Floxin (Ofloxacin)

Do’s

• Before starting to use Floxin, read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist. If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider.
• Take Floxin by mouth with or without food as directed by your healthcare provider.
• The typical dosage of Floxin is usually twice a day, approximately every 12 hours. However, the specific dosage and length of treatment will be based on your medical condition and your response to the treatment.
• Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise.
• Take Floxin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking other products that may bind to it, thereby decreasing its effectiveness. Consult your healthcare provider about the other products you take, such as quinapril, sucralfate, vitamins/minerals (including iron and zinc supplements), and products containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium (such as antacids, didanosine solution, calcium supplements).
• To ensure the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time(s) every day.
• Continue taking this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection.
• Inform your healthcare provider if your condition persists or worsens.

Common Side Effects:

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Vaginal inflammation (vaginitis)
• Taste changes
• False-positive urine screening results for opiates when testing is done with some commercially available kits

Serious Side Effects:

• Liver problems, indicated by upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Inform your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. 

For a comprehensive understanding of the potential side effects of Floxin and how they may specifically relate to an individual's health condition, consult a healthcare provider.

Fluoroquinolones, including Floxin, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients, usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart, or lung transplants.

Floxin may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. It should be avoided in patients with a known history of myasthenia gravis.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Floxin, it should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

The administration of Floxin with food does not affect the maximum concentration and area under the curve of the drug, but the time to reach maximum concentration is prolonged.

Clearance of ofloxacin is reduced in patients with impaired renal function, and dosage adjustment is necessary.

Some quinolones, including ofloxacin, may produce false-positive urine screening results for opiates using commercially available immunoassay kits. Confirmation of positive opiate screens by more specific methods may be necessary.

Consult a healthcare provider before taking any drug, changing any diet, or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.

For personalized guidance on the warnings and precautions associated with Floxin, individuals are advised to consult a healthcare provider.