U.S. Brand Names

Floxin®; Ocuflox®

Canadian Brand Names

Apo-Ofloxacin® ; Apo-Oflox®; Floxin®; Novo-Ofloxacin; Ocuflox®; PMS-Ofloxacin

Mexican Brand Names

Bactocin; Floxil; Floxstat; Ocuflox

Pharmacologic Category

Antibiotic, Quinolone

Reasons not to take this medicine

• Do not give oral form of this medicine to a child younger than 18 years of age.

• If you have an allergy to ofloxacin or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you are breast-feeding.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

How does it work?

• Ofloxacin works to injure the bacteria and fight the infection.

How is it best taken?

All forms:

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

• Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.

• Take this medicine at a similar time of day.

Oral:

• Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.

Eye:

• For the eye only.

• Wash hands before and after use.

• Take out contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if eyes are irritated or infected.

• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.

• Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.

• After using medicine, keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps the medicine in your eye.

• Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes.

Ear:

• For the ear only.

• Wash hands before and after use.

• Lie on side with affected ear up.

• For children younger than 3 years of age, pull the outer ear outward and downward.

• For children 3 years of age and older and adults, pull the outer ear outward and upward.

• Instill drops in ear without touching dropper to ear. Stay on side for 2 minutes or insert cotton plug into ear.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have low potassium levels, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Do not take dairy products, antacids, didanosine, multivitamins, minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium), nutritional supplements, or sucralfate within 4 hours of the oral medicine.

• Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake. Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, and fast heartbeat.

• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

Oral:

• Headache.

• Belly pain.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum, or Lactobacillus acidophilus may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some pharmacies.

• Tendons can rarely get irritated and tear.

• Severe allergic reactions can rarely occur.

Eye:

• Short-term discomfort after use.

Ear:

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Skin irritation.

• Earache.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• If you are taking a blood thinner, check blood work (prothrombin time/INR). Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are taking theophylline, check blood work (theophylline levels) regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Fast heartbeat.

• Severe dizziness.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Severe diarrhea, even after medicine is stopped.

• Pain in back of the ankle.

• Joint pain or swelling.

• Severe ear pain.

• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain or irritation.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from light.

• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 14:39:19.0

Modified: 2008-04-30 11:12:58.0

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