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|Ocuflox Ophthalmic

OFLOXACIN (Ophthalmic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Ocuflox

In Canada—

• Ocuflox

Category

• Antibacterial, ophthalmic

Description

Ofloxacin (oh-FLOKS-a-sin) is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the eye, such as conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

Ofloxacin is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage form:

• Ophthalmic
• Ophthalmic solution (eye drops) (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

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

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ophthalmic or systemic ofloxacin (e.g., Floxin) or any related medicines, such as cinoxacin (e.g., Cinobac), ciprofloxacin (e.g., Ciloxan or Cipro), enoxacin (e.g., Penetrax), lomefloxacin (e.g., Maxaquin), nalidixic acid (e.g., NegGram), or norfloxacin (e.g., Chibroxin or Noroxin). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Ophthalmic ofloxacin has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals that were given very high doses of ofloxacin by mouth have shown that ofloxacin can cause birth defects or other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether ophthalmic ofloxacin passes into breast milk. However, ofloxacin given by mouth does pass into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Use is not recommended in infants up to 1 year of age. In children 1 year of age and older, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of ophthalmic ofloxacin in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other 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. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be used in the eye.

Proper Use of This Medicine

To use:

• First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and with the index finger of one hand, press gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid and pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 to 2 minutes, to allow the medicine to come into contact with the infection.
• If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eyes properly, use another drop.
• To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

To help clear up your eye infection completely, keep using ophthalmic ofloxacin for the full time of treatment , even if your symptoms have disappeared. Do not miss any doses .

Dosing—The dose of ophthalmic ofloxacin 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 ophthalmic ofloxacin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For ophthalmic (eye drops) dosage form:
  • For conjunctivitis:
    • Adults and children 1 year of age and older—Use 1 drop in the affected eye every two to four hours, while you are awake, for two days. Then, use 1 drop in each eye four times a day for up to five more days.
    • Infants up to 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For bacterial corneal ulcers:
    • Adults and children 1 year of age and older—Use 1 drop in the affected eye every thirty minutes while you are awake and 1 drop four to six hours after you go to bed, for two days. Then use 1 drop every hour while you are awake for up to seven more days. After the seventh, eighth, or ninth day, as instructed by your doctor, use 1 drop four times a day until your doctor determines that the treatment is complete.
    • Infants up to 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, use 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.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

If your eye infection does not improve within 7 days, or if it becomes worse, check with your doctor.

Discontinue using these eye drops immediately and contact your physician at the first sign of a rash or an allergic reaction.

This medicine may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light than they are normally. Wearing sunglasses and avoiding too much exposure to bright light may help lessen the discomfort.

Side Effects of This Medicine

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:

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if the following side effect occurs:

Other 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. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Revised: 09/22/1998

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