Pronunciation:

oh-FLOX-a-sin

Brand Names:

• Ocuflox
• Ofloxacin
• Ophtho-Flox

Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Classifications:

Therapeutic—

Antibiotic

Chemical—

Fluoroquinolone

Uses of This Medicine:

Ofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the eye, such as conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

Ofloxacin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Use is not recommended in infants up to 1 year of age. In children 1 year of age and older, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults—

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of ophthalmic ofloxacin in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Pregnancy—

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast-feeding—

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Other medicines—

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acarbose
• Acetohexamide
• Alosetron
• Benfluorex
• Chlorpropamide
• Disopyramide
• Droperidol
• Encainide
• Flecainide
• Gliclazide
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Gliquidone
• Glyburide
• Guar Gum
• Insulin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Lidocaine
• Metformin
• Mexiletine
• Miglitol
• Moricizine
• Procainamide
• Propafenone
• Quinidine
• Tizanidine
• Tocainide
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Troglitazone

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Proper Use of This Medicine:

To use:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and with the index finger of one hand, press gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid and pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 to 2 minutes, to allow the medicine to come into contact with the infection.
• If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eyes properly, use another drop.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

To help clear up your eye infection completely, keep using ophthalmic ofloxacin for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms have disappeared. Do not miss any doses .

Dosing—

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For ophthalmic (eye drops) dosage form:
  • For conjunctivitis:
    • Adults and children 1 year of age and older—Use 1 drop in the affected eye every two to four hours, while you are awake, for two days. Then, use 1 drop in each eye four times a day for up to five more days.
    • Infants up to 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For bacterial corneal ulcers:
    • Adults and children 1 year of age and older—Use 1 drop in the affected eye every thirty minutes while you are awake and 1 drop four to six hours after you go to bed, for two days. Then use 1 drop every hour while you are awake for up to seven more days. After the seventh, eighth, or ninth day, as instructed by your doctor, use 1 drop four times a day until your doctor determines that the treatment is complete.
    • Infants up to 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

If your eye infection does not improve within 7 days, or if it becomes worse, check with your doctor.

Discontinue using these eye drops immediately and contact your physician at the first sign of a rash or an allergic reaction.

This medicine may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light than they are normally. Wearing sunglasses and avoiding too much exposure to bright light may help lessen the discomfort.

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Puffiness or swelling of eyes

signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, itching, rash, swelling of face or lips, tightness in chest, troubled breathing, or wheezing

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Dizziness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Burning of eye

Less common

Blurred vision

eye pain

feeling of something in the eye

increased sensitivity of eye to light

redness, irritation, or itching of eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid

stinging, tearing, or dryness of eye

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.