Drug Interactions between Broncodur and norfloxacin

Taking norfloxacin with food or products that contain minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc can interfere with its absorption and reduce its levels in the blood and urinary tract. This may make the medication less effective in treating your infection. You should take norfloxacin on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after eating a meal or consuming milk or other dairy products. Do not use mineral supplements, multivitamins, antacids, or other products that may contain calcium, iron, magnesium or zinc within the two-hour period before or after taking norfloxacin. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medication without first talking to your doctor.

Both smoking and excessive caffeine consumption can alter the blood levels of theophylline, which may affect the dosing. Tobacco and marijuana smoke (including secondhand exposure) generally reduces, while caffeine increases, blood levels. In addition, caffeine is a stimulant and may add to the side effects of theophylline such as headache, insomnia, and increases in blood pressure and heart rate. It is best to avoid smoking and to limit caffeine consumption during theophylline therapy. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns. If you start smoking or undergo smoking cessation, your doctor may need to monitor your blood levels more closely to determine if you need a dose adjustment of theophylline. You should stop taking theophylline and seek medical attention if you experience potential signs and symptoms of excessive drug levels such as nausea, vomiting, persistent headache, insomnia, and rapid heartbeat. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

When theophylline is given with enteral (tube) feedings, blood levels may be decreased due to interference with its absorption. This may reduce the effectiveness of the medication. To minimize potential for interaction, you may interrupt the feeding for one hour before and one hour after the theophylline dose. You may need more frequent blood tests to monitor theophylline levels.

Norfloxacin and multivitamin with minerals should not be taken orally at the same time. Products that contain magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, and/or other minerals may interfere with the absorption of norfloxacin into the bloodstream and reduce its effectiveness. If possible, it may be best to avoid taking multivitamin with minerals while you are being treated with norfloxacin. Otherwise, norfloxacin should be taken 2 to 4 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after a multivitamin with minerals dose, norfloxacin should be taken at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after Suprep Bowel Prep (magnesium/potassium/sodium sulfates), or norfloxacin and multivitamin with minerals should be taken as directed by your healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are unsure whether your medications contain something that could potentially interact or if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Using caffeine together with norfloxacin may increase the effects of caffeine. Contact your doctor if you experience headache, tremor, restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, and increased blood pressure or heart rate. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special test to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Ask your doctor before using theophylline together with caffeine. Using these medications together may increase some of the side effects of theophylline. This can cause nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremors, restlessness, uneven heartbeats, and seizure (convulsions). Avoid drinks or foods that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. You may need a dose adjustment or special test if you use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.

MONITOR: Smoking cessation may lead to elevated plasma concentrations and enhanced pharmacologic effects of drugs that are substrates of CYP450 1A2 (and possibly CYP450 1A1) and/or certain drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., flecainide, pentazocine). One proposed mechanism is related to the loss of CYP450 1A2 and 1A1 induction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke; when smoking cessation agents are initiated and smoking stops, the metabolism of certain drugs may decrease leading to increased plasma concentrations. The mechanism by which smoking cessation affects narrow therapeutic index drugs that are not known substrates of CYP450 1A2 or 1A1 is unknown. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown as clinical data are lacking.

MANAGEMENT: Until more information is available, caution is advisable if smoking cessation agents are used concomitantly with drugs that are substrates of CYP450 1A2 or 1A1 and/or those with a narrow therapeutic range. Patients receiving smoking cessation agents may require periodic dose adjustments and closer clinical and laboratory monitoring of medications that are substrates of CYP450 1A2 or 1A1.