|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (oh
FLOKS a
sin) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Floxin®; Ocuflox™
Ophthalmic |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
|
| Bactocin (Mexico); Floxil (Mexico); Floxstat
(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, ofloxacin, or
any other part of the medicine.
|
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
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- This medicine is used as a treatment for a variety of bacterial
infections. Solutions are available for ear infections and eye
infections.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Ofloxacin inhibits metabolic activities in the bacteria causing its
death.
|
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| 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 with or without food. Take with food (no milk or yogurt) if this
medicine causes an upset stomach.
- 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 that 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.
- Ear:
- For the ear only. Shake suspension well first.
- Wash your hands before and after applying.
- Lie on side with affected ear up.
- For adults, hold the ear lobe up and back.
- For children, hold ear down and back.
- Instill drops in ear without touching dropper to ear. Stay on side for
2 minutes or insert cotton plug into
ear.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Apply 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 apply 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 warfarin.
- 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.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses if you have an infection. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. 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:
- 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:
- Short-term burning, discomfort.
- Ear:
- Itching, application site reaction (irritation), dizziness,
earache.
|
|
|
| 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.
- Severe dizziness or lightheadedness.
- 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/eye solution in a tight, light-resistant container at
room temperature.
- Store ear 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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