Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Noroxin

Descriptions

Norfloxacin is used to treat certain bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. Norfloxacin may mask or delay the symptoms of syphilis. It is not effective against syphilis infections.

Norfloxacin belongs to the class of medicines known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using

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

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of norfloxacin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of norfloxacin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart or kidney problems, or develop severe tendon problems (including tendon rupture), which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving norfloxacin.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

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. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Dronedarone
• Levoketoconazole
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Piperaquine
• Saquinavir
• Sparfloxacin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acarbose
• Acecainide
• Adagrasib
• Albiglutide
• Alfuzosin
• Alogliptin
• Alosetron
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Anagrelide
• Apomorphine
• Aripiprazole
• Aripiprazole Lauroxil
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Asenapine
• Astemizole
• Atazanavir
• Azimilide
• Azithromycin
• Betamethasone
• Bretylium
• Budesonide
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Buserelin
• Canagliflozin
• Ceritinib
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Chlorpropamide
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Ciprofloxacin
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clofazimine
• Clomipramine
• Clothiapine
• Clozapine
• Corticotropin
• Cortisone
• Cosyntropin
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dabrafenib
• Dapagliflozin
• Dasatinib
• Deflazacort
• Degarelix
• Delamanid
• Desipramine
• Deslorelin
• Deutetrabenazine
• Dexamethasone
• Dexmedetomidine
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Droperidol
• Dulaglutide
• Efavirenz
• Empagliflozin
• Encorafenib
• Entrectinib
• Ertugliflozin
• Erythromycin
• Escitalopram
• Etrasimod
• Exenatide
• Fexinidazole
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fludrocortisone
• Fluocortolone
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Foscarnet
• Fostemsavir
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gepirone
• Glasdegib
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Gonadorelin
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Histrelin
• Hydrocortisone
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroxyzine
• Ibutilide
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
• Insulin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Bovine
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Ivabradine
• Ivosidenib
• Ketoconazole
• Lapatinib
• Lefamulin
• Lenvatinib
• Leuprolide
• Levofloxacin
• Linagliptin
• Liraglutide
• Lixisenatide
• Lofexidine
• Lopinavir
• Lumefantrine
• Macimorelin
• Magnesium Sulfate
• Mefloquine
• Metformin
• Methadone
• Methylprednisolone
• Metronidazole
• Mifepristone
• Miglitol
• Mirtazapine
• Mobocertinib
• Moricizine
• Moxifloxacin
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Mycophenolic Acid
• Nafarelin
• Nateglinide
• Nilotinib
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Olanzapine
• Ondansetron
• Osilodrostat
• Osimertinib
• Oxaliplatin
• Ozanimod
• Pacritinib
• Paliperidone
• Panobinostat
• Paroxetine
• Pasireotide
• Pazopanib
• Phenobarbital
• Pimavanserin
• Pioglitazone
• Pitolisant
• Ponesimod
• Porfimer
• Posaconazole
• Pramlintide
• Prednisolone
• Prednisone
• Primidone
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Quizartinib
• Ranolazine
• Rasagiline
• Relugolix
• Repaglinide
• Ribociclib
• Rosiglitazone
• Saxagliptin
• Selpercatinib
• Semaglutide
• Sematilide
• Sertraline
• Sevoflurane
• Siponimod
• Sitagliptin
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
• Solifenacin
• Sorafenib
• Sotalol
• Sulpiride
• Sunitinib
• Tacrolimus
• Tedisamil
• Telavancin
• Telithromycin
• Tetrabenazine
• Tizanidine
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Toremifene
• Trazodone
• Triamcinolone
• Triclabendazole
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimipramine
• Triptorelin
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Venlafaxine
• Vilanterol
• Vinflunine
• Voclosporin
• Voglibose
• Voriconazole
• Warfarin
• Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
• Aluminum Hydroxide
• Aluminum Phosphate
• Aminolevulinic Acid
• Calcium
• Cyclosporine
• Didanosine
• Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
• Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
• Iron
• Lanthanum Carbonate
• Magaldrate
• Magnesium Carbonate
• Magnesium Hydroxide
• Magnesium Oxide
• Magnesium Trisilicate
• Probenecid
• Sucralfate

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Dairy Food

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Diabetes or
• Diarrhea or
• Heart disease or
• Heart rhythm problems (eg, prolonged QT interval), or family history of or
• Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood), uncorrected or
• Liver disease (including hepatitis) or
• Myocardial ischemia (reduced blood supply in the heart) or
• Seizures (epilepsy), or history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Brain disease (eg, hardening of the arteries) or
• Kidney disease or
• Organ transplant (eg, heart, kidney, or lung), history of or
• Tendon disorder (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), history of—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.

• G6PD deficiency (an enzyme problem)—Anemia may occur while using this medicine.

• Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness), or history of or
• Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon), history of or
• Tendon rupture, history of—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Swallow the tablet with a glass (8 ounces) of water. Drink plenty of fluids while you are being treated with this medicine. Drinking extra water will help to prevent some unwanted effects of norfloxacin.

Norfloxacin should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, milk, or other dairy products.

If you are taking aluminum or magnesium-containing antacids, iron supplements, multivitamins, Didanosine (Videx®), sucralfate (Carafate®), or zinc, do not take them at the same time that you take this medicine. It is best to take these medicines at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking norfloxacin. These medicines may keep norfloxacin from working properly.

Avoid caffeine-containing products (eg, coffee, soda, or chocolate) while you are using this medicine. Norfloxacin may cause caffeine to stay in your body longer than usual.

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.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine 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 this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For infections:
    • Adults—400 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for 3 to 21 days, depending on the medical problem being treated. Prostatitis is usually treated for 28 days. Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single oral dose of 800 mg.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take 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. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble with breathing, trouble with swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive this medicine.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal or stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin. These maybe symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Norfloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Norfloxacin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Norfloxacin may rarely cause inflammation or even tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). The risk of having tendon problems may be increased if you are over 60 years of age, using steroid medicines (eg, dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), if you have severe kidney problems, a history of tendon problems (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), or if you have received an organ (eg, heart, kidney, or lung) transplant. If you get sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (eg, in the ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), check with your doctor right away. Refrain from exercise until your doctor says otherwise.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions, feeling anxious, confused, or depressed, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, severe headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual thoughts or behaviors.

Some people who take norfloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than they are normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn, or skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration. When you begin using this medicine:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
• Apply a sun block product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some people may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
• Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

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:

Rare

1. Chest pain or discomfort
2. chills
3. diarrhea
4. discouragement
5. fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
6. feeling sad or empty
7. fever
8. flushing or redness of the skin
9. hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
10. increased sweating
11. irritability
12. irritation or soreness of the mouth
13. itching of the rectal area
14. lack of appetite
15. loss of interest or pleasure
16. nausea
17. pain and inflammation at the joints
18. pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
19. redness of the skin
20. shortness of breath
21. sweating
22. swelling of the foot or hand
23. swelling of the stomach
24. tingling of the fingers
25. tiredness
26. trouble with concentrating
27. trouble with sleeping
28. unusually warm skin
29. vomiting

Incidence not known

1. Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness
2. anxiety
3. back, leg, or stomach pains
4. black, tarry stools
5. bleeding gums
6. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
7. bloating
8. blood in the urine or stools
9. blurred vision
10. bone pain
11. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
12. clay-colored stools
13. cold sweats
14. constipation
15. cool, pale skin
16. cough or hoarseness
17. cracks in the skin
18. dark-colored urine
19. decreased frequency or amount of urine
20. diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
21. difficulty with breathing, chewing, swallowing, or talking
22. difficulty with moving
23. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
24. double vision
25. drooping eyelids
26. dry mouth
27. dry skin
28. false sense of well-being
29. fever with or without chills
30. fruit-like breath odor
31. general body swelling
32. general feeling of tiredness or weakness
33. greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
34. headache
35. inability to move the arms and legs
36. increased blood pressure
37. increased hunger
38. increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
39. increased thirst
40. increased urination
41. indigestion
42. irregular or slow heart rate
43. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
44. light-colored stools
45. loss of heat from the body
46. lower back or side pain
47. mood or mental changes
48. mood swings
49. muscle aching or cramping
50. muscle pain or stiffness
51. muscle weakness
52. nightmares
53. nosebleeds
54. numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
55. pain or burning while urinating
56. pain, inflammation, or swelling in the calves, shoulders, or hands
57. pain, swelling, or redness in the joints
58. painful or difficult urination
59. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
60. personality changes
61. pinpoint red spots on the skin
62. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
63. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
64. red, irritated eyes
65. red, swollen skin
66. scaly skin
67. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
68. seizures
69. severe sunburn
70. severe tiredness
71. shakiness and unsteady walk
72. slurred speech
73. sore throat
74. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
75. sores, welting, or blisters
76. stomach pain, continuing
77. sudden decrease in the amount of urine
78. sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
79. swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
80. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
81. swollen glands
82. tightness in the chest
83. unexplained weight loss
84. unpleasant breath odor
85. unsteadiness, awkwardness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
86. unusual behavior, such as disorientation to time or place, failure to recognize people, hyperactivity, or restlessness
87. unusual bleeding or bruising
88. unusual tiredness or weakness
89. unusual weight loss
90. vomiting of blood
91. weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
92. weight gain
93. yellowing of the eyes or skin

Some 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. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

1. Lack or loss of strength

Rare

1. Acid or sour stomach
2. belching
3. bitter taste
4. cramps
5. excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
6. full feeling
7. heartburn
8. heavy bleeding
9. pain
10. passing gas
11. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
12. stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
13. weight loss

Incidence not known

1. Change in taste
2. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
3. hearing loss
4. itching of the vagina or outside genitals
5. loss of taste
6. pain during sexual intercourse
7. seeing double
8. thick, white curd-like vaginal discharge without odor or with mild odor
9. uncontrolled eye movements

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

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: March 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/norfloxacin-oral-route/description/drg-20072239