Ofloxacin

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Fluoroquinolone antibiotic, Antibacterial

Ofloxacin

Floxin (oral, US brand discontinued); Ocuflox (ophthalmic); Floxin Otic (otic)

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Summary

Classes

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic, Antibacterial

Common uses

Bacterial conjunctivitis/keratitis (ophthalmic)0, Otitis externa0, Acute otitis media with tympanostomy tubes (otic)0, Complicated UTI / pyelonephritis (oral; declining use)0, Bacterial prostatitis (oral)0

Pharmacy

Starting dose

Oral 200-400 mg BID; ophthalmic 1-2 drops in affected eye(s) q2-4h initially, then taper; otic 5-10 drops in affected ear BID

Preparations

200, 300, 400 mg tablets (mostly generic now); 0.3% ophthalmic solution; 0.3% otic solution

US FDA Max

800 mg/d

Pharmacology

Routes

Oral, ophthalmic, otic

Onset

Hours

Duration

12 hours

Half-life

~9 hours^[1]

Bioavailability

~95% (oral)^[1]

Pregnancy

Avoid in pregnancy where alternatives exist (animal cartilage toxicity; class-wide concern).^{[citation needed]}

Legal status

Rx-only in US. Carries the same fluoroquinolone-class Boxed Warnings as ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin^[1]

Purported mechanism

Ofloxacin (racemic; the L-enantiomer levofloxacin is marketed separately and accounts for most antibacterial activity) inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, blocking DNA replication; the racemic form has fallen out of routine systemic use as levofloxacin's purified L-enantiomer supplanted it.0 Topical ophthalmic and otic formulations remain widely used in ENT and ophthalmology. Subject to all fluoroquinolone-class restrictions (tendinitis/rupture, peripheral neuropathy, QT prolongation)^[1].

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 FDA Prescribing Information, Floxin (ofloxacin), Janssen, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/019735s058lbl.pdf

[floxin-label-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 FDA Prescribing Information, Floxin (ofloxacin), Janssen, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/019735s058lbl.pdf

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