ofloxacin

(oh FLOX a sin)
Floxin

What is the most important information I should know about ofloxacin?

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Take all of the ofloxacin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

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Take ofloxacin with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Drink several extra glasses of fluid each day to prevent ofloxacin crystals from forming in the urine.

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Take ofloxacin on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

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Do not take antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (e.g., Tums or Rolaids), the ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate), or vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron or zinc for a minimum of 2 hours before or 2 hours after a dose of ofloxacin. Taking antacids, sucralfate, or vitamin or mineral supplements too close to a dose of ofloxacin can greatly decrease the effects of the antibiotic.

What is ofloxacin?

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Ofloxacin is an antibiotic in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. Ofloxacin fights bacteria in the body.

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Ofloxacin is used to treat various bacterial infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, chlamydia, gonorrhea, skin infections, urinary tract infections, and infections of the prostate.

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Ofloxacin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ofloxacin?

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Before taking ofloxacin, tell your doctor if you have

kidney disease; or

seizures or epilepsy.

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You may not be able to take ofloxacin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

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Ofloxacin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether ofloxacin will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether ofloxacin passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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Ofloxacin is not approved for use by children younger than 12 years of age. Ofloxacin may interfere with bone development.

How should I take ofloxacin?

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Take ofloxacin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take ofloxacin with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Drink several extra glasses of fluid each day to prevent ofloxacin crystals from forming in the urine.

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Take ofloxacin on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

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Take ofloxacin at evenly spaced intervals. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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Take all of the ofloxacin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

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Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours have passed since the missed dose, skip it and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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The most common symptom of an ofloxacin overdose is seizures.

What should I avoid while taking ofloxacin?

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Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight. Ofloxacin increases the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight, and severe sunburning may result. If exposure to the sun is unavoidable, wear protective clothing and sunscreen. Call your doctor if you experience severe burning, blistering, swelling, redness, or a rash after exposure to sunlight.

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Ofloxacin may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.

What are the possible side effects of ofloxacin?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking ofloxacin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

seizures;

confusion or hallucinations;

liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue); or

muscle or joint pain.

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If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking ofloxacin and talk to your doctor:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

headache, lightheadedness, drowsiness;

ringing in the ears; or

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect ofloxacin?

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Before taking ofloxacin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Slo-Phyllin, Slo-Bid, Elixophyllin);

probenecid (Benemid);

warfarin (Coumadin);

cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);

cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);

insulin or an oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), and others; or

a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), and others.

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You may not be able to take ofloxacin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ofloxacin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about ofloxacin written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.