Noroxin (Oral)

Generic name: norfloxacin [ nor-FLOX-a-sin ]
Drug class: Quinolones and fluoroquinolones

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 31, 2025.

Oral route(Tablet)

Fluoroquinolones, including norfloxacin, are associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions that have occurred together, including tendinitis and tendon rupture, peripheral neuropathy, and CNS effects. Discontinue norfloxacin and avoid use of fluoroquinolones in patients with these serious adverse reactions. Reserve use of norfloxacin for patients with no alternative treatment options for an uncomplicated UTI (including cystitis). Fluoroquinolones, including norfloxacin, may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. Avoid in patients with known history of myasthenia gravis .

Uses for Noroxin

Norfloxacin is used to treat certain bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. Norfloxacin may mask or delay the symptoms of syphilis. It is not effective against syphilis infections.

Norfloxacin belongs to the class of medicines known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using Noroxin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of norfloxacin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of norfloxacin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart or kidney problems, or develop severe tendon problems (including tendon rupture), which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving norfloxacin.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil
Cisapride
Dronedarone
Levoketoconazole
Mesoridazine
Pimozide
Piperaquine
Saquinavir
Sparfloxacin
Terfenadine
Thioridazine
Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acarbose
Acecainide
Adagrasib
Albiglutide
Alfuzosin
Alogliptin
Alosetron
Amiodarone
Amisulpride
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Anagrelide
Apomorphine
Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole Lauroxil
Arsenic Trioxide
Asenapine
Astemizole
Atazanavir
Azimilide
Azithromycin
Betamethasone
Bretylium
Budesonide
Buprenorphine
Bupropion
Buserelin
Canagliflozin
Ceritinib
Chloroquine
Chlorpromazine
Chlorpropamide
Cholera Vaccine, Live
Ciprofloxacin
Citalopram
Clarithromycin
Clofazimine
Clomipramine
Clothiapine
Clozapine
Corticotropin
Cortisone
Cosyntropin
Crizotinib
Cyclobenzaprine
Dabrafenib
Dapagliflozin
Dasatinib
Deflazacort
Degarelix
Delamanid
Desipramine
Deslorelin
Deutetrabenazine
Dexamethasone
Dexmedetomidine
Disopyramide
Dofetilide
Dolasetron
Domperidone
Donepezil
Droperidol
Dulaglutide
Efavirenz
Empagliflozin
Encorafenib
Entrectinib
Ertugliflozin
Erythromycin
Escitalopram
Etrasimod
Exenatide
Fexinidazole
Fingolimod
Flecainide
Fluconazole
Fludrocortisone
Fluocortolone
Fluoxetine
Formoterol
Foscarnet
Fostemsavir
Gatifloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Gepirone
Glasdegib
Glimepiride
Glipizide
Glyburide
Gonadorelin
Goserelin
Granisetron
Halofantrine
Haloperidol
Histrelin
Hydrocortisone
Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxyzine
Ibutilide
Iloperidone
Imipramine
Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
Insulin
Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
Insulin Bovine
Insulin Degludec
Insulin Detemir
Insulin Glulisine
Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
Ivabradine
Ivosidenib
Ketoconazole
Lapatinib
Lefamulin
Lenvatinib
Leuprolide
Levofloxacin
Linagliptin
Liraglutide
Lixisenatide
Lofexidine
Lopinavir
Lumefantrine
Macimorelin
Magnesium Sulfate
Mefloquine
Metformin
Methadone
Methylprednisolone
Metronidazole
Mifepristone
Miglitol
Mirtazapine
Mobocertinib
Moricizine
Moxifloxacin
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Mycophenolic Acid
Nafarelin
Nateglinide
Nilotinib
Nortriptyline
Octreotide
Ofloxacin
Olanzapine
Ondansetron
Osilodrostat
Osimertinib
Oxaliplatin
Ozanimod
Pacritinib
Paliperidone
Panobinostat
Paroxetine
Pasireotide
Pazopanib
Phenobarbital
Pimavanserin
Pioglitazone
Pitolisant
Ponesimod
Porfimer
Posaconazole
Pramlintide
Prednisolone
Prednisone
Primidone
Procainamide
Prochlorperazine
Promethazine
Propafenone
Protriptyline
Quetiapine
Quinidine
Quinine
Quizartinib
Ranolazine
Rasagiline
Relugolix
Repaglinide
Ribociclib
Rosiglitazone
Saxagliptin
Selpercatinib
Semaglutide
Sematilide
Sertraline
Sevoflurane
Siponimod
Sitagliptin
Sodium Phosphate
Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
Solifenacin
Sorafenib
Sotalol
Sulpiride
Sunitinib
Tacrolimus
Tedisamil
Telavancin
Telithromycin
Tetrabenazine
Tizanidine
Tolazamide
Tolbutamide
Toremifene
Trazodone
Triamcinolone
Triclabendazole
Trifluoperazine
Trimipramine
Triptorelin
Vandetanib
Vardenafil
Vemurafenib
Vilanterol
Vinflunine
Voclosporin
Voglibose
Voriconazole
Warfarin
Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
Aluminum Hydroxide
Aluminum Phosphate
Aminolevulinic Acid
Calcium
Cyclosporine
Didanosine
Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
Iron
Lanthanum Carbonate
Magaldrate
Magnesium Carbonate
Magnesium Hydroxide
Magnesium Oxide
Magnesium Trisilicate
Probenecid
Sucralfate

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Dairy Food

Proper use of Noroxin

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Swallow the tablet with a glass (8 ounces) of water. Drink plenty of fluids while you are being treated with this medicine. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects of norfloxacin.

Norfloxacin should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, milk, or other dairy products.

If you are taking aluminum or magnesium-containing antacids, iron supplements, multivitamins, Didanosine (Videx®), sucralfate (Carafate®), or zinc, do not take them at the same time that you take this medicine. It is best to take these medicines at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking norfloxacin. These medicines may keep norfloxacin from working properly.

Avoid caffeine-containing products (eg, coffee, soda, or chocolate) while you are using this medicine. Norfloxacin may cause caffeine to stay in your body longer than usual.

Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For infections:
  - Adults—400 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for 3 to 21 days, depending on the medical problem being treated. Prostatitis is usually treated for 28 days. Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single oral dose of 800 mg.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using Noroxin

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble with breathing, trouble with swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive this medicine.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal or stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These maybe symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Norfloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Norfloxacin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Norfloxacin may rarely cause inflammation or even tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). The risk of having tendon problems may be increased if you are over 60 years of age, using steroid medicines (eg, dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), if you have severe kidney problems, a history of tendon problems (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), or if you have received an organ (eg, heart, kidney, or lung) transplant. If you get sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (eg, in the ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), check with your doctor right away. Refrain from exercise until your doctor says otherwise.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions, feeling anxious, confused, or depressed, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, severe headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual thoughts or behaviors.

Some people who take norfloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than they are normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn, or skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration. When you begin using this medicine:

Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, if possible.
Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
Apply a sun block product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some people may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of Noroxin

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Chest pain or discomfort
chills
diarrhea
discouragement
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
feeling sad or empty
fever
flushing or redness of the skin
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
increased sweating
irritability
irritation or soreness of the mouth
itching of the rectal area
lack of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
nausea
pain and inflammation at the joints
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
redness of the skin
shortness of breath
sweating
swelling of the foot or hand
swelling of the stomach
tingling of the fingers
tiredness
trouble with concentrating
trouble with sleeping
unusually warm skin
vomiting

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness
anxiety
back, leg, or stomach pains
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
bloating
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
bone pain
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
clay-colored stools
cold sweats
constipation
cool, pale skin
cough or hoarseness
cracks in the skin
dark-colored urine
decreased frequency or amount of urine
diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
difficulty with breathing, chewing, swallowing, or talking
difficulty with moving
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
double vision
drooping eyelids
dry mouth
dry skin
false sense of well-being
fever with or without chills
fruit-like breath odor
general body swelling
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
headache
inability to move the arms and legs
increased blood pressure
increased hunger
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
increased thirst
increased urination
indigestion
irregular or slow heart rate
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
light-colored stools
loss of heat from the body
lower back or side pain
mood or mental changes
mood swings
muscle aching or cramping
muscle pain or stiffness
muscle weakness
nightmares
nosebleeds
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
pain or burning while urinating
pain, inflammation, or swelling in the calves, shoulders, or hands
pain, swelling, or redness in the joints
painful or difficult urination
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
personality changes
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
red, swollen skin
scaly skin
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
seizures
severe sunburn
severe tiredness
shakiness and unsteady walk
slurred speech
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
sores, welting, or blisters
stomach pain, continuing
sudden decrease in the amount of urine
sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
swelling or inflammation of the mouth
swollen glands
tightness in the chest
unexplained weight loss
unpleasant breath odor
unsteadiness, awkwardness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual behavior, such as disorientation to time or place, failure to recognize people, hyperactivity, or restlessness
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusual weight loss
vomiting of blood
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
weight gain
yellowing of the eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common