Ofloxacin, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: fluoroquinolone antibiotic

Generic and brand names: ofloxacin, injection; ofloxacin, oral; Floxin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat various infections in the body. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

This medicine may be taken by mouth, or given by injection.

This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds or flu.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Be sure to tell your health care provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any antibiotic. If you have a reaction to this medicine (hives, itching, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing), contact your health care provider right away or get emergency medical care.

Tell your health care provider if you have ever had seizures (convulsions). If you have a seizure while taking this medicine, stop taking it and contact your health care provider right away.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given during pregnancy. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Take it regularly for as long as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. The infection may return if you stop taking the medicine too soon. Drink plenty of fluids while you are taking this medicine.

Food (especially dairy products) may affect the way this medicine works. Take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, unless your health care provider tells you otherwise.

Take this medicine 2 hours before or after iron medicines, antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, multivitamins, sucralfate (Carafate), and didanosine (Videx).

What should I watch out for?

Do not take antacids (for example, Maalox or Mylanta) at the same time as this medicine.

If you are a diabetic using insulin or taking diabetes medicine by mouth and you have symptoms of low blood sugar, contact your health care provider right away. Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, shaking, weakness, strong hunger, cold sweats, headache, nausea, vision problems, and feeling faint.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, and to indirect light through glass, even when you use sunscreen lotions. This may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

This medicine may increase the effects of caffeine in coffee, black tea, and colas. You may feel shaky and have trouble sleeping.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Continuous or severe diarrhea, Achilles tendon rupture.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, sensitivity to the sun.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antacids such as Maalox or Mylanta (take at least 4 to 8 hours apart from this medicine)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• didanosine (Videx)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• disopyramide (Norpace)
• erythromycin (Erythrocin, E.E.S., EryPed, E-Mycin, Ilotycin)
• glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase) (rare)
• medicines containing large amounts of caffeine
• multivitamins or supplements containing iron or zinc
• nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin)
• Pepto-Bismol
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan)
• quinidine (Quinora, Quinalan, Quinidex, Quinaglute, Cardioquin)
• sotalol (Betapace)
• sucralfate (Carafate)
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan)
• warfarin (Coumadin) or other blood thinners.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.