Generic Name: Norfloxacin
Tablets (nor-FLOX-a-sin)
Brand Name: Noroxin
Norfloxacin is used for:
Treating bacterial infections.
Norfloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It works
by killing sensitive bacteria.
Do NOT use Norfloxacin if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Norfloxacin
or to other fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin)
you have inflammation of a tendon (tendonitis) or you have a history of ruptured
tendon caused by Norfloxacin or other fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin)
you are taking antiarrhythmic medicines (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide,
quinidine) or nitrofurantoin
Contact your doctor or health care provider right
away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Norfloxacin :
Some medical conditions may interact with Norfloxacin
. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical
conditions, especially if any of the following apply to
you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or
are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation,
or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have a history of Alzheimer disease, a brain or nervous system disorder,
a problem with the blood vessels in your brain, diarrhea, a stomach infection,
liver problems, kidney problems, increased pressure in your brain, myasthenia
gravis, gonorrhea, skin sensitivity to the sun (eg, sunburn easily), or seizures,
or if you are at risk for seizures
if you have a history of heart problems (eg, fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat)
or low blood potassium levels, or if you have recently had a heart attack
if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Norfloxacin . Tell your
health care provider if you are taking any other medicines,
especially any of the following:
Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide,
quinidine), cisapride, macrolide or ketolide antibiotics
(eg, erythromycin, telithromycin), phenothiazines (eg,
chlorpromazine), tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline),
medicines for mental or mood disorders, or medicines that
may affect your heartbeat because risk of serious side
effects, including irregular heartbeat and other heart
problems, may be increased. Check with your doctor or pharmacist
if you are unsure if any of your medicines may affect your
heartbeat.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) because the
risk of side effects, such as seizures, may be increased
Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) because risk of tendon damage may be increased
Probenecid because it may increase the risk of Norfloxacin 's side effects
Nitrofurantoin because it may decrease Norfloxacin 's effectiveness
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), clozapine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, ropinirole,
sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), tacrine, theophyllines, or tizanidine because
the risk of their side effects may be increased by Norfloxacin
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that
may occur. Ask your health care provider if Norfloxacin
may interact with other medicines that you take. Check
with your health care provider before you start, stop,
or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Norfloxacin :
Use Norfloxacin as directed by your doctor. Check the
label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Take Norfloxacin on an empty stomach at least 1 hour
before or 2 hours after a meal or eating or drinking milk
or other dairy products.
Take Norfloxacin with a full glass of water.
Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Norfloxacin is recommended. Check
with your doctor for instructions.
Do not take any products containing magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, or
zinc (eg, vitamins/minerals, antacids, quinapril); didanosine; sucralfate;
or bismuth subsalicylate within 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Norfloxacin
.
To clear up your infection completely, continue taking Norfloxacin for the
full course of treatment even if you begin to feel better in a few days.
Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Norfloxacin , take it as soon
as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose
and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have
about how to use Norfloxacin .
Important safety information:
Norfloxacin may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol
or certain medicines. Use Norfloxacin with caution. Do
not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until
you know how you react to it.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Norfloxacin before you receive
any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Be sure to use Norfloxacin for the full course of treatment. If you do not,
the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could
also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the
infection harder to treat in the future.
Long-term or repeated use of Norfloxacin may cause a second infection. Tell
your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to
be changed to treat this.
Norfloxacin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections
(eg, the common cold).
Avoid large amounts of food or drink that have caffeine (eg, coffee, tea,
cocoa, cola, chocolate).
Rest and avoid exercise until further instruction from your doctor if you
experience pain or swelling of a tendon.
Diabetes patients - Norfloxacin may affect your blood sugar. Check blood
sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes
medicine.
Norfloxacin may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun,
sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Norfloxacin . Use
a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than
a short time.
If severe diarrhea or stomach pain or cramping develop during treatment or
within several months after treatment with Norfloxacin , check with your doctor
or pharmacist right away. Do not treat it with non-prescription (over-the-counter)
medicines.
Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts and liver and kidney function
tests, may be performed while you use Norfloxacin . These tests may be used
to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor
and lab appointments.
Use Norfloxacin with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to
its effects, (eg, tendon problems).
Norfloxacin should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than
18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
The risk of joint damage may be increased in CHILDREN.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor.
You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Norfloxacin while
you are pregnant. It is not known if Norfloxacin is found in breast milk. Do
not breast-feed while taking Norfloxacin .
Possible side effects of Norfloxacin :
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people
have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor
if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become
bothersome:
Diarrhea; dizziness; headache; loss of appetite; nausea;
stomach upset or cramps; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE
side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty
breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth,
face, lips, or tongue); agitation; anxiety; bizarre behavior;
bloody stools; change in sense of touch or temperature;
chest pain; confusion; convulsions; dark urine (or unusual
change in amount of urine); depression; easy bruising or
bleeding; fever; hallucinations; increased pressure in
the head; irregular heartbeat; joint pain or swelling;
lightheadedness; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness;
mental changes; nervousness; nightmares; oral thrush; pain,
inflammation, or rupture of a tendon; pale stools; persistent
sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin;
restlessness; seizures; severe dizziness; severe or persistent
diarrhea; severe stomach cramps/pain; suicidal thoughts;
tingling, burning, numbness, or weakness of arms, legs,
or skin; tremors; trouble sleeping; unusual fatigue; vaginal
yeast infection; vision changes; weakness; yellowing of
the skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may
occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about
side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
(1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison
Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm),
or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Norfloxacin :
Store Norfloxacin at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief
storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15
and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture,
and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not freeze.
Keep Norfloxacin out of the reach of children and away
from pets.
General information:
If you have any questions about Norfloxacin , please
talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care
provider.
Norfloxacin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed.
Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your
doctor.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain
all information about Norfloxacin . If you have questions
about the medicine you are taking or would like more information,
check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care
provider. |
