NORFLOXACIN

(nor FLOX a sin) Brand: Noroxin

What is the most significant information I must know about norfloxacin?

• You must not use norfloxacin if you have a history of myasthenia gravis, or if you are allergic to norfloxacin or similar antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), and others.

• You must not use this medicine if you have ever had swelling or tearing of a tendon caused by taking norfloxacin or similar antibiotics.

• Till taking norfloxacin, speak your doctor if you have a heart rhythm mess, kidney or liver malady, muscle weakness or trouble breathing, joint problems, a condition called pseudotumor cerebri, a history of seizures, a history of head injury or brain tumor, low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia), a private or family history of Long QT syndrome, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic.

• Avoid taking antacids, vitamin or mineral supplements, sucralfate (Carafate), or didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets within 2 hours till or after you take norfloxacin.

• Norfloxacin may reason swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. These effects may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take steroid medicine, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Stop taking norfloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have sudden pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or movement problems in any of your joints. Rest the joint before you receive medical care or instructions.

What is norfloxacin?

• Norfloxacin is in a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (flor-o-KWIN-o-lones). Norfloxacin fights bacteria in the body.

• Norfloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections of the prostate and urinary tract. Norfloxacin also treats gonorrhea.

• Norfloxacin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking norfloxacin?

• You must not use norfloxacin if:

· you have a history of myasthenia gravis;

· you have ever had swelling or tearing of a tendon caused by taking norfloxacin or similar antibiotics; or

· you are allergic to norfloxacin or similar medications such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), and others.

• To create certain you can safely take norfloxacin, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· a history of head injury or brain tumor;

· a condition called pseudotumor cerebri (high pressure internal the skull that may reason headaches, vision loss, or another symptoms);

· heart rhythm mess, especially if you take quinidine (Quin-G), disopyramide (Norpace), bretylium (Bretylol), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan SR), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), or sotalol (Betapace);

· a history of allergic reaction to an antibiotic;

· muscle weakness or trouble breathing;

· joint problems;

· kidney or liver disease;

· epilepsy or a history of seizures;

· low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia); or

· a private or family history of Long QT syndrome.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether norfloxacin will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• It is not known whether norfloxacin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using norfloxacin.

• Do not share this medicine with other face (especially a child), even if they have the same symptoms you do.

How must I take norfloxacin?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Take norfloxacin with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Drink different extra glasses of fluid every day to prevent crystals from forming in the urine.

• Take norfloxacin on an empty stomach 1 hour till or 2 hours after eating a meal, drinking milk, or eating a dairy product such as yogurt or cheese.

• If you are being treated for gonorrhea, your doctor may also have you tested for syphilis, other sexually transmitted disease.

• Take this medicine for the full predesigned length of time. Your symptoms may improve till the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also magnify your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Norfloxacin will not treat a viral infection such as the general cool or flu.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Hold the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking norfloxacin?

• You may be taking determined another medicines that must not be taken at the same time as norfloxacin. Avoid taking the next medicines within 2 hours till or after you take norfloxacin. These another medicines can create norfloxacin many smaller effective when taken at the same time:

· antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (such as Maalox, Mylanta, or Rolaids);

· the ulcer medication sucralfate (Carafate);

· didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets; or

· vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron or zinc.

• Avoid caffeine while you are taking norfloxacin, because the medicine can create the effects of caffeine stronger.

• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Norfloxacin can create you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors. Call your doctor if you have severe burning, redness, itching, rash, or swelling after being in the sun.

• Antibiotic medicines can reason diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking norfloxacin and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medication unless your doctor tells you to.

• Norfloxacin may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What are the possible side effects of norfloxacin?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop taking norfloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have sudden pain, snapping or popping sound, bruising, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or loss of movement in any of your joints. Rest the joint before you receive medical care or instructions.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

· headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, quick or pounding heartbeats;

· irregular heart rhythm, new or worsening cough, trouble breathing;

· hallucinations, tremors, feeling restless or anxious, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);

· ringing in your ears, vision problems, pain behind your eyes;

· confusion, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain, urinating smaller than normal or not at all;

· numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;

· pain in your upper stomach, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· pale skin, light bruising or bleeding, muscle weakness, fever, swollen glands, common ill feeling;

· the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· mild nausea or diarrhea, stomach cramps, heartburn;

· rectal pain;

· headache, dizziness;

· sweating;

· back pain; or

· vaginal itching or discharge.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect norfloxacin?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

· clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo);

· cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);

· glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase);

· nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid);

· probenecid (Benemid);

· ropinirole (Requip);

· tacrine (Cognex);

· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);

· tizanidine (Zanaflex);

· an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others; or

· steroid medicine (prednisone and others).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with norfloxacin. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about norfloxacin.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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