Floxin
Drug name
Floxin or Ofloxacin
Drug Uses
The drug Floxin is used for the treatment of mild to moderate infections that are caused by certain bacteria.
How Taken
One should use Floxin as prescribed by the doctor only.
- One should take Floxin by mouth with or without any food.
- Floxin should be taken with a full glass of water about 8 oz/240 mL. Unless otherwise prescribed by the doctor one should drink many glasses of water every day.
- One should not drink milk or eat any kind of dairy products, or take antacids, sucralfate, or vitamins within 2 hours before or after the taking of Floxin.
- Floxin should be taken at the same time every day for best results.
- To treat infection completely, one should take Floxin for the entire course of treatment and continue taking it even if one is feeling better in a few days.
One should ask one’s health care provider for any questions that he may have about the usage of Floxin.
Drug Class and Mechanism
Floxin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, kills sensitive bacteria by ceasing the production of essential proteins that are required by the bacteria to survive.
Missed Dose
If one misses a dose of Floxin, he or she should take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, the missed dose should be skipped and one should go back to his regular dosing schedule. 2 doses should not be taken at once.
Storage
Floxin should be stored between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). The brief storage of the drug at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is also permitted. The drug should be stored away from heat, moisture, and light and one should not store in the bathroom. One should keep Floxin away from pets and children.
Warnings Precautions
One should not use Floxin if:
- One is allergic to any ingredient in Floxin;
- One is allergic to any other fluoroquinolone antibiotic for e.g., ciprofloxacin,
- One has an abnormal blood electrolyte levels like low potassium or magnesium or has a medical history of a certain type of irregular heartbeat like QTc interval prolongation,
- One is on medicines for heart rhythm disturbances for e.g., quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol etc.
- One is taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like NSAIDs and ibuprofen or is on typhoid oral vaccine.
One should consult the doctor or health care provider immediately if any of these symptoms occur:
Important:
- The effects of Floxin may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if taken with alcohol or certain medicines. One must take Floxin with caution. One is advised not to drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until he knows how to react to the usage of the drug.
- Floxin may cause sunburns more easily so one must avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until one knows how to react to Floxin. It is advised to use a sunscreen or wear sun protective clothing if one is outside for prolonged periods.
- For Diabetes patients – the intake of Floxin may affect blood sugar when taken with insulin or other medicines for diabetics. One must check blood sugar levels closely and ask the doctor before changing the dose of diabetes medicines.
- One should inform one’s doctor or dentist of Floxin before receiving any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- The drug Floxin only fights bacteria and does not treat viral infections like the common cold.
- The long-term or a repeated use of Floxin may cause a second infection so one must inform the doctor if a sign of such an infection occurs. The doctor may need to change medicines for this reason.
- If pain or inflammation is experienced, or a rupture in a tendon occurs during or shortly after taking ofloxacin, one must contact the doctor immediately.
- One gets mild diarrhea with antibiotic usage. A more serious form of diarrhea called pseudomembranous colitis may rarely occur and this may develop while one uses the antibiotic or within several months after one stops using it. One should contact the doctor immediately if one gets stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or stools with blood. One should not treat diarrhea without consulting the doctor.
- One must be sure to use Floxin for the entire course of treatment as if he or she does not the medicine may not clear up infection completely. The bacteria also become less sensitive to this and the other medicines which in turn could make the infection difficult to treat in the future.
- All the lab tests, including kidney function tests, should be performed while using Floxin. These tests help to monitor the patient’s condition or check for any side effects. One should be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments strictly.
- For Pregnancy and breast-feeding one should contact the doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of using Floxin while pregnant. Floxin is found in breast milk and one should not breast-feed when on Floxin.
Possible Side Effects
One should check with the doctor if any of the following most common side effects persist or become bothersome to the patient:
* The symptoms of diarrhea; dizziness; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; sensitivity to sunlight; trouble sleeping and vomiting.
One must get medical attention immediately if any of these severe side effects occur:
* mental or mood changes; nervousness; nightmares; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; restlessness; seizures; shortness of breath; shock (pale skin); sleeplessness; urination problems; vaginal irritation or discharge; yellowing of skin or eyes, severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); agitation; anxiety; bizarre behavior; bloody stools; confusion; convulsions; dark urine; decreased urination; depression; diarrhea (severe or continuing); difficulty swallowing; excessive urination, thirst, or hunger; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fatigue; fever, chills, or unusual cough; hallucinations; hoarseness; joint or muscle pain or swelling; lightheadedness; loss of consciousness; severe or persistent stomach pain/cramps; suicidal thoughts; tendon pain, inflammation, or swelling; tightness of the throat; tingling; tremors; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness.
More Information
For more questions about Floxin, one should consult with one’s doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider
Floxin is to be taken only by the patient for whom it is prescribed and must not be shared with other people.