Norfloxacin Side Effects
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 8, 2022.
Applies to norfloxacin: oral tablet.
General
This drug was generally well tolerated and side effects were mild. Side effects were reported in 6.5% of subjects receiving single doses and 3.6% of subjects receiving multiple doses.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, abdominal cramping
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal pain, anal/rectal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia/heartburn, flatulence, loose stools, vomiting, abdominal swelling, mouth ulcer, pruritus ani
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pseudomembranous colitis, pancreatitis
Frequency not reported: Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis
Postmarketing reports: Stomatitis
-Frequency not reported: Intestinal perforation[Ref]
The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms has been reported during or after antimicrobial treatment.
Pseudomembranous colitis and pancreatitis have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Nervous system
Cases of sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy (affecting small and/or large axons) resulting in paresthesias, hypoesthesias, dysesthesias, and weakness have been reported.
Seizures reported in association with this drug have occurred, generally in older patients. A patient with myasthenia gravis had her condition deteriorate during 2 different courses of this drug.
Paresthesia, polyneuropathy (including Guillain-Barre syndrome), tinnitus, and exacerbation of myasthenia gravis have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tingling of the fingers, somnolence/drowsiness, bitter taste
Rare (less than 0.1%): Peripheral sensory neuropathy/sensory axonal polyneuropathy, peripheral sensory motor neuropathy/sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy, paresthesia, polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, seizures, tinnitus, exacerbation of myasthenia gravis
Frequency not reported: Dysesthesia, altered taste
Postmarketing reports: Generalized seizures, convulsions, myoclonus, tremors, peripheral neuropathy (may be irreversible), ataxia, hypoesthesia, hearing loss, dysgeusia, hypertonia, dysarthria, dysphasia
Quinolones:
-Postmarketing reports: Dysphasia[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergies/allergic reactions
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions
Postmarketing reports: Hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylactoid reactions, anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, vasculitis, urticaria, arthritis, arthralgia, myalgia, interstitial nephritis, DRESS syndrome)[Ref]
Renal
Interstitial nephritis has also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Interstitial nephritis
Frequency not reported: Decreased renal function, nephrotic syndrome (which has occurred in patients treated with high doses), increased BUN/serum urea, increased serum creatinine
Postmarketing reports: Renal failure
Quinolones:
-Frequency not reported: Renal calculi[Ref]
Hepatic
Common (1% to 10%): Elevated ALT, elevated AST, cholestatic hepatitis, hepatitis
Frequency not reported: Eosinophilic necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis
Postmarketing reports: Jaundice (including cholestatic jaundice), elevated liver function tests, hepatic failure (including fatal cases)
Quinolones:
-Frequency not reported: Hepatic necrosis[Ref]
Hepatitis has also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Hematologic
Common (1% to 10%): Eosinophilia, decreased WBC, decreased neutrophil count, decreased platelet count
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased hematocrit, decreased hemoglobin, increased eosinophils, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, prothrombin time prolongation
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hemolytic anemia
Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis
Quinolones:
-Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis, prothrombin time prolongation[Ref]
Eosinophilia was reported in 7.5% of 1 study population. Leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported in up to 1% of patients. Hemolytic anemia has sometimes been associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Leukopenia, neutropenia, hemolytic anemia, prothrombin time prolongation, and thrombocytopenia have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Quinolones, including this drug, have been associated with ruptures of the shoulder, hand, Achilles, and other tendons resulting in disability or requiring surgical repair. Elderly patients and patients concomitantly using corticosteroids may be at increased risk.
Renal transplant patients have an increased risk of Achilles tendinitis and rupture over the general population. Quinolone use has been shown to increase that risk further in this population (12% in quinolone-treated patients versus 7% in patients not treated).
There have been 23 reports of tendinitis submitted to the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Committee (ADRAC) between 2006 and 2008, including reports of Achilles tendonitis, tendon rupture, and tendon pain and swelling. The reports were primarily in male patients (15 cases) older than 56 years who used ciprofloxacin for 2 to 14 days. In 19 of the reported cases, a fluoroquinolone (generally ciprofloxacin) was the primary suspect; however, details of concomitant serious medical conditions were not documented in most of the reports.
Tendinitis and tendon rupture have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Rhabdomyolysis
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bursitis, back pain
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Tendinitis, tendosynovitis, myalgia/muscle pains, joint pains, joint inflammation
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Tendon rupture (e.g., Achilles tendon)
Frequency not reported: Bilateral arthritis of the ankles
Postmarketing reports: Elevated creatine kinase, muscle spasms[Ref]
Other
Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, elevated alkaline phosphatase
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fever, fatigue, chest pain, foot or hand swelling, chills, edema
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Tiredness
Frequency not reported: Weakness, elevated LDH
Quinolones:
-Postmarketing reports: Elevated serum triglycerides, elevated serum cholesterol, elevated serum potassium[Ref]
Dermatologic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash, pruritus, hyperhidrosis, erythema, urticaria
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Petechiae, hemorrhagic bullae/papules with vasculitis, skin reactions, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome), erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, photosensitivity, angioedema
Frequency not reported: Systemic contact dermatitis
Postmarketing reports: Leukocytoclastic vasculitis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome), photosensitivity/phototoxicity reactions, periorbital erythema
Quinolones:
-Frequency not reported: Erythema nodosum, photosensitivity (phototoxic reactions, photosensitization with vesiculation, redness, swelling, discoloration)[Ref]
Rash, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, pruritus, and exfoliative dermatitis have also been reported during postmarketing experience. Rash has been reported as the most common side effect during postmarketing experience.
A 70-year-old male developed systemic contact dermatitis, an itchy papulopustular eruption from the thighs to the abdomen, after 3 days of therapy with this drug. The patient was treated with prednisone for 15 days. A patch test 1 month later resulted in a reaction to quinolone mix.
Photosensitivity has been reported in patients extensively exposed to sunlight or sunbeds during ongoing therapy with quinolone-like agents.[Ref]
Genitourinary
Crystalluria has occurred in patients taking doses greater than 1200 mg/day and whose urine pH was 7 to 7.8.
Crystalluria and vaginal candidiasis have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Increased urine protein
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysmenorrhea, renal colic, crystalluria
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Vaginal candidiasis
Frequency not reported: Glycosuria, vaginal swelling
Postmarketing reports: Proteinuria
Quinolones:
-Postmarketing reports: Crystalluria, albuminuria, candiduria, cylindruria, hematuria, vaginal candidiasis[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myocardial infarction, palpitation
Frequency not reported: Tachycardia, ECG QT prolonged, cardiovascular collapse
Postmarketing reports: Prolonged QTc interval, ventricular arrhythmia (including torsade de pointes)
Quinolones:
-Postmarketing reports: Postural hypotension[Ref]
Ocular
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blurred vision
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Visual disturbance, increased lacrimation
Postmarketing reports: Diplopia, uveitis, nystagmus, conjunctivitis, eye pain/irritation, hemophthalmia
Quinolones:
-Postmarketing reports: Nystagmus, visual disturbances[Ref]
Visual disturbances have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
Metabolic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anorexia
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Loss of appetite
Postmarketing reports: Dysglycemia
Quinolones:
-Frequency not reported: Acidosis
-Postmarketing reports: Symptomatic hypoglycemia, elevated blood glucose[Ref]
Respiratory
Quinolones:
-Frequency not reported: Hiccough[Ref]
Psychiatric
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleep disturbances
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Mood changes, nervousness, irritability, euphoria, disorientation, hallucinations, confusion, psychic disturbances, psychotic reactions
Quinolones:
-Frequency not reported: Manic reactions[Ref]
Psychic disturbances (including psychotic reactions) and confusion have also been reported during postmarketing experience.[Ref]
More about norfloxacin
- Check interactions
- Reviews (5)
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: quinolones
- Breastfeeding
Patient resources
Other brands
Related treatment guides
References
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Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.