Ofloxacin is used for:

Treating mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria.

Ofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It kills sensitive bacteria by stopping the production of essential proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.

Do NOT use Ofloxacin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Ofloxacin
• you are allergic to any other fluoroquinolone antibiotic (eg, ciprofloxacin)
• you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) or typhoid oral vaccine

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

Before using Ofloxacin :

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

• if you are pregnant, plan 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 diabetes
• if you have heart problems, including irregular heartbeat; liver or kidney disease; or low potassium levels
• if you have Alzheimer disease, hardening in the arteries in the brain, seizures, increased pressure on the brain, or another central nervous system disorder
• if you have tendonitis
• if your skin is sensitive to sunlight

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

• Foscarnet, NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen), or tramadol because the risk of seizures may be increased
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), procainamide, or theophylline because the side effects of these medicines may be increased
• Live typhoid vaccine because the effectiveness of the vaccine may be decreased
• Aluminum salts (eg, aluminum hydroxide), iron salts (oral) (eg, ferrous sulfate), or magnesium salts (eg, magnesium hydroxide) because the effectiveness of Ofloxacin is decreased. Take ofloxacin 2 hours before or 2 hours after these medicines to offset this effect.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ofloxacin 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 Ofloxacin :

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

• Ofloxacin may be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
• Drink a full glass of water with each dose. Drink several glasses of water daily, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
• Do not drink milk or eat dairy products, or take antacids, sucralfate, or vitamins within 2 hours before or after taking Ofloxacin.
• Ofloxacin works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
• If you miss a dose, 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 Ofloxacin.

Important safety information:

• Ofloxacin may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness. Use caution when driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness, coordination, or physical dexterity.
• Ofloxacin may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet (UV) light (eg, tanning beds). Use sunscreens and wear protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period of time.
• Diabetic patients should monitor their blood sugar regularly while taking Ofloxacin with an antidiabetic medicine. Talk with your doctor at once if a reaction caused by low blood sugar occurs.
• Notify your dentist or doctor that you are taking Ofloxacin before you have any dental work or surgery.
• Long-term or repeated use of Ofloxacin may cause a second infection. You may need to start another medication to treat the second infection. Contact your doctor if signs of a second infection occur.
• If you experience pain or inflammation, or rupture a tendon during or shortly after taking ofloxacin, contact your health care provider immediately.
• If severe diarrhea, stomach cramps/pain, or bloody stools occur, contact your doctor at once. This could be a sign of a serious side effect that needs immediate medical attention. Do not treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor.
• It is important to use Ofloxacin for the full course of treatment. Failure to do so may decrease the effectiveness of this treatment and may increase the risk that the bacteria will no longer be sensitive to Ofloxacin and it will not be able to be treated by this or certain other antibacterial medicines in the future.
• LAB TESTS, such as kidney function tests, may be needed to monitor your condition. Be sure to keep all lab appointments.
• Ofloxacin is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 18 years of age; safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Ofloxacin during pregnancy. Ofloxacin is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Ofloxacin.

Possible side effects of Ofloxacin :

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; nervousness; sensitivity to sunlight; trouble sleeping; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); agitation; anxiety; bizarre behavior; bloody stools; confusion; convulsions; dark urine; depression; diarrhea (severe or continuing); difficulty swallowing; excessive urination, thirst, or hunger; fatigue; fever; hallucinations; hoarseness; increased pressure within the head; joint or muscle pain or swelling; lightheadedness; loss of consciousness; nervousness; nightmares; pale stools; paranoia; rapid heartbeat; rash, skin burning, redness, swelling, blisters, itching, or skin inflammation; restlessness; seizures; shock (pale skin); sleeplessness; stomach pain/cramps; suicidal thoughts; tendon pain, inflammation, or swelling; tightness of the throat; tingling; tremors; urination problems; vaginal irritation or discharge; yellowing of skin or eyes.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

Naturopathy: A system of therapy based on preventative care, and on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Some naturopaths use no medications, either pharmaceutical or herbal. Some recommend herbal remedies only. A few who are licensed to prescribe may recommend pharmaceuticals in those cases where they feel their use is warranted.

Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Doctor: In a medical context, any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The term doctor is quite nonspecific. A doctor may, for example, be a physician, psychologist, biomedical scientist, dentist, or veterinarian. In a nonmedical context, a professor of history might be addressed as doctor, an eminent theologian might be named a doctor of a church, and a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university might also be called a doctor.

The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.