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Ofloxacin: Uses, How It Works, Medicines

Also in: हिन्दी தமிழ் मराठी తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ বাংলা ગુજરાતી മലയാളം

Ofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial infections. These include some urinary tract, chest, skin and sexually transmitted infections. It works only against bacteria, so it does not help colds, flu or other viral infections. Because of rare but serious side effects on tendons, nerves and mental health, regulators advise using it only when other commonly recommended antibiotics are not suitable, and in India it is a prescription medicine.

Also known as: Ofloxacin tablet, Ofloxacin 200 mg, Ofloxacin IP, Quinolone antibiotic, Fluoroquinolone antibiotic

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

How does Ofloxacin work?

Ofloxacin blocks two bacterial enzymes, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which bacteria need to copy their DNA, so the bacteria die. Nearly all of a dose is absorbed, and most of it leaves the body unchanged in the urine, which is one reason it is used for urinary infections.

How to take Ofloxacin

Follow the label or your doctor's advice. Ofloxacin is usually taken twice a day, about 12 hours apart, and the dose and number of days depend on the infection and on how well the kidneys work. Take the full course your doctor prescribed.

Side effects of Ofloxacin

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

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. Tell 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. Tell 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. 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: tell your doctor, as 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, so tell your doctor
  • 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

Medicines and things that interact with Ofloxacin

Some medicines and supplements change how ofloxacin is absorbed or add to its side effects. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take.

  • Antacids with aluminium, magnesium or calcium, sucralfate, iron, zinc or multivitamins with minerals: take ofloxacin at least 2 hours before or after them
  • Theophylline (an asthma medicine): its levels may rise, increasing side effects such as fits
  • Warfarin: its blood-thinning effect may increase, so your doctor may check your clotting more often
  • NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen: may increase the risk of fits
  • Insulin and diabetes tablets such as glibenclamide: blood sugar may go too low or too high
  • Steroid medicines such as prednisolone: higher risk of tendon damage
  • Medicines that affect heart rhythm, such as amiodarone, sotalol, quinidine and procainamide, and some antidepressants and antipsychotics: higher risk of an irregular heartbeat
  • Ciclosporin and probenecid: possible interactions that have not been well studied, so tell your doctor

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.

Regulatory status in India

Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient ofloxacin is not on the CDSCO list of banned medicines. Several fixed-dose combinations that pair ofloxacin with other ingredients are prohibited, for example ofloxacin with nitazoxanide, azithromycin with ofloxacin, and flavoxate with ofloxacin, so check the ingredient list on the pack.

Type of medicine

Ofloxacin belongs to this type of medicine.

Medicines that contain Ofloxacin

These medicines sold in India contain Ofloxacin. They are listed A to Z, not ranked.

What is Ofloxacin used for?

Medicines that contain Ofloxacin are used for these conditions.

Common questions

How is ofloxacin usually taken?

Ofloxacin tablets are usually taken twice a day, about 12 hours apart, with or without food. Keep them at least 2 hours apart from antacids, iron, zinc or mineral supplements, which can stop the medicine from being absorbed. Your doctor decides the dose and how many days; follow the label or your doctor's advice.

What side effects of ofloxacin need urgent attention?

Stop taking it and contact your doctor straight away if you get tendon pain or swelling, numbness, tingling or burning pain, changes in mood or thinking, signs of low blood sugar, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or sudden severe chest, stomach or back pain. These side effects are rare but can be serious and long-lasting.

Is Oflox 200 the same as ofloxacin?

Oflox 200 is a brand name for a tablet that contains 200 mg of ofloxacin and nothing else. Other brands may contain ofloxacin together with a second medicine, for example ornidazole, so check the ingredients and strength on the pack and ask your pharmacist if unsure.

Is ofloxacin an antibiotic for cold, flu or viral fever?

No. Ofloxacin acts only on bacteria, and colds, flu and many fevers are caused by viruses. Taking it for them does not speed recovery, adds side effects and adds to antibiotic resistance. A doctor decides whether an infection is bacterial and needs an antibiotic.

What is the difference between ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin?

All three are fluoroquinolone antibiotics that work in a similar way and carry similar warnings about tendons, nerves and mood. They are different molecules with different approved uses and dosing schedules. Which one suits an infection is a decision for your doctor.

Can I drink alcohol while taking ofloxacin?

Alcohol does not stop ofloxacin from working, but both can cause dizziness and affect alertness, so it is best avoided during the course. Do not drive or use machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy, and ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Can ofloxacin be taken in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

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

Should I finish the whole course of ofloxacin?

Take the full course your doctor prescribed, even if you feel better sooner, because stopping early can let the infection return. The exception is a serious side effect such as tendon pain, numbness or tingling, or mood changes: contact your doctor straight away.

Sources

  1. Ofloxacin tablets: prescribing information (Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, revised 3/2023). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
  2. Ofloxacin. StatPearls, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), US National Library of Medicine
  3. Quinolone- and fluoroquinolone-containing medicinal products (referral). European Medicines Agency
  4. 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
  5. National Formulary of India. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission