Norfloxacin
Description
Norfloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial infections. It is mainly used to treat infections affecting the urinary tract and sex organs. This medicine is effective against a large number of bacteria. It kills or prevents the growth of bacteria in the body. It is not effective against infections caused by viruses.
Common side effects of Norfloxacin are diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Norfloxacin can cause muscle damage, usually in the ankle. It should only be used to treat or prevent infections that are caused by bacteria.
Norfloxacin is available on prescription as a tablet, syrup, and suspension. Once an antibiotic is started, it is always recommended to finish the entire course of treatment. For the best results, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. You can take Norfloxacin on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after food). For the ease of remembering, take this antibiotic around the same time every day.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Norfloxacin
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Weakness
- Constipation
- Back pain
- Diarrhoea
- Excessive gas in stomach
- Heartburn
- Skin rash
- Joint or muscle pain
- Dry mouth
Uses of Norfloxacin
What is it prescribed for?
- Prostatitis
- Urinary tract infections
- Gonorrhoea
- Cystitis
- Pyelonephritis
- Bacterial infections
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionYou will start to feel better in 2 to 3 days after taking norfloxacin. But finish your entire course of treatment, even if the condition gets better.
- Duration of effectThe effect of norfloxacin lasts for about 12 to 24 hours and then you may have to take your next dose as directed by your doctor/pharmacist.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Norfloxacin.
- Usage in pregnancy?Norfloxacin should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of adverse effects on the baby's developing joints. Norfloxacin is not known to cause harmful effects on the baby if is taken later in pregnancy. Hence use Norfloxacin only upon your doctor's recommendation.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Norfloxacin is not known to be harmful in breastfeeding women. It passes into breast milk in small amounts. Hence it is acceptable in nursing mothers upon your doctor's recommendation. The baby should be observed for symptoms such as diarrhoea and yeast infection.
Allergy
Avoid taking Norfloxacin if you are previously allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions to this medicine are rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulties, etc.
Tendinitis
Norfloxacin can cause muscle damage especially in old age. Do not use Norfloxacin if you have tendonitis (swelling of fibres that attach bone with muscles) or tendon rupture (a partial or complete tear of the tendon- the tissue that connects muscle to bone).
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a skeletal muscle weakness condition characterized by severe weakness of any of the muscles under your voluntary control, including the arms and legs. Norfloxacin should be avoided in patients with myasthenia gravis since it may get worsen.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Norfloxacin should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of adverse effects on the baby's developing joints. Norfloxacin is not known to cause harmful effects on the baby if is taken later in pregnancy. Hence use Norfloxacin only upon your doctor's recommendation.
Breast-feeding
Norfloxacin is not known to be harmful in breastfeeding women. It passes into breast milk in small amounts. Hence it is acceptable in nursing mothers upon your doctor's recommendation. The baby should be observed for symptoms such as diarrhoea and yeast infection.
General warnings
Muscle damage
Norfloxacin can cause muscle damage usually on the tendons that surround the ankle, shoulder, hand, back, or other parts of the body. Inform your doctor if you feel pain, numbness, or tingling sensations in your muscles.
Antibiotic resistance
Finish your entire course of treatment with Norfloxacin, even if the condition gets better to avoid antibiotic resistance (the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics). If you still feel unwell after completing your antibiotic course, make an appointment to consult your doctor.
Use in children
The safety and effectiveness of Norfloxacin have not been established in patients less than 18 years of age.
Diarrhoea
Norfloxacin can cause diarrhoea because it may also kill the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine. Get emergency medical help if you experience severe diarrhoea that is watery or bloody. Call your pharmacist/doctor before taking anti-diarrhoeal medication.
Driving or operating machinery
Norfloxacin may cause dizziness or sleepiness and interfere with eyesight. Hence do not drive a vehicle or operate machinery after taking this medicine.
Antacids
If you are taking an antacid containing aluminium and magnesium salts for indigestion, it can increase the time it takes for Norfloxacin to act on your body. Because of this, it is recommended to take this antibiotic at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking antacids.
Missed Dose
Try not to skip a scheduled dose of norfloxacin. Despite this, if a dose is skipped, do not add it up to the next dose.
Overdose
Reach out emergency medical department immediately or contact the doctor in case of norfloxacin overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Escitalopram
Ethinyl Estradiol
Corticosteroids
Aspirin
Antidiabetic medicines
Disease interactions
Central nervous system disorders
Use Norfloxacin with caution in patients with nerve problems, seizures, depression, and psychotic reactions as this medicine can trigger these conditions. Inform your doctor immediately if these reactions occur.
QT Prolongation
Norfloxacin may cause a heart rhythm problem called prolonged QT intervals (an electrical heartbeat disturbance) in some patients who are taking heart medications. It may result in fast, rapid, and irregular heartbeats.
Colitis
Use Norfloxacin with extreme caution in patients with gastrointestinal (mouth to anus) diseases, particularly colitis (swelling of the inner lining of the colon), since it may worsen the patient's condition.
Kidney disease
Patients with kidney diseases need special consideration while taking Norfloxacin due to the risk of kidney damage. Dose adjustment should be done based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Norfloxacin will not show its desired effects if consumed with dairy products. At least two hours gap should be maintained between Norfloxacin and dairy products.
Avoid using Norfloxacin along with multivitamins with minerals. If needed it is suggested to use before 2 to 4 hours of taking multivitamins with minerals or after 4 to 6 hours of taking multivitamins with minerals.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take norfloxacin oral forms on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after food). Never take more than the prescribed dose. Take this medicine at around the same time daily. Do not give your medicine to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Norfloxacin stops the action of a bacterial enzyme called DNA-gyrase. This helps to kill or prevent the growth of bacteria in the body.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Fluoroquinolones, Antibiotics
Schedule
Schedule H
Gp2u.com.au. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 February 2021].
Go.drugbank.com. 2021. Norfloxacin | DrugBank Online. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 February 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Norfloxacin. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 February 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 24 February 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 26 Mar 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.