Pefloxacin

Description

Pefloxacin is an antibiotic used in the treatment of various infections caused by susceptible bacteria. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients less than 12 years of age.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Pefloxacin

  • Difficulty in falling or staying asleep
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Itching

Uses of Pefloxacin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Bacterial infections
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking/receiving this medicine. Your doctor may prescribe a safer alternative based on your clinical condition.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking/receiving this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug based on your clinical condition.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to pefloxacin, any other fluoroquinolones, or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.

Tendinitis or tendon rupture

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of tendon rupture or tendinitis (a condition in which the tissue connecting muscles to the bones becomes inflamed) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking/receiving this medicine. Your doctor may prescribe a safer alternative based on your clinical condition.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking/receiving this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug based on your clinical condition.
General warnings

Tendinitis or tendon rupture

Use of this medicine will increase the risk of tendinitis or tendon rupture during the treatment or several months after the treatment. This may affect your shoulders, hands, ankles, or other parts of your body. You are at a higher risk if you are more than 60 years of age or if you have undergone a transplant of kidney, heart, or lung. You are also at a higher risk if you are on corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, or prednisone. Report any unusual symptoms to the doctor immediately. Appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.

Drug-resistance

Usage of this medicine without sufficient proof or suspicion of a bacterial infection should be avoided. Irrational dosing might fail in providing benefits and may even cause toxicity. It may also increase the risk of development of bacteria that are drug resistant.

Driving or Operating machinery

Use of this medicine may cause symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, etc. in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.

Photosensitivity

This medicine may make you more sensitive to sunlight or tanning lights. You are advised to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing to avoid adverse reactions to sunlight during treatment with this medicine.

Use in Pediatrics

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients less than 12 years of age due to the increased risk of serious adverse effects.

Intravenous administration

The injection form of this medicine should be infused intravenously over a duration of at least 60 minutes.

Missed Dose

Oral form: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one. Injection: Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.

Overdose

Oral: Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose. Injection: Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
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

Corticosteroids

Antidiabetic drugs

Antacids

Anticoagulants

Theophylline

Disease interactions

Central nervous system disorders

This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of seizure disorder and other central nervous system abnormalities since it may worsen the patient's condition. Report any incidence of tremors, restlessness, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, etc., to the doctor on priority. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Hepatic impairment

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of liver impairment since it may worsen the patient's condition. Report any unusual symptoms to the doctor on priority. Close monitoring of liver function is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions

Urine Drug Test

Use of this medicine may give a false-positive result for the determination of opiates in urine. It is advised to confirm the result by more specific methods.
Oral form: Take this medicine with food. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts than advised/prescribed. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable side effects. Ensure that the treatment course is completed. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor. Injection: This medicine should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional. Inform the doctor if you have a known history of allergy to this medicine. Report to the doctor all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous

To be taken with food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
This medicine blocks the multiplication and growth of bacteria; this results in the eventual death of the bacteria.
Legal Status

Approved

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Classification

Category

Fluoroquinolones

Schedule

Schedule H

Pefloxacin - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 31 May 2018]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00487

Pefloxacin [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 31 May 2018]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Pefloxacin#

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Information on this page was last updated on 5 Jun 2018

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.