Floxin (Ofloxacin)

Oral form: Oral FLOXIN contains a black-box warning because it may raise your risk of developing tendonitis (swelling of a tendon, the tissue that connects a bone to a muscle) or a tendon rupture.

This risk can happen to anyone but is greatest in people over age 60. Tell your doctor if you've ever had:

• A kidney, heart, or lung transplant

• Kidney disease

• A joint or tendon condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis

Also, let your doctor know if you participate in regular physical activity, or if you take any oral or injectable steroid medicines.

Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking FLOXIN:

• Pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or difficulty moving a muscle

• Feeling or hearing a snap or pop in the tendon area

• Inability to move or put weight on an affected area

• Bruising after an injury to your tendon area

The risk of tendonitis or a tendon rupture is higher both during your treatment with FLOXIN, and for several months after you stop the therapy.

Oral FLOXIN also contains a black-box warning because it can worsen muscle weakness, and cause severe breathing difficulties or death, in people with myasthenia gravis (a disorder of the nervous system).

Tell your doctor if you have myasthenia gravis before taking oral FLOXIN.

Also, let your doctor know if you have, or have ever had:

• Prolonged QT interval (a condition that can cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death)

• An irregular or slow heartbeat

• Chest pain

• Nerve problems

• Seizures

• Low levels of potassium in your blood

• Liver disease

• Cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels in or near the brain)

• Allergies to medications (especially other antibiotics)

Oral FLOXIN can cause nerve damage that may not go away after you stop taking the medicine. Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Numbness

• Tingling pain

• Burning in the arms or legs

• Change in your ability to feel pain, cold, heat, or a light touch

This medicine shouldn't be given to children under 18.

Common Side Effects of FLOXIN

Oral form: Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects of become severe or don't go away:

• Nausea, mild diarrhea, constipation, gas, or vomiting

• Stomach pain or cramps

• Loss of appetite

• Change in ability to taste food

• Headache

• Dry mouth

• Dizziness

• Excessive tiredness

• Pain, swelling, or itching of the vagina

Ear drops: Tell your doctor know if any of the following side effects become severe or don't go away:

• Ear pain or itching

• Changes in taste

• Dizziness

Eye drops: Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects become severe or don't go away:

• Blurred vision

• Burning, itching, stinging, redness, or discomfort in the eye

• Dry eyes, eye pain, or tearing

• Sensitivity to sunlight

Serious Side Effects of FLOXIN

Oral form: Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the symptoms listed in the FLOXIN Warnings section above, or any of the following serious side effects:

• Severe diarrhea

• Confusion or hallucinations

• Nightmares or difficulty sleeping

• Depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts

• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

• Restlessness

• Vision changes

• Fever

• Skin peeling or blistering

• Signs of an allergic reaction (may include hives, rash, itching, chest tightness, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, feet, ankles, or lower legs)

• Hoarseness

• Fast heartbeat

• Fainting

• Loss of consciousness

• Dark-colored urine, or a decrease in the amount of urine produced

• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

• Seizures

• Unusual bleeding or bruising

• Joint or muscle pain

Ear drops: Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• Signs of an allergic reaction (may include hives, rash, itching, chest tightness, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, feet, ankles, or lower legs)

Eye drops: Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• Signs of an infection, which may include fever, chills, or sore throat

• Severe itching

• Loss of consciousness

• Severe sensitivity to light

• Signs of an allergic reaction (may include hives, rash, itching, chest tightness, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat)

Tell your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you're taking, especially those listed in the FLOXIN Warnings section above, and any of the following:

• Other antibiotics

• Antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (includes Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, and others)

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as Coumadin or Jantoven (warfarin)

• Certain antidepressants

• Antipsychotics (drugs to treat mental illness)

• Tagamet (Cimetidine)

• Gengraf, Neoral, or Sandimmune (cyclosporine)

• Videx (didanosine)

• Diuretics (water pills)

• Insulin and oral medications for diabetes

• Certain drugs for irregular heartbeat, such as quinidine, Cordarone (amiodarone), Procanbid (procainamide), or Betapace, Betapace AF, or Sorine (sotalol)

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen)

• Probalan (probenecid) or Col-Probenecid (colchicine and probenecid)

• Carafate (sucralfate)

• Supplements or multivitamins containing iron or zinc

• Elixophyllin, Theo-24, or Uniphyl (theophylline)

FLOXIN and Other Interactions

Oral FLOXIN may cause dizziness or lightheadedness, and eye drops may cause blurred vision.

Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

The drug may also make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight, and wear sunglasses, sunscreen, and protective clothing when outdoors.

Caffeine from coffee and other caffeinated beverages may interact with how FLOXIN eye drops work.

Talk to your doctor about how much caffeine is safe to consume while taking this medicine.

Oral form: Oral FLOXIN comes as a tablet. It's typically taken by mouth twice a day, for three days to six weeks.

The medicine can be taken with or without food. Try to take it around the same time each day.

Your dose and length of treatment will depend on the type of infection you have.

Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully. Don't take more or less FLOXIN than is recommended.

Be sure to drink plenty of water while taking oral FLOXIN.

Ear drops: FLOXIN ear drops come as a liquid drop to apply to the opening of the ear canal. They're usually taken once or twice a day, for 7 to 14 days.

Try to use take medicine around the same time each day.

Use FLOXIN ear drops exactly as directed. Don't take more or less of the medicine than is prescribed by your doctor.

Don't use FLOXIN ear drops in your eyes.

Eye drops: FLOXIN eye drops come as a liquid drop to apply to the eye. They're usually taken in the affected eye four or more times a day.

Wash your hands before and after taking FLOXIN eye drops. Try to take them around the same time each day.

Follow the instructions on your product label carefully when using the drops.

Remove your contact lenses before taking FLOXIN eye drops. You can put them back in 10 minutes after you give yourself a dose.

Don't swallow FLOXIN eye drops.

FLOXIN Overdose

Symptoms of an FLOXIN overdose may include:

• Dizziness

• Drowsiness

• Nausea

• Hot and cold flashes

• Slurred speech

• Confusion

• Numbness or swelling of the face

If you suspect an overdose, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

You can get in touch with a poison control center.

Missed Dose of FLOXIN

If you miss a dose of FLOXIN, take it as soon as you remember.

But if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular medication schedule.

Don't double up on doses to make up for a missed one.

Don't take more than two doses of oral FLOXIN in one day.