Generic Floxin

Floxin can be generically prescribed as ofloxacin and is part of the family of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones. Floxin is commonly used to fight bacterial infections in the body such as Chlamydia, bronchitis, pneumonia, gonorrhea, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. Floxin is only used to fight bacterial infections as antibiotics are inappropriate for fighting fungal or viral infections.

Not all patients will safely tolerate Floxin and a thorough medical history should be evaluated before prescribing this medication. Patients with a medical history including a brain tumor, head injury, epilepsy, another seizure disorder, or kidney disease are likely to require special monitoring, testing, and dosing while undergoing drug therapy with this medication. Some patients with these conditions will not be able to take Floxin, depending on the condition and the severity of the condition.

Children under 18 should not take Floxin. Floxin has been rated a category C pregnancy risk by the American Food and Drug Administration. Floxin may be harmful to a developing fetus and has been shown to pass through a woman’s breast milk and affect a nursing baby. Floxin should be avoided for women who are pregnant, likely to become pregnant, or women who are nursing.

There is a risk of serious side effects associated with Floxin which would require immediate emergency medical care. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, hives, and swelling of the mouth, tongue, lips, or throat indicate an allergic reaction that may be life threatening without medical assistance. Patients who experience symptoms which include numbness, burning, pain, tingles, bloody stool, watery stool, hallucinations, confusion, seizures, a red and blistering or peeling skin rash, tremors shaking, unusual weakness, easy bruising, easy bleeding, a significant decrease in the ability to urinate, sudden swelling of the ankles or feet, unusual thoughts, unusual behaviors, sudden pain or swelling of the arm or joints, or nausea with stomach pain, low fever, pale stools, dark urine, and jaundice are likely experiencing severe reactions that require immediate medical assistance.

Less serious side effects might include insomnia or additional sleep problems, ringing in the ears, headaches, drowsiness, vaginal discharge or itching, mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, or a feeling of restlessness, nervousness, or agitation.

Floxin should be taken as prescribed for as long as it has been prescribed, even once symptoms improve. If a patient misses a dose, the dose should be taken when remembered. From that dose, the schedule should resume, taking the following dose as recommended, either 4, 6, or 8 hours after that dose. Taking Floxin in double doses to make up for a missed dose or taking the doses too close together may cause health complications from an overdose. Overdosing will require immediate health care intervention. An overdose may present with symptoms which include drowsiness, nausea, slurred speech, confusion, and a feeling of being abnormally hot or cold.

Floxin is likely to react with other medications and should not be prescribed without a medical history to avoid potentially serious complications. Patients should always consult with either the prescribing physician or the pharmacist before adding any new medications to their daily regimen, which includes over the counter medications, vitamin supplements, and herbal remedies as well as prescription medications. Medicines that are known to interact with Floxin include aspirin, NSAID pain relievers, cyclosporine, blood thinners, oral diabetes medications, insulin, cimetidine, and theophylline.