Norfloxacin

Norfloxacin is used for:

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Treating bacterial infections.

Norfloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It works by killing sensitive bacteria.

Do NOT use Norfloxacin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Norfloxacin or to other fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin)
• you have inflammation of a tendon (tendonitis) or you have a history of ruptured tendon caused by Norfloxacin or other fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin)
• you are taking antiarrhythmic medicines (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, quinidine) or nitrofurantoin

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Norfloxacin :

Some medical conditions may interact with Norfloxacin . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of Alzheimer disease, a brain or nervous system disorder, a problem with the blood vessels in your brain, diarrhea, a stomach infection, liver problems, kidney problems, increased pressure in your brain, myasthenia gravis, gonorrhea, skin sensitivity to the sun (eg, sunburn easily), or seizures, or if you are at risk for seizures
• if you have a history of heart problems (eg, fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat) or low blood potassium levels, or if you have recently had a heart attack
• if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Norfloxacin . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, quinidine), cisapride, macrolide or ketolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin, telithromycin), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), medicines for mental or mood disorders, or medicines that may affect your heartbeat because risk of serious side effects, including irregular heartbeat and other heart problems, may be increased. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines may affect your heartbeat.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) because the risk of side effects, such as seizures, may be increased
• Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) because risk of tendon damage may be increased
• Probenecid because it may increase the risk of Norfloxacin 's side effects
• Nitrofurantoin because it may decrease Norfloxacin 's effectiveness
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), clozapine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, ropinirole, sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), tacrine, theophyllines, or tizanidine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Norfloxacin

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Norfloxacin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Norfloxacin :

Use Norfloxacin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Norfloxacin on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal or eating or drinking milk or other dairy products.
• Take Norfloxacin with a full glass of water.
• Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Norfloxacin is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions.
• Do not take any products containing magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, or zinc (eg, vitamins/minerals, antacids, quinapril); didanosine; sucralfate; or bismuth subsalicylate within 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Norfloxacin .
• To clear up your infection completely, continue taking Norfloxacin for the full course of treatment even if you begin to feel better in a few days.
• Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Norfloxacin , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Norfloxacin .

Important safety information:

• Norfloxacin may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Norfloxacin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Norfloxacin before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Be sure to use Norfloxacin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of Norfloxacin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• Norfloxacin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Avoid large amounts of food or drink that have caffeine (eg, coffee, tea, cocoa, cola, chocolate).
• Rest and avoid exercise until further instruction from your doctor if you experience pain or swelling of a tendon.
• Diabetes patients - Norfloxacin may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Norfloxacin may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Norfloxacin . Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.
• If severe diarrhea or stomach pain or cramping develop during treatment or within several months after treatment with Norfloxacin , check with your doctor or pharmacist right away. Do not treat it with non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines.
• Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts and liver and kidney function tests, may be performed while you use Norfloxacin . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Norfloxacin with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, (eg, tendon problems).
• Norfloxacin should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. The risk of joint damage may be increased in CHILDREN.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Norfloxacin while you are pregnant. It is not known if Norfloxacin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Norfloxacin .

Possible side effects of Norfloxacin :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; dizziness; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach upset or cramps; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); agitation; anxiety; bizarre behavior; bloody stools; change in sense of touch or temperature; chest pain; confusion; convulsions; dark urine (or unusual change in amount of urine); depression; easy bruising or bleeding; fever; hallucinations; increased pressure in the head; irregular heartbeat; joint pain or swelling; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness; mental changes; nervousness; nightmares; oral thrush; pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon; pale stools; persistent sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; restlessness; seizures; severe dizziness; severe or persistent diarrhea; severe stomach cramps/pain; suicidal thoughts; tingling, burning, numbness, or weakness of arms, legs, or skin; tremors; trouble sleeping; unusual fatigue; vaginal yeast infection; vision changes; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center ( http: / / www.aapcc.org / dnn / Resources / FindLocalPoisonCenters / tabid / 130 / Default.aspx), or emergency room immediately.

Store Norfloxacin at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not freeze. Keep Norfloxacin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Norfloxacin , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Norfloxacin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Norfloxacin . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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