During therapy or for up to many months later, taking ofloxacin increases your risk of experiencing tendinitis, which is the swelling of a tendon connecting a bone to a muscle, or a tendon rupture, which is the ripping of a tendon. Your shoulder, hand, ankle’s back, or other tendons on your body could be impacted by these issues. Anyone can develop tendinitis or experience a tendon rupture, but people over 60 have the highest risk. Inform your physician if you have renal illness, a history of heart or lung problems, or a transplanted kidney; rheumatoid arthritis, a condition in which the body attacks its own joints and results in pain, swelling, and loss of function, or if you engage in regular physical activity, are examples of joint or tendon disorders. If you’re taking oral or injectable steroids like dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), or prednisone (Rayos), let your doctor and pharmacist know. Stop taking ofloxacin, take some time to relax, and contact your doctor right away if you suffer any of the following tendinitis symptoms: pain, swelling, soreness, stiffness, or difficulty moving a muscle. Stop taking ofloxacin and seek emergency medical attention if you suffer any of the following tendon rupture symptoms: hearing or feeling a snap or pop in a tendon area; bruising following an injury to a tendon area; or being unable to move or bear weight on an affected area.

Ofloxacin use can result in nerve damage and sensory abnormalities that might persist long after you stop taking the medication. Immediately after you start taking ofloxacin, this damage could happen. If you’ve ever experienced peripheral neuropathy, a form of nerve injury that causes tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet, let your doctor know. Call your doctor right away and stop taking gemifloxacin if you have any of the following symptoms: inability to feel light touch, vibrations, pain, heat, or cold; or numbness, tingling, discomfort, burning, or weakness in the arms or legs.

Ofloxacin use may have negative consequences on the neurological system or brain. After the initial dose of ofloxacin, this is possible. Inform your doctor if you currently have or previously had kidney illness, seizures, epilepsy, cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood arteries in or around the brain that can cause a stroke or ministroke), stroke, or any other condition. Call your doctor right away and stop taking ofloxacin if you notice any of the following signs: seizures; tremors; lightheadedness; dizziness; headaches that won’t go away (with or without impaired vision); trouble getting or keeping asleep; nightmares; feeling that people are out to get you; hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there); Self-harm or suicide-related thoughts or behaviors, agitation, anxiety, nervousness, depression, memory issues, confusion, or other changes in your mood or behavior.

People who have myasthenia gravis, a nervous system disorder that causes muscle weakness, may experience worsening muscle weakness after taking ofloxacin, which could result in severe breathing problems or even death. If you have myasthenia gravis, tell your doctor. Your physician might advise against taking ofloxacin. If your doctor prescribes ofloxacin for your myasthenia gravis and you have muscle weakness or have trouble breathing while taking it, call your doctor right away.

The dangers of taking ofloxacin should be discussed with your doctor.

When you start your ofloxacin treatment, your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, carefully read the material and contact your doctor or pharmacist. The Medication Guide is also available on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs) or the manufacturer’s website.

Pneumonia, as well as infections of the skin, bladder, reproductive organs, and prostate (a male reproductive gland), are among the illnesses that are treated with ofloxacin. Ofloxacin can be used to treat bronchitis and some types of urinary tract infections, however these conditions shouldn’t be treated with it if there are better options available. Ofloxacin belongs to the fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics. It functions by eradicating the infection-causing germs.

Ofloxacin is an antibiotic, but it won’t treat viral infections like the flu, colds, or other things. Antibiotic overuse raises the likelihood that you’ll get an infection later on that is resistant to antibiotic therapy.

Ofloxacin is available as an oral tablet. It is typically taken twice daily, with or without food, for three to six weeks. The type of infection being treated determines how long the treatment will last. How long to take ofloxacin will be determined by your physician. Try to schedule your doses of ofloxacin 12 hours apart and take them at around the same times each day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the prescription for ofloxacin strictly. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

During the initial days of your ofloxacin treatment, you ought to start feeling better. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not disappear or worsen.

Even if you feel better, continue taking ofloxacin until the prescription is finished. Unless you encounter certain serious side effects that are stated in the IMPORTANT WARNING and SIDE EFFECT sections, do not discontinue taking ofloxacin without consulting your doctor. Your illness could not be entirely healed if you stop taking ofloxacin too soon or if you miss doses, and the bacteria might develop an antibiotic resistance.

Ofloxacin is also occasionally used to treat various infections, such as infections of the stomach and intestines, certain sexually transmitted illnesses, infections of the bones and joints, and Legionnaires’ disease (a form of lung infection). Ofloxacin may also be used to treat or prevent anthrax or plague in persons who may have been exposed to the germs that cause these infections through the air. These are deadly infections that could be intentionally spread as part of a bioterror assault. Some patients may also benefit from the use of ofloxacin to treat or prevent traveler’s diarrhea. Discuss the dangers of using ofloxacin to treat your disease with your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking ofloxacin,

• Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you have any allergies to ofloxacin, other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), or moxifloxacin (Avelox), or if you have ever experienced a severe allergic reaction to any of these drugs or any of the ingredients in ofloxacin tablets. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section as well as any of the following: additional antibiotics; anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); a few antidepressants, antipsychotics (medications used to treat mental disease), cimetidine (Tagamet), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), diuretics (‘water pills’); insulin as well as other diabetes-management drugs such chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl, in Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), tolazamide, and tolbutamide; some drugs, such as amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), quinidine, procainamide, and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine, Sotylize) for irregular heartbeat; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) include theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, and other brands), probenecid (Probalan in Col-Probenecid), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and other brands), as well as naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, and other brands). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Take ofloxacin 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any antacids that contain aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, such as Maalox, Mylanta, or Tums, as well as any iron- or zinc-containing drugs, such as didanosine (Videx solution), sucralfate (Carafate), or dietary supplements.
• If you or anybody in your family has a prolonged QT interval, a rare cardiac condition that can result in erratic heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death, let your doctor know. Inform your physician if you have or have ever had a slow or irregular heartbeat, a heart attack, an aortic aneurysm (swelling of the large artery that transports blood from the heart to the body), high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease (poor blood circulation in the vessels), Marfan syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect the heart, eyes, blood vessels, and bones), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect the skin, joints, Additionally, let your doctor know if you currently or ever had liver disease, diabetes, or low blood sugar issues.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking ofloxacin.
• Before you know how ofloxacin affects you, avoid driving, operating machinery, and engaging in other activities that call for alertness or coordination.
• Plan to avoid exposure to sunlight and UV light (such as that from tanning beds and sunlamps) for an extended period of time, and to use protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The antibiotic ofloxacin may increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV or sunlight. Call your doctor if your skin starts to swell, blister, or become red.

While taking ofloxacin, be sure to consume plenty of water or other liquids every day.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. Never double the prescribed amount to make up for a missed dose, and never take more than two ofloxacin doses in a single day.

Ofloxacin could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Gas
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps or agony
• Alterations in food taste
• Reduced appetite
• Mouth ache
• Extreme fatigue
• Light skin
• Vaginal discomfort, bloating, or itchiness

Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical assistance if you have any of the following symptoms while taking ofloxacin, or any of the symptoms listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section:

• Stomach cramps and severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) that might last up to two months or longer after treatment are possible
• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Skin that is flaking or blistering
• Fever
• Edema of the lower legs, hands, feet, ankles, throat, lips, tongue, or eyes
• Throat constriction or hoarseness
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Persistent or escalating cough
• Having pale complexion, yellowing skin or eyes, black urine, or light-colored feces
• Intense hunger or thirst, pallor, trembling, a racing or fluttering heartbeat, excessive sweating, frequent urination, blurred vision, or unusual anxiety
• Loss of awareness or fainting
• Significant bruising or bleeding
• Unexpected chest, stomach, or back pain

Children who take ofloxacin may experience complications with their bones, joints, and tissues around their joints. Children under the age of 18 should not receive ofloxacin.

Other negative effects of ofloxacin are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the bathroom and other places with excessive heat and moisture.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning.http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the best way to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Flushes of heat and cold
• Edema and numbness in the face
• Muddled speech
• Confusion

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s response to ofloxacin, your doctor could request specific lab tests.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are taking ofloxacin prior to any laboratory test. Your doctor might advise you to check your blood sugar more frequently while taking ofloxacin if you have diabetes.

No one else should take your medication. It’s likely that your prescription cannot be renewed. Call your doctor if, after stopping the ofloxacin, you continue to experience signs of infection.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.