Ofloxacin

Conditions Treated

Ofloxacin is used to treat certain infectionsincluding bronchitis, pneumonia, and infections of the skin, bladder, urinary tract, reproductive organs, and prostate (a male reproductive gland). Ofloxacin is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by killing bacteria that cause infections. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Ofloxacin may cause side effects. Inform your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• vomiting
• stomach pain or cramps
• change in ability to taste food
• loss of appetite
• dry mouth
• headache
• dizziness
• excessive tiredness
• pain, swelling, or itching of the vagina

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, or those mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, stop taking ofloxacin and call your doctor immediately:

• severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) that may occur with or without fever and stomach cramps (may occur up to 2 months or more after your treatment)
• rash
• itching
• hives
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• hoarseness
• loss of consciousness
• fever
• blistering or peeling skin
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• muscle or joint pain
• pale skin
• shortness of breath
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• fainting
• seizures
• confusion
• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• nightmares
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
• depression
• thoughts about killing or harming yourself
• anxiety
• not trusting others or feeling that others want to harm you
• restlessness
• pain, numbness, burning, tingling, or weakness in the hands, arms, legs, or feet
• vision changes

Ofloxacin may cause problems with bones, joints, and tissues around joints in children. Ofloxacin should not be given to children younger than 18 years of age. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving ofloxacin to your child.Ofloxacin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Ofloxacin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food twice a day for 3 days to 6 weeks. The length of treatment depends on the type of infection being treated. Your doctor will tell you how long to take ofloxacin. Take ofloxacin at around the same times every day and try to space your doses 12 hours apart. 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. You should begin to feel better during the first few days of your treatment with ofloxacin. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor. Take ofloxacin until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking ofloxacin unless you experience the symptoms of tendinitis or tendon rupture described in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or the symptoms of allergic reaction described in the SIDE EFFECTS section. If you stop taking ofloxacin too soon or if you skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids every day while you are taking ofloxacin.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking ofloxacin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to ofloxacin; other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin) (not available in the U.S.), gemifloxacin (Factive), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin) (not available in the U.S.), moxifloxacin (Avelox), nalidixic acid (NegGram), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and sparfloxacin (Zagam) (not available in the U.S.); or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: other antibiotics; anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain antidepressants; antipsychotics (medications to treat mental illness); cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); diuretics ('water pills'); insulin and oral medications for diabetes such as glyburide (DiaBeta, in Glucovance, Micronase, others); certain medications for irregular heartbeat 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 doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. if you are taking antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, others); didanosine (Videx); sucralfate (Carafate); or supplements or multivitamins containing iron or zinc, take ofloxacin 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take these medications. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death) or an irregular heartbeat and if you have or have ever had nerve problems, seizures, a slow heartbeat, a low level of potassium in your blood, chest pain, cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels in or near the brain that can lead to stroke or mini-stroke), or liver disease. you should know that this medication may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and tiredness. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how ofloxacin affects you. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet light (tanning beds and sunlamps) and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Ofloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet light. If your skin becomes reddened, swollen, or blistered, call your doctor.