Treats infections that are caused by bacteria. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone (floor-oh-KWIN-oh-lone) antibiotic
Brand Names:
Noroxin
Contraindications:
You should not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to norfloxacin or to similar medicines such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro®), enoxacin (Penetrex®), gatifloxacin (Tequin™), levofloxacin (Levaquin®), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin™), moxifloxacin (Avelox®), ofloxacin (Floxin®), or trovafloxacin (Trovan®). This medicine should not be given to children
Uses:
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to. 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.
You may take your medicine with food or milk. To help prevent kidney problems, drink extra fluids while you are using this medicine.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Storage:
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep this medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Special precautions:
Before taking, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking, call your doctor
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using blood thinners (Coumadin®), cyclosporine (Sandimmune®, Neoral®), nitrofurantoin (Macrobid®, Macrodantin®), probenecid (Benemid®), or theophylline.
If you are also using antacids, multivitamins (with calcium, iron, or zinc), sucralfate (Carafate®), or didanosine (Videx®) powder or chewable/buffered tablets, take these medicines at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take norfloxacin.
Avoid caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate) while you are using this medicine.
Warnings:
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a history of heart disease, heart rhythm problems, kidney disease, hypokalemia (low blood potassium), stroke, or seizure disorder (such as epilepsy).
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
Call your doctor if you have pain, swelling, or tearing of a tendon, such as in the back of your knee or ankle, in your shoulder or elbow, or in your hand or wrist. You may need to stop taking the medicine.
Side Effects:
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, tightness in chest, trouble breathing
Chest pain
Diarrhea
Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
Seizures
Unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, redness, blistering, or peeling
Yellow eyes or skin
Dizziness, nervousness, anxiety, confusion, or agitation
