Product Details

What you need to know before you take Ofloxacin

Do not take Ofloxacin: • If you are allergic to ofloxacin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue. • If you have previously had an allergic reaction to another quinolone antibiotic e.g. ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin. • If you suffer from epilepsy or are at risk of fits • If you have a history of inflammation and swelling of the tendons (tendonitis) which can affect areas such as the wrist or the achilles tendon after treatment with a quinolone antibiotic e.g. ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, or nadifloxacin. • If you suffer from or there is a family history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (an inherited disorder that affects the red blood cells) • If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. • If you are breastfeeding. • If you are under the age of 18 years, or are still growing. Page 3 of 11 Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ofloxacin. Warnings and precautions Before taking this medicine You should not take fluoroquinolone/quinolone antibacterial medicines, including Ofloxacin, if you have experienced any serious adverse reaction in the past when taking a quinolone or fluoroquinolone. In this situation, you should inform your doctor as soon as possible. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ofloxacin if any of the following apply: • if you have been diagnosed with an enlargement or “bulge” of a large blood vessel (aortic aneurysm or large vessel peripheral aneurysm) • if you have experienced a previous episode of aortic dissection (a tear in the aorta wall) • if you have been diagnosed with leaking heart valves (heart valve regurgitation) • if you have a family history of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection or congenital heart valve disease, or other risk factors or predisposing conditions (e.g. connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers- Danlos syndrome, Turner syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome (an inflammatory autoimmune disease) or vascular disorders such as Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, Behcet’s disease, high blood pressure, or known atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis (a disease of the joints) or endocarditis (an infection of the heart)). • you have or have ever had a history of mental illness. • you have problems with your liver or kidneys. • you have heart disease or problems with your heartbeat. • you were born with or have family history of prolonged QT interval (seen on ECG, electrical recording of the heart). • have salt imbalance in the blood (especially low level of potassium or magnesium in the blood). • have a very slow heart rhythm (called ‘bradycardia’). • have a weak heart (heart failure). • have a history of heart attack (myocardial infarction). • you are female or elderly. • you are taking other medicines that result in abnormal ECG changes (see section Other medicines and Ofloxacin). • you have an illness of the nervous system called ‘myasthenia gravis’ (muscle weakness). • if you are diabetic or suffer from low blood sugar. During treatment When taking this medicine If your eyesight becomes impaired or if your eyes seem to be otherwise affected, consult an eye specialist immediately. If you: • experience a severe skin rash or allergic reaction, or • develop severe diarrhoea, (which may be bloody) with stomach pain and fever, or • notice pain, tenderness, or restricted movement of the tendons, or • notice numbness or tingling in the hands and feet • experience suicidal thoughts or self-endangering behaviour • change in blood glucose levels stop taking this medicine and talk to your doctor straight away. Page 4 of 11 If you feel sudden, severe pain in your abdomen, chest or back, which can be symptoms of aortic aneurysm and dissection, go immediately to an emergency room. Your risk may be increased if you are being treated with systemic corticosteroids. If you feel sudden, severe pain in your abdomen, chest or back, which can be symptoms of aortic aneurysm and dissection, go immediately to an emergency room. Your risk may be increased if you are being treated with systemic corticosteroids. If you start experiencing a rapid onset of shortness of breath, especially when you lie down flat in your bed, or you notice swelling of your ankles, feet or abdomen, or a new onset of heart palpitations (sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat), you should inform a doctor immediately. Pain and swelling in the joints and inflammation or rupture of tendons may occur rarely. Your risk is increased if you are elderly (above 60 years of age), have received an organ transplant, have kidney problems or if you are being treated with corticosteroids. Inflammation and ruptures of tendons may occur within the first 48 hours of treatment and even up to several months after stopping of Ofloxacin therapy. At the first sign of pain or inflammation of a tendon (for example in your ankle, wrist, elbow, shoulder or knee), stop taking Ofloxacin, contact your doctor and rest the painful area. Avoid any unnecessary exercise as this might increase the risk of a tendon rupture. You may rarely experience symptoms of nerve damage (neuropathy) such as pain, burning, tingling, numbness and/or weakness especially in the feet and legs or hands and arms. If this happens, stop taking Ofloxacin and inform your doctor immediately in order to prevent the development of potentially irreversible condition. Prolonged, disabling and potentially irreversible serious side effects Fluoroquinolone/quinolone antibacterial medicines, including Ofloxacin, have been associated with very rare but serious side effects, some of them being long lasting (continuing months or years), disabling or potentially irreversible. This includes tendon, muscle and joint pain of the upper and lower limbs, difficulty in walking, abnormal sensations such as pins and needles, tingling, tickling, numbness or burning (paraesthesia), sensory disorders including impairment of vision, taste and smell, and hearing, depression, memory impairment, severe fatigue, and severe sleep disorders. If you experience any of these side effects after taking Ofloxacin, contact your doctor immediately prior to continuing treatment. You and your doctor will decide on continuing the treatment considering also an antibiotic from another class. If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ofloxacin. Other medicines and Ofloxacin Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. You must tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines that can alter your heart rhythm: • medicines that belong to the group of anti-arrhythmics (e.g. quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide), • tricyclic antidepressants, (e.g. clomipramine, amitriptyline), • some antimicrobials (that belong to the group of macrolides e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin), • some antipsychotics used to treat mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: • medicines or dietary supplements that contain iron (for anaemia) or zinc. • sucralfate used for stomach ulcers. Page 5 of 11 • antacids used for indigestion that contain magnesium or aluminium. • corticosteroids, used for treatment of inflammation and swelling or over-active immune system. These may increase the risk of you developing a tendon rupture. • painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) e.g. ibuprofen or diclofenac, or theophylline, used to treat asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as these could make you more prone to fits if taken with ofloxacin. • glibenclamide, a medicine to control your blood sugar, as the amount of these medicines in the blood may increase and have a greater effect. • drugs that may affect your kidney function e.g. cimetidine (used for stomach ulcers or indigestion), probenecid (used for gout) and methotrexate (used for rheumatism) as they can increase the level of ofloxacin in the blood. • medicines to thin your blood, e.g. warfarin. Taking these with ofloxacin can increase the time it takes for your blood to clot. • If you are taking didanosine (a medicine used to treat HIV infections), you should not take the chewable, buffered tablets until at least two hours after taking ofloxacin. • water tablets (diuretics) such as furosemide. This medicine should not be taken within two hours of taking iron or zinc tablets, antacids, or sucralfate, as these medicines can stop Ofloxacin from working properly. If you are due to have urine tests for porphyrin (a pigment in the blood), or for opiates (strong painkillers), tell your doctor or nurse you are taking this medicine. Pregnancy and breast-feeding Do not take Ofloxacin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. If you become pregnant while taking Ofloxacin, stop taking the tablets and contact your doctor immediately. Driving and using machines Taking Ofloxacin may make you feel sleepy, dizzy or could affect your eyesight. Do not drive or use machines until you know how this medicine affects you. Drinking alcohol may make these symptoms worse. Ofloxacin contains lactose If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.