Oflox 200 side effects: common and serious

Also in: हिन्दी தமிழ் मराठी తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ বাংলা ગુજરાતી മലയാളം

Also known as: Oflox, Oflox 200 mg, Oflox 200 tablet

Most people take ofloxacin without serious problems; nausea, headache, trouble sleeping and dizziness are the most common side effects. Rarely, fluoroquinolones cause serious side effects that can be disabling and may last a long time.

Oflox 200: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects

Active ingredient: Ofloxacin 200 mg
Type of medicine: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Used for: Bacterial skin infections, Respiratory tract infections, Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Starts working in: Many infections start to improve within a few days
Effect lasts: About 12 hours; usually taken twice a day
With or without food: With or without food; keep 2 hours apart from antacids, iron or zinc
Alcohol: Best avoided; both can cause dizziness
Pregnancy: Usually avoided; ask your doctor
Habit-forming: No
Made by: Cipla Ltd

Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.

On this page

Side effects of Oflox 200
Who should be careful
If someone takes too much
Common questions

Side effects of Oflox 200

Uncommon or mild

Feeling sick (nausea)
Headache
Trouble sleeping
Dizziness
Diarrhoea or being sick (vomiting)
Itching or discharge in the genital area in women, which can be a sign of thrush

Rare but serious: get medical help

Pain, swelling or inflammation of a tendon, especially the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle, or a tendon that tears. Stop the medicine, rest the area and contact your doctor straight away. This can happen within 48 hours of starting or months after stopping
Numbness, tingling, burning pain or weakness in the hands, arms, feet or legs, which can be signs of nerve damage that may last a long time. Stop the medicine and contact your doctor at the first signs
Changes in mood or thinking: anxiety, agitation, restlessness, confusion, trouble paying attention, memory problems, nightmares, seeing or hearing things that are not there, depression, or thoughts of harming yourself. Stop the medicine and get medical help straight away
Fits (seizures), shaking or severe headache
Signs of low blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes: shaking, sweating, hunger, a fast heartbeat, confusion or drowsiness. Very low blood sugar can lead to coma. High blood sugar can also occur
Sudden severe pain in the chest, stomach or back, which can be a sign of a bulge or tear in the aorta, the body's main blood vessel. Call 112 straight away
A fast or irregular heartbeat, or fainting
New or worse muscle weakness or difficulty breathing in people with myasthenia gravis
Signs of a severe allergic reaction, which can happen even after the first dose: swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, hives or collapse
A severe skin reaction, such as blistering or peeling skin, or a rash or sunburn-like reaction on skin exposed to sunlight
Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine or pain in the upper right side of the tummy, which can be signs of liver problems
Severe or watery diarrhoea, or diarrhoea with blood, which can be a sign of a gut infection called C. difficile, even weeks after the course
Changes in vision, hearing, taste or smell

Who should be careful

Ofloxacin is not suitable for everyone, and regulators advise using fluoroquinolones only when other commonly recommended antibiotics are not suitable. Tell your doctor about your health and your other medicines before taking it.

It treats bacterial infections only. It does not work for colds, flu or other viral infections, and taking it when it is not needed adds to antibiotic resistance
A past allergy or serious side effect from ofloxacin or any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin or norfloxacin: it should not be used
Age over 60, kidney disease, a kidney, heart or lung transplant, or taking steroid medicines such as prednisolone: a higher risk of tendon damage
Past tendon problems, for example with rheumatoid arthritis, or very strenuous physical activity
Myasthenia gravis: ofloxacin can make muscle weakness worse and should be avoided
Epilepsy, past fits, or other brain or nerve conditions
A history of mental health problems
Diabetes, especially if you use insulin or tablets that lower blood sugar: your doctor may ask you to check your sugar more often
An aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the main blood vessel), or a higher risk of one, such as older age, high blood pressure, hardened arteries, or conditions such as Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Heart rhythm problems, a known long QT interval, low potassium, or taking medicines for heart rhythm
Kidney or liver disease
Pregnancy: safety has not been established, so it is usually avoided; tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
Breastfeeding: ofloxacin passes into breast milk; ask your doctor
Children and teenagers under 18: not usually used, because of possible effects on growing joints
Sunlight: ofloxacin can make skin more sensitive to the sun
Dizziness or drowsiness: do not drive or use machines until you know how the medicine affects you

If someone takes too much

There is no specific antidote for an ofloxacin overdose; hospital treatment watches the person and keeps them well hydrated. If someone has taken more than prescribed, especially if they are confused, dizzy or having fits, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.

Common questions

What should I do if I get tendon or ankle pain while taking Oflox 200?

Stop taking it, rest the painful area and contact your doctor straight away. Tendon pain or swelling, often at the back of the ankle, can come before a tendon tears. The risk is higher over 60, with steroid medicines, or after a transplant. Problems can start even months after stopping.

I have diabetes. What should I know about Oflox 200?

Ofloxacin can make blood sugar go too low or too high, especially with insulin or diabetes tablets. Very low blood sugar can lead to coma. Tell your doctor you have diabetes, check your sugar as advised, and know the signs of low sugar, such as shaking, sweating, hunger and confusion.

Can I take Oflox 200 in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Ofloxacin is usually avoided in pregnancy because its safety has not been established, and other antibiotics are often preferred. It also passes into breast milk. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, tell your doctor before taking it. Do not start or stop it without your doctor's advice.

Sources

Ofloxacin tablets: prescribing information (Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, revised 3/2023). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
Ofloxacin tablets USP: prescribing information (Nivagen Pharmaceuticals). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
Ofloxacin. StatPearls, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), US National Library of Medicine
Quinolone- and fluoroquinolone-containing medicinal products (referral). European Medicines Agency
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Drug Safety Update, 22 January 2024). Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), UK
Antibiotics. NHS (UK)
Drugs prohibited under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940: status as on 22.11.2021. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
Fixed Dose Combinations (including list of 156 prohibited FDCs dated 02.08.2024). Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
National Formulary of India. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India