Ofloxacin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What drug Ofloxacin?

What is Ofloxacin for?

Ofloxacin is a drug with a function to treat various bacterial infections. Ofloxacin itself is in the quinolone antibiotic classification. This drug works by stopping the growth of bacteria.

This antibiotic only treats bacterial infections. This medicine will not work to treat viral infections (such as the common cold). Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can cause its effectiveness to decrease.

Ofloxacin dosage and side effects ofloxacin are detailed below.

How to use Ofloxacin?

Take this medication by mouth before or after meals as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening). The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Take this medication at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after using other products that can bind this drug and decrease its effectiveness. Ask your pharmacist about other products you can take. Some examples include: quinapril, sucralfate, vitamins / minerals (including iron and zinc supplements), and products containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium (such as antacids, ddI solutions, calcium supplements).

Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at even intervals.

Continue this treatment until the dose is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping treatment too early can result in the infection returning.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or gets worse.

How to store Ofloxacin?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Rules of Use Ofloxacin

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Ofloxacin for adults?

The usual dosage of ofloxacin is 200 mg to 400 mg orally every 12 hours.

What is the dosage of Ofloxacin for children?

The dosage for children is not yet regulated. Consult your doctor for more information.

In what dosage is Ofloxacin available?

Tablet, Oral: 200 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg.

Ofloxacin dosage

What side effects can be experienced due to Ofloxacin?

Seek emergency medical help if you have any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using ofloxacin and call your doctor if you have serious side effects such as:

• Diarrhea that is watery or bloody
• Seizures
• Confusion, hallucinations, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, nightmares, unusual thoughts or behavior, feeling lightheaded
• Dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats
• Sudden pain, a cracking sound from inside your joint, bruising, swelling, pain, stiffness, or loss of motion in any of your joints
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Fever, swollen glands, general feeling of pain
• It's hard to pee than usual or not at all
• Numbness, burning pain, or tingling sensation in the hands or feet
• Pale skin, dark urine, fever, weakness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• Severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially on the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling skin

Other side effects include

• Nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea
• Headache, dizziness
• Changes in the sense of taste
• Itching or discharge in the vagina; or
• Mild skin itching

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you are concerned about the side effects, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Ofloxacin side effects

What should be known before using Ofloxacin?

Before using Ofloxacin:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have an allergy or have a severe reaction to ofloxacin. other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin), gemifloxacin (factif), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), gemifloxacin (factif), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Levaquin), Zagam); or other drugs
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and over-the-counter medications, including vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or planning to take. Be sure to mention drugs such as: other antibiotics; anticoagulants (“blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain antidepressants; antipsychotics (drugs to treat mental illness); cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); diuretics ('water pills'); insulin and oral medications for diabetes such as glyburide (DiaBeta, Di Glucovance, Micronase, others); certain medications for irregular heartbeats such as amiodarone (Cordarone), quinidine, procainamide (Procanbid), and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); probenecid (in Col-Probenecid, Probalan); and theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, others). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects
• If you are taking antacids that contain aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, others); ddI (Videx); sucralfate (Carafate); or supplements or multivitamins that contain iron or zinc, take ofloxacin 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take these medications
• Tell your doctor if you or someone in your family have or have had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that can cause an irregular heartbeat, blackout, or sudden death) or an irregular heartbeat and if you have or have ever had a history of seizures. , slow heart rate, low levels of potassium in your blood, chest pain, cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels in or near the brain that can cause a stroke or mini-stroke), or liver disease
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking ofloxacin, call your doctor
• You should know that this drug can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how ofloxacin affects you.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays, and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Ofloxacin can make your skin sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet rays. If your skin becomes red, swollen, or blistered, call your doctor

Is Ofloxacin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or nursing women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Ofloxacin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What medicines may interact with Ofloxacin?

Interactions with other drugs can affect how the drug works and increase the risk of dangerous side effects. This article does not list all possible drug interactions. Record all medicinal products you use (including prescription, non-prescription and herbal medicines) and show them to your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine without your doctor's permission.

• Antiarrhythmias (eg, amiodarone, Disopyramide, dofetilide, quinidine, sotalol), cisapride, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), macrolide or ketolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin, telithromycin), drugs for mental or mood disorders, medicines that can affect your heart rate, phenothiazines (for example, chlorpromazine), or tricyclic antidepressants (for example, amitriptyline) because of the risk of serious side effects, including irregular heartbeats and other heart problems, can increase. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medications may affect your heart rate
• Corticosteroids (eg prednisone) because of the increased risk of tendon problems
• Foscarnet, NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen), or tramadol because the risk of seizures may increase
• Insulin or other medicines for diabetes (for example, glipizide) because of the risk of low blood sugar may increase
• Anticoagulants (for example, warfarin), procainamide, or theophylline because of their increased risk of side effects with ofloxacin
• Live typhoid vaccines because of their reduced effectiveness due to ofloxacin
• Aluminum salts (for example, aluminum hydroxide), iron salts (oral) (for example, ferrous sulfate), or magnesium salts (for example, magnesium hydroxide) as these can decrease the effectiveness of ofloxacin. Take ofloxacin 2 hours before or 2 hours after this medication to avoid these effects

Can food or alcohol interact with Ofloxacin?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Ofloxacin?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Bradycardia (slow heart rate) or
• Diabetes, or
• Diarrhea or
• Heart disease or heart rhythm problems (for example, prolonged QT interval)
• Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
• Myocardial ischemia (reduced blood supply to the heart) or
• Seizures (epilepsy), or history - Use with caution. It might make things worse
• Brain disease (for example, hardening of the arteries) or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease (including cirrhosis) or
• Organ transplant (eg, heart, kidney, or lung), tendon disorders (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), or history - Use with caution. May cause side effects to be worse
• Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness)

Ofloxacin Drug Interactions

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms usually include:

• Sleepy
• Nausea
• Dizzy
• Chills
• Numbness and facial swelling
• Rambling talking
• Confusion

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.