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| Pronunciation |
|
 (nor
FLOKS a
sin) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Chibroxin™ Ophthalmic; Noroxin®
Oral |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Floxacin® (Mexico); Oranor
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antibiotic, Quinolone |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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|
- If you have an allergy to another quinolone antibiotic, norfloxacin,
or any other part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used as a treatment for a variety of bacterial
infections.
- The eye solution treats bacterial infections of the
eye.
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|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Norfloxacin inhibits metabolic activities in the bacteria causing its
death.
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|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Use entire prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
- Oral:
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
- Do not take dairy products, antacids, didanosine, multivitamins,
minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium), nutritional supplements, or
sucralfate within 4 hours of this medicine.
- Make sure you are drinking enough fluids unless told to drink less by
healthcare provider. Avoid products with caffeine.
- Eye:
- For the eye only.
- Take out soft contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be
replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given.
- Do not touch the bottle or tube 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 medicine in the
eye.
- Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes. Give one and wait 5 minutes
before using the next.
- Do not wear contact lenses if you are being treated for a bacterial
infection.
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with theophylline and warfarin.
- Oral form is not recommended in children younger than 18 years of age.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Alcohol may make
infection more difficult to treat.
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses if you have an infection. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Use sunscreen; wear protective
clothing and eyewear.
- 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, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Dizziness is common. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum
, or Lactobacillus acidophilus
may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some
pharmacies.
- Eye:
- Crusting of eyelid, feeling as if something is in your eye.
- Redness or bitter taste in your
mouth.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of
infection.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Pain in back of the ankle. The part called the Achilles tendon.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store tablets/solution in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
- Store eye solution at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
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- 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, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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