Ofloxacin (Oral)

Generic name: Ofloxacin
Drug class: Quinolones and fluoroquinolones

Usage of Ofloxacin (Oral)

Ofloxacin is used to treat certain bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor. Ofloxacin may mask or delay the symptoms of syphilis. It is not effective against syphilis infections.

Ofloxacin belongs to the class of drugs known as fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Ofloxacin (Oral) side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Abdominal or stomach pain

anxiety

black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blood in the urine or stools

blurred vision

body aches or pain

chest pain

chills

cloudy urine

cold sweats

coma

confusion

congestion

cool, pale skin

cough

depression

diarrhea

dry mouth

dryness or soreness of the throat

eye pain

fast heartbeat

fever

flushed, dry skin

fruit-like breath odor

general feeling of illness

headache

hoarseness

increased hunger

increased thirst

increased urination

lower back or side pain

nausea

nightmares

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

pus in the urine

runny nose

seizures

shakiness

slurred speech

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

sweating

swollen glands

tender, swollen glands in the neck

trouble with swallowing

troubled breathing with exertion

unexplained weight loss

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

voice changes

vomiting

Rare

Burning while urinating

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

change in color vision

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears

convulsions

decrease in frequency of urination

decrease in urine volume

decreased hearing or any change in hearing

difficult or painful urination

difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)

difficulty seeing at night

difficulty with moving

discouragement

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

false or unusual sense of well-being

fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

feeling of warmth or heat

feeling sad or empty

flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck

hearing loss

hives or welts, itching, or skin rash

increased need to urinate

increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight

increased sweating

irritability

joint pain

lack of appetite

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

loss of bladder control

loss of interest or pleasure

muscle aching or cramping

muscle pains or stiffness

muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities

no blood pressure or pulse

no breathing

passing urine more often

pounding in the ears

redness, soreness, or itching skin

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

sensation of spinning

shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

slow or fast heartbeat

sores, welting, or blisters

stopping of the heart

sudden loss of consciousness

swelling

swollen joints

trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

trouble concentrating

trouble performing routine tasks

trouble sleeping

unconsciousness

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach tenderness

actions that are out of control

back, leg, or stomach pains

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloating

blue lips and fingernails

burning, dry, or itching eyes

changes in behavior

confusion about identity, place, and time

coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum

coughing up blood

cracks in the skin

crying

dark-colored urine

darkening of the skin

delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, and/or combativeness

depersonalization

diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody

difficulty with breathing, chewing, speaking, or swallowing

discharge or excessive tearing

double vision

drooling

drooping eyelids

dysphoria

euphoria

feeling of discomfort

general body swelling

heartburn

high fever

hyperventilation

increased blood pressure

increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

increased sweating

indigestion

inflammation of the joints

irregular heartbeats

irregular or slow heart rate

itching of the vagina or outside the genitals

loss of ability to use or understand speech or language

loss of appetite

loss of balance control

loss of heat from the body

mental depression

mood or mental changes

muscle weakness

noisy breathing

nosebleeds

numbness of the hands

pain during sexual intercourse

pain in the ankles or knees

pain, inflammation, or swelling in the calves, shoulders, or hands

painful, red lumps under the skin, mostly on the legs

paralysis

prolonged bleeding from cuts

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

quick to React or overreact emotionally

rapidly changing moods

red or black, tarry stools

red or dark brown urine

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

red, swollen skin

redness or other discoloration of the skin

redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid

restlessness

scaly skin

severe abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or burning

severe sunburn

severe tiredness

shaking

shuffling walk

stiffness of the limbs

stomach pain, continuing

swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs

swollen lymph glands

talking, feeling, and acting with excitement

thick, white, curd-like vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor

thoughts of killing oneself

twisting movements of the body

uncontrolled eye movements

uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back

unexplained bleeding or bruising

unpleasant breath odor

unsteadiness or awkwardness

unusual behavior, such as disorientation to time or place, failure to recognize people, hyperactivity, or restlessness, especially in children using 2% cyclopentolate

unusual weight loss

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

weight gain

yellowing of the eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Change in taste

excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines

full feeling

loss of taste

passing gas

runny nose

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Ofloxacin (Oral)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of ofloxacin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ofloxacin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart or kidney problems, or develop severe tendon problems (including tendon rupture), which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving ofloxacin.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Levoketoconazole

Mesoridazine

Pimozide

Piperaquine

Saquinavir

Sparfloxacin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acarbose

Acecainide

Adagrasib

Albiglutide

Alfuzosin

Alogliptin

Alosetron

Amiodarone

Amisulpride

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Anagrelide

Apomorphine

Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole Lauroxil

Arsenic Trioxide

Asenapine

Astemizole

Atazanavir

Azimilide

Azithromycin

Bedaquiline

Betamethasone

Bretylium

Budesonide

Buprenorphine

Bupropion

Buserelin

Canagliflozin

Ceritinib

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Chlorpropamide

Cholera Vaccine, Live

Ciprofloxacin

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clofazimine

Clomipramine

Clothiapine

Clozapine

Corticotropin

Cortisone

Cosyntropin

Crizotinib

Cyclobenzaprine

Dabrafenib

Dapagliflozin

Dasatinib

Deflazacort

Degarelix

Delamanid

Desipramine

Deslorelin

Deutetrabenazine

Dexamethasone

Dexmedetomidine

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Domperidone

Donepezil

Droperidol

Dulaglutide

Efavirenz

Empagliflozin

Encorafenib

Entrectinib

Ertugliflozin

Erythromycin

Escitalopram

Etrasimod

Exenatide

Fexinidazole

Fingolimod

Flecainide

Fluconazole

Fludrocortisone

Fluocortolone

Fluoxetine

Formoterol

Foscarnet

Fostemsavir

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Gepirone

Glasdegib

Glimepiride

Glipizide

Glyburide

Gonadorelin

Goserelin

Granisetron

Halofantrine

Haloperidol

Histrelin

Hydrocortisone

Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxyzine

Ibutilide

Iloperidone

Imipramine

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin

Insulin

Insulin Aspart, Recombinant

Insulin Bovine

Insulin Degludec

Insulin Detemir

Insulin Glulisine

Insulin Lispro, Recombinant

Ivosidenib

Ketoconazole

Lapatinib

Lefamulin

Lenvatinib

Leuprolide

Levofloxacin

Linagliptin

Liraglutide

Lixisenatide

Lofexidine

Lopinavir

Lumefantrine

Macimorelin

Magnesium Sulfate

Mefloquine

Metformin

Methadone

Methylprednisolone

Metronidazole

Mifepristone

Miglitol

Mirtazapine

Mobocertinib

Moricizine

Moxifloxacin

Nafarelin

Nateglinide

Nilotinib

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Olanzapine

Ondansetron

Osilodrostat

Osimertinib

Oxaliplatin

Ozanimod

Pacritinib

Paliperidone

Panobinostat

Paroxetine

Pasireotide

Pazopanib

Phenobarbital

Pimavanserin

Pioglitazone

Pitolisant

Ponesimod

Porfimer

Posaconazole

Pramlintide

Prednisolone

Prednisone

Primidone

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Protriptyline

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Quizartinib

Ranolazine

Rasagiline

Relugolix

Repaglinide

Ribociclib

Rosiglitazone

Saxagliptin

Selpercatinib

Semaglutide

Sematilide

Sertraline

Sevoflurane

Siponimod

Sitagliptin

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

Sulpiride

Sunitinib

Tacrolimus

Tedisamil

Telithromycin

Tetrabenazine

Tizanidine

Tolazamide

Tolbutamide

Toremifene

Trazodone

Triamcinolone

Triclabendazole

Trifluoperazine

Trimipramine

Triptorelin

Vandetanib

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Vilanterol

Vinflunine

Voclosporin

Voglibose

Voriconazole

Warfarin

Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Aminolevulinic Acid

Didanosine

Iron

Lanthanum Carbonate

Sucralfate

Zinc

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Relate drugs

How to use Ofloxacin (Oral)

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Drink plenty of fluids while you are being treated with this medicine. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects of ofloxacin.

If you are also using antacids containing aluminum or magnesium (such as Maalox®, Mylanta®), multivitamins (with calcium, iron, or zinc), didanosine (Videx®), or sucralfate (Carafate®), take these medicines at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take ofloxacin. These medicines may keep ofloxacin from working properly.

Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):

For treatment of infection:

Adults—200 to 400 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for 3 to 14 days, depending on the medical problem being treated. Prostatitis is usually treated for 6 weeks. Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single oral dose of 400 mg.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor or nurse right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you take this medicine.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal or stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These maybe symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Ofloxacin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Ofloxacin may rarely cause inflammation or even tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). The risk of having tendon problems may be increased if you are over 60 years of age, using steroid medicines (eg, dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), or have received an organ (eg, heart, kidney, or lung) transplant. If you get sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (eg, in the ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), check with your doctor right away. Refrain from exercise until your doctor says otherwise.

For patients with an abnormally slow heartbeat or low potassium levels in the blood, ofloxacin may increase your risk of having a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat. Call your doctor right away if you feel that your heart is not beating normally.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions, feeling anxious, confused, or depressed, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, severe headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual thoughts or behaviors.

Some people who take ofloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than they are normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn, or skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration. When you begin using this medicine:

Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, if possible.

Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.

Apply a sun block product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some people may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Do not use a sun lamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

Ofloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

For diabetic patients taking insulin or oral medicine: Ofloxacin may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in some patients. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. If you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, stop taking ofloxacin and check with your doctor right away:

Symptoms of low blood sugar can include: Anxious feeling, behavior change similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool pale skin, difficulty in concentrating, drowsiness, excessive hunger, headache, nausea, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, shakiness, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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