Ofloxacin

Description

Ofloxacin is an antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial infections that affects various parts of your body. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria in your body. It is not effective against infections caused by viruses. Ofloxacin is available in many forms like tablets, capsules, injections, suspensions, syrups, eye ointment, and eye/ear drops. Ofloxacin can cause side effects like diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Consult your doctor if these side effects persist or get worse. Avoid activities that require mental focus like driving and operating machines as this medicine may cause dizziness. Ofloxacin oral forms can be taken with or without food, with a glass of water, or as prescribed by your doctor. Take this medicine around the same time every day for the ease of remembering. Complete the entire course of treatment even if you feel better after a few doses. For Ofloxacin injection, it is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a hospital/clinic. For topical forms like eye ointment and eye/ear drops, it should be instilled in your eyes/ears as advised by your doctor. Ofloxacin is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Avoid taking this medicine if you have tendinitis (a condition that causes swelling of the tissues that attach bones with muscles) or myasthenia gravis (a condition that causes severe weakness and fatigue of the muscles under voluntary control). Ofloxacin should be used with caution if you have liver or kidney problems. Report all your medicines to your doctor as they may interact with Ofloxacin and cause side effects. If you are pregnant or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Ofloxacin

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headache
  • Diarrhoea
  • Stomach pain
  • Muscle pain
  • Change in taste
  • Painful urination
  • Dry mouth
  • Joint pain
  • Runny Nose
  • Skin rash

Uses of Ofloxacin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Urinary Tract Infection
  • Community-Acquired Pneumonia
  • Bronchitis
  • Prostatitis
  • Skin and soft tissue infections
  • Gonorrhoea
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Bacterial conjunctivitis
  • Bacterial ear Infections
Read More
Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    You will start to feel better in few days after taking Ofloxacin.
  • Duration of effect
    Ofloxacin may remain in your body for approximately 2 days.
  • 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 Ofloxacin.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Ofloxacin should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of side effects on your developing foetus. Take this medicine only upon your doctor's recommendation.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Ofloxacin is known to pass into breastmilk. Therefore, it is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Allergy

Ofloxacin is not recommended for use if you have a known allergy to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is a condition that causes swelling of the tendon, a tissue that connects your muscles to bones. Ofloxacin can cause tendinitis and tendon rupture (a condition that causes partial or complete tearing of the tendon. Hence, Ofloxacin is not recommended for use if you have a history of tendinitis or tendon rupture as it may worsen your condition.

Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a serious condition characterized by severe weakness of any of the muscles under your voluntary control, including the arms and legs. Ofloxacin should be avoided if you have myasthenia gravis as it may worsen your condition and cause further muscle weakness.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Ofloxacin should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of side effects on your developing foetus. Take this medicine only upon your doctor's recommendation.

Breast-feeding

Ofloxacin is known to pass into breastmilk. Therefore, it is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings

Antibiotic resistance

Finish the entire course of treatment with Ofloxacin even if your condition gets better after a few doses to avoid antibiotic resistance (a condition in which the bacteria develops the ability to defeat the antibiotics intended to kill them). If you still feel unwell after completing your antibiotic course, consult your doctor.

Driving or operating machines

Ofloxacin may cause dizziness, sleepiness, or visual disturbances. Hence, avoid performing activities that require mental alertness like driving vehicles or operate machines after taking this medicine.

Photosensitivity

Ofloxacin may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight or UV light. Hence, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or artificial UV rays. Use sunscreens or wear protective clothing before going out in the sun to avoid any unwanted reactions.

Diarrhoea

Ofloxacin can cause diarrhoea because it may also kill the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine. Inform your doctor if you experience severe diarrhoea during the treatment with this medicine.

Antacids

If you are taking an antacid containing aluminium or magnesium salts for indigestion, it can increase the time it takes for Ofloxacin to act on your body. Hence, it is recommended to take this antibiotic at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking antacids.

Liver impairment

Ofloxacin should be used with caution if you have liver problems as this medicine may cause further liver damage. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your liver function during treatment with this medicine.

Missed Dose

Do not skip a dose of Ofloxacin. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If the time for your next dose is near, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to compensate for the missed dose.

Overdose

Never take more than the prescribed dose of Ofloxacin. Seek emergency medical attention in case of an overdose of this medicine.
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

Quinidine

Aspirin

Disease interactions

Central nervous system disorders

Ofloxacin may cause tremors (involuntary muscle contraction leading to tremors/shaking movement of hands and legs), agitation, restlessness, anxiety, confusion, seizures (sudden, uncontrolled brain activity causing fits), etc. Hence, Ofloxacin should be used with caution if you have seizures or other central nervous system abnormalities (related to the brain and spinal cord).

Colitis

Ofloxacin can kill the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine and lead to diarrhoea. Therefore, this medicine should be used with extreme caution if you have stomach and intestinal problems, particularly colitis (swelling of the inner lining of the colon), since it may worsen your condition.

QT Prolongation

QT prolongation is a condition in which your heart muscles take a longer time to recharge between a heartbeat. Ofloxacin should be used with caution if you have heart problems as this medicine may cause QT prolongation.

Kidney Disease

Ofloxacin should be taken with caution if you have kidney problems as a damaged kidney may lead to accumulation of unused medicine in your body, increasing the risk of side effects. Your doctor may suggest another suitable medicine or adjust the dose based on your condition.
Food interactions
Avoid taking multivitamins with minerals and Ofloxacin together. It may decrease the absorption of this medicine into the blood and reduce its effectiveness. If needed, it is suggested to use Ofloxacin two to four hours before or four to six hours after taking multivitamins with minerals.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Oral forms: Take Ofloxacin with or without food as instructed by the doctor. Do not take more or less than the prescribed dose. Ofloxacin tablets, sustained-release (SR) tablets, extended-release (XR) tablets, and capsules: Do not break, crush or chew the tablet/capsule. Ofloxacin syrup/suspension/drops: Shake the bottle well before use. Measure an appropriate dose using the measuring spoon, cup, or dropper. Ofloxacin dispersible tablet (DT): Dissolves quickly and easily in water. It can be dispersed in a teaspoonful or a glass of boiled and cooled water before administration. Do not administer if the tablet is not dissolved/dispersed completely in the water. Avoid driving or operating machines after taking this medicine as it may affect your alertness. Ensure that you complete the course of the treatment to prevent re-infection that would be difficult to treat in the future. Injection: Ofloxacin should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting. Your doctor will determine an appropriate dose based on your clinical condition. Other forms: Ofloxacin eye/ear drops and eye ointment is for external use only. Administer it as directed by your doctor. Do not touch your eyes with unwashed hands. Avoid sharing items like eyeglasses, contact lenses, pillows, towels, clothes, eye or face makeup when you are infected.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
Ofloxacin works by preventing the bacterial cells from multiplying and stopping their growth. Eventually, it kills the bacteria.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Fluoroquinolones, Antibiotics

Schedule

Schedule H

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https://ciplamed.com/content/oflox-iv-infusion>

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https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c548aea8-5868-1415-e053-2a95a90acd40>

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https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6381f700-bf18-4711-a29d-1c92a8b75d89>

CiplaMed. 2021. OFLOX Ointment. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 14 September 2021].

https://ciplamed.com/content/oflox-ointment>

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Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2021

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