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Common uses
Floxin (Ofloxacin) comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food every 12 hours (twice a day) for 3-10 days. Some infections may take up to 6 weeks or longer. To treat VD, a single dose is taken. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ofloxacin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Continue to take Floxin (Ofloxacin) even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Floxin (Ofloxacin) without talking to your doctor.
Before using
Before taking Floxin (Ofloxacin) tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Floxin (Ofloxacin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), cinoxacin (Cinobac), nalidixic acid (NegGram), or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: other antibiotics, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), cancer chemotherapy agents, cimetidine (Tagamet), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), diabetes medication, probenecid (Benemid), sucralfate (Carafate), and theophylline (Theo-Dur). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
if you are taking mineral supplements; antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums); didanosine (Videx) chewable/buffered tablets or oral solution; sucralfate (Carafate); or vitamins containing iron or zinc, take Floxin (Ofloxacin)two hours before or two hours after these medications.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, diabetes, epilepsy, colitis, stomach problems, vision problems, heart disease, or history of stroke.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Floxin (Ofloxacin), call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Floxin (Ofloxacin).
you should know that this medication may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and tiredness. Do not drive a car or work on dangerous machines until you know how Floxin (Ofloxacin) will affect you.
plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Floxin (Ofloxacin) may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
Directions
Drink at least eight full glasses of water or other liquid every day.
Cautions
NOT FOR OPHTHALMIC USE.
NOT FOR INJECTION.
Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions, some following the first dose, have been reported in patients receiving systemic quinolones, including ofloxacin. Some reactions were accompanied by cardiovascular collapse, loss of consciousness, angioedema (including laryngeal, pharyngeal or facial edema), airway obstruction, dyspnea, urticaria, and itching. If an allergic reaction to ofloxacin is suspected, stop the drug. Serious acute hypersensitivity reactions may require immediate emergency treatment. Oxygen and airway management, including intubation, should be administered as clinically indicated.
Possible side effects
Floxin (Ofloxacin) may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
upset stomach
diarrhea
vomiting
stomach pain
headache
restlessness
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
skin rash
itching
hives
difficulty breathing or swallowing
swelling of the face or throat
yellowing of the skin or eyes
dark urine
pale or dark stools
blood in urine
unusual tiredness
sunburn
seizures or convulsions
vaginal infection
vision changes
pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon
Floxin (Ofloxacin) may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you take too much
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services.
Additional information
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to Floxin (Ofloxacin).
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking Floxin (Ofloxacin).
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the Floxin (Ofloxacin), call your doctor.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Drug interactions
Antacids, Sucralfate, Metal Cations, Multivitamins: Quinolones form chelates with alkaline earth and transition metal cations. Administration of quinolones with antacids containing calcium, magnesium, or aluminum, with sucralfate, with divalent or trivalent cations such as iron, or with multivitamins containing zinc or with Videx®, (Didanosine), chewable/buffered tablets or the pediatric powder for oral solution may substantially interfere with the absorption of quinolones resulting in systemic levels considerably lower than desired. These agents should not be taken within the two-hour period before or within the two-hour period after Floxin (Ofloxacin) administration. Caffeine: Interactions between Floxin (Ofloxacin) and caffeine have not been detected.
Cimetidine: Cimetidine has demonstrated interference with the elimination of some quinolones. This interference has resulted in significant increases in half-life and AUC of some quinolones. The potential for interaction between Floxin (Ofloxacin) and cimetidine has not been studied.
Cyclosporine: Elevated serum levels of cyclosporine have been reported with concomitant use of cyclosporine with some other quinolones. The potential for interaction between Floxin (Ofloxacin) and cyclosporine has not been studied.
Drugs metabolized by Cytochrome P450 enzymes: Most quinolone antimicrobial drugs inhibit cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. This may result in a prolonged half-life for some drugs that are also metabolized by this system (e. g. , cyclosporine, theophylline/methylxanthines, warfarin) when co-administered with quinolones. The extent of this inhibition varies among different quinolones.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: The concomitant administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a quinolone, including Floxin (Ofloxacin), may increase the risk of CNS stimulation and convulsive seizures.
Probenecid: The concomitant use of probenecid with certain other quinolones has been reported to affect renal tubular secretion. The effect of probenecid on the elimination of Floxin (Ofloxacin) has not been studied.
Theophylline: Steady-state theophylline levels may increase when Floxin (Ofloxacin) and theophylline are administered concurrently. As with other quinolones, concomitant administration of ofloxacin may prolong the half-life of theophylline, elevate serum theophylline levels, and increase the risk of theophylline-related adverse reactions. Theophylline levels should be closely monitored and theophylline dosage adjustments made, if appropriate, when Floxin (Ofloxacin) is co-administered. Adverse reactions (including seizures) may occur with or without an elevation in the serum theophylline level.
Warfarin: Some quinolones have been reported to enhance the effects of the oral anticoagulant warfarin orits derivatives. Therefore, if a quinolone antimicrobial is administered concomitantly with warfarin or its derivatives, the prothrombin time or other suitable coagulation test should be closely monitored.
Antidiabetic agents (e. g. , insulin, glyburide/glibenclamide): Since disturbances of blood glucose, including hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, have been reported in patients treated concurrently with quinolones and an antidiabetic agent, careful monitoring of blood glucose is recommended when these agents are used concomitantly.
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