|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (oh
FLOKS a
sin) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Floxin®; Ocuflox™
Ophthalmic |
|
|
| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Bactocin (Mexico); Floxil (Mexico); Floxstat
(Mexico) |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Antibiotic, Quinolone |
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to another quinolone antibiotic, ofloxacin, or
any other part of the medicine.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used as a treatment for a variety of bacterial
infections. Solutions are available for ear infections and eye
infections.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Ofloxacin inhibits metabolic activities in the bacteria causing its
death.
|
|
|
| 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 with or without food. Take with food (no milk or yogurt) if this
medicine causes an upset stomach.
- 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 that 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.
- Ear:
- For the ear only. Shake suspension well first.
- Wash your hands before and after applying.
- Lie on side with affected ear up.
- For adults, hold the ear lobe up and back.
- For children, hold ear down and back.
- 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? |
|
|
- Apply 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 apply a double dose or extra
doses.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with warfarin.
- 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.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses if you have an infection. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. 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.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Oral:
- 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:
- Short-term burning, discomfort.
- Ear:
- Itching, application site reaction (irritation), dizziness,
earache.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Watch for severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of
infection.
|
|
|
| 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.
- Severe dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Pain in back of the ankle. The part called the Achilles tendon.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store tablets/eye solution in a tight, light-resistant container at
room temperature.
- Store ear solution at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- 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).
|
|
|
Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
