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Why is this medication prescribed?
Ofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia; bronchitis; venereal disease (VD); and prostate, skin, and urinary tract infections. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be used?
Ofloxacin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food every 12 hours (twice a day) for 3-10 days. Some infections may take up to 6 weeks or longer. To treat VD, a single dose is taken. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ofloxacin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
The tablets should be taken with a full glass of water.
Continue to take ofloxacin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking ofloxacin without talking to your doctor.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking ofloxacin,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), cinoxacin (Cinobac), nalidixic acid (NegGram), or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other antibiotics, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), cancer chemotherapy agents, cimetidine (Tagamet), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), diabetes medication, probenecid (Benemid), sucralfate (Carafate), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
- if you are taking mineral supplements; antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums); didanosine (Videx) chewable/buffered tablets or oral solution; sucralfate (Carafate); or vitamins containing iron or zinc, take ofloxacin two hours before or two hours after these medications.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, diabetes, epilepsy, colitis, stomach problems, vision problems, heart disease, or history of stroke.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking ofloxacin, call your doctor immediately.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking ofloxacin.
- you should know that this drug may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and tiredness. Do not drive a car or work on dangerous machines until you know how ofloxacin will affect you.
- plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Ofloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Drink at least eight full glasses of water or other liquid every day.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Although side effects from ofloxacin are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- upset stomach
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- headache
- restlessness
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- skin rash
- itching
- hives
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face or throat
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- dark urine
- pale or dark stools
- blood in urine
- unusual tiredness
- sunburn
- seizures or convulsions
- vaginal infection
- vision changes
- pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Keep away from light. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison controlcenter at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsedor is not breathing, call local emergency services at911.
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to ofloxacin.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the ofloxacin, call your doctor.
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