been shown to reduce ciprofloxacin bioavailability significantly, compromising antibacterial efficacy.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Ciprofloxacin and Zinc
- Pair type
- Timing Sensitive
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 5 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored timing-sensitive row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Timing Sensitive · Strong evidence
Timing Sensitive
What is happening. Zinc chelates ciprofloxacin in the GI tract, reducing absorption and potentially causing treatment failure. Zinc-containing multivitamins have been shown to reduce ciprofloxacin bioavailability significantly, compromising antibacterial efficacy.
Mechanism. Zinc divalent cations form stable chelate complexes with ciprofloxacin's keto-carboxylate moiety. The resulting zinc-ciprofloxacin complex has poor aqueous solubility and cannot be absorbed in the intestine.
Recommendation. Separate ciprofloxacin and zinc supplements by at least 2 hours (take ciprofloxacin 2 hours before or 6 hours after zinc). Check multivitamin labels for zinc content and separate accordingly.
Minimum separation. 120
Sources (5)
- Polk RE et al. Effect of ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc on absorption of ciprofloxacin in normal volunteers. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33(11):1841-1844. PMID 2610487
- Alves C, Mendes D, Marques FB. Fluoroquinolones and the risk of tendon injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2019. PMID 31270563
- Hsu TJ, Hsieh RH, Huang CH et al.. Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Nutrients. 2024. PMID 39683510
- Ali AA, Naqvi SK, Hasnain Z et al.. Zinc supplementation for acute and persistent watery diarrhoea in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Journal of Global Health. 2024. PMID 39641338
- Oh C, Keats EC, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal, Birth, Child Health and Development Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Nutrients. 2020. PMID 32075071
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Ciprofloxacin and Zinc are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored timing-sensitive row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
Check your full routine
One pair was the worked example. NutriStack runs every pair in your stack at once.
Drop in your supplements and prescriptions and the public database surfaces every interaction, synergy, timing rule, and contraindication, every one linked to its primary source.