What is Floxin?
Floxin (ofloxacin) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.
Floxin is used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, or prostate.
Health Benefits
Floxin may offer some health benefits, such as the following:
treating bacterial infections
reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance
Side Effects
Floxin can cause some side effects, including:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
headache
dizziness or lightheadedness
skin rash or itching
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
trouble breathing or swallowing
joint pain or stiffness
fever
chills
body aches and pains
unusual tiredness or weakness (severe)
dark urine yellowing of the skin or eyes (severe) seizures (convulsions) change in how much or how often you urinate urinary tract infection (UTI) kidney problems liver problems mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, anxiety, confusion, depression, hallucinations, rare thoughts of suicide)
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these serious side effects.
Floxin may also cause other less serious side effects. You may experience some or all of these side effects:
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
skin rash or itching
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
trouble breathing or swallowing
joint pain or stiffness
fever
chills
body aches and pains unusual tiredness or weakness dark urine yellowing of the skin or eyes seizures (convulsions) change in how much or how often you urinate urinary tract infection (UTI) kidney problems liver problems mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, anxiety, confusion, depression, hallucinations)
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Dosages
The usual adult dose of Floxin is 200-400 mg taken every 12 hours for 7-14 days. The usual dose for children ages 3 months to 17 years is 5-10 mg/kg (about 2.3-4.5 mg/lb) every 12 hours for 10 days.
Interactions
Floxin can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Mechanism of Action
Floxin works by inhibiting an enzyme called DNA gyrase, which is responsible for the proper replication of DNA. By inhibiting this enzyme, Floxin prevents the bacteria from multiplying, thereby reducing the infection.
Pharmacokinetics
Floxin is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and has an oral bioavailability of about 100%. The peak plasma concentration is reached within 1-2 hours. Floxin is widely distributed throughout the body and is present in high levels in the urine, skin, and tissues. Floxin is eliminated primarily by the kidneys through glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. The half-life of Floxin ranges from 4 to 8 hours.
Alternatives to Floxin
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other options that may work for you.
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
Ofloxacin (Floxin)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Avelox (moxifloxacin) Zagam (sparfloxacin) Zymar (gatifloxacin) Tequin (gatifloxacin) Trovan (trovafloxacin mesylate)
Clinical Trials
The FDA has approved Floxin for the treatment of the following infections:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Kidney infections Prostatitis Bacterial sinusitis Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis Pneumonia Pelvic inflammatory disease Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis)
Symptoms of an Overdose
The following are signs of an overdose:
nausea and vomiting
stomach pain
diarrhea
headache
drowsiness
dizziness or lightheadedness
seizures
trouble breathing yellowing of the skin or eyes dark urine change in how much or how often you urinate urinary tract infection (UTI) kidney problems liver problems mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, anxiety, confusion, depression, hallucinations)
If you think you’ve overdosed on Floxin, call your local emergency department or poison control center.
