|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (nor
FLOKS a
sin) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Chibroxin™ Ophthalmic; Noroxin®
Oral |
|
|
| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Floxacin® (Mexico); Oranor
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antibiotic, Quinolone |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to another quinolone antibiotic, norfloxacin,
or any other part of the medicine.
|
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used as a treatment for a variety of bacterial
infections.
- The eye solution treats bacterial infections of the
eye.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Norfloxacin inhibits metabolic activities in the bacteria causing its
death.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Use entire prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
- Oral:
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
- Do not take dairy products, antacids, didanosine, multivitamins,
minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium), nutritional supplements, or
sucralfate within 4 hours of this medicine.
- Make sure you are drinking enough fluids unless told to drink less by
healthcare provider. Avoid products with caffeine.
- Eye:
- For the eye only.
- Take out soft contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be
replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given.
- Do not touch the bottle or tube tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
- Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.
- After using medicine keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the
inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps medicine in the
eye.
- Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes. Give one and wait 5 minutes
before using the next.
- Do not wear contact lenses if you are being treated for a bacterial
infection.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with theophylline and warfarin.
- Oral form is not recommended in children younger than 18 years of age.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Alcohol may make
infection more difficult to treat.
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses if you have an infection. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Use sunscreen; wear protective
clothing and eyewear.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Dizziness is common. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum
, or Lactobacillus acidophilus
may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some
pharmacies.
- Eye:
- Crusting of eyelid, feeling as if something is in your eye.
- Redness or bitter taste in your
mouth.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Watch for severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of
infection.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Pain in back of the ankle. The part called the Achilles tendon.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store tablets/solution in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
- Store eye solution at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
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