Noroxin

Generic Name: Norfloxacin Tablets (nor-FLOX-a-sin)
Brand Name: Noroxin

Noroxin is used for:

Treating bacterial infections.

Noroxin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It works by killing sensitive bacteria.

Do NOT use Noroxin if:

you are allergic to any ingredient in Noroxin or to other fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin)
you have inflammation of a tendon (tendonitis) or you have a history of ruptured tendon caused by Noroxin or other fluoroquinolones (eg, levofloxacin)
you are taking antiarrhythmic medicines (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, quinidine) or nitrofurantoin

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

Before using Noroxin :

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

if you are pregnant, planning 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 a history of Alzheimer disease, a brain or nervous system disorder, a problem with the blood vessels in your brain, diarrhea, a stomach infection, liver problems, kidney problems, increased pressure in your brain, myasthenia gravis, gonorrhea, skin sensitivity to the sun (eg, sunburn easily), or seizures, or if you are at risk for seizures
if you have a history of heart problems (eg, fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat) or low blood potassium levels, or if you have recently had a heart attack
if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase problems

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

Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, quinidine), cisapride, macrolide or ketolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin, telithromycin), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), medicines for mental or mood disorders, or medicines that may affect your heartbeat because risk of serious side effects, including irregular heartbeat and other heart problems, may be increased. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines may affect your heartbeat.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) because the risk of side effects, such as seizures, may be increased
Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) because risk of tendon damage may be increased
Probenecid because it may increase the risk of Noroxin 's side effects
Nitrofurantoin because it may decrease Noroxin 's effectiveness
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), clozapine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, ropinirole, sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), tacrine, theophyllines, or tizanidine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Noroxin

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

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

Take Noroxin on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal or eating or drinking milk or other dairy products.
Take Noroxin with a full glass of water.
Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Noroxin is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions.
Do not take any products containing magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, or zinc (eg, vitamins/minerals, antacids, quinapril); didanosine; sucralfate; or bismuth subsalicylate within 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Noroxin .
To clear up your infection completely, continue taking Noroxin for the full course of treatment even if you begin to feel better in a few days.
Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Noroxin , 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 Noroxin .

Important safety information:

Noroxin may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Noroxin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Noroxin before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Be sure to use Noroxin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
Long-term or repeated use of Noroxin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
Noroxin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
Avoid large amounts of food or drink that have caffeine (eg, coffee, tea, cocoa, cola, chocolate).
Rest and avoid exercise until further instruction from your doctor if you experience pain or swelling of a tendon.
Diabetes patients - Noroxin may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Noroxin may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Noroxin . Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.
If severe diarrhea or stomach pain or cramping develop during treatment or within several months after treatment with Noroxin , check with your doctor or pharmacist right away. Do not treat it with non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines.
Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts and liver and kidney function tests, may be performed while you use Noroxin . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Use Noroxin with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, (eg, tendon problems).
Noroxin should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. The risk of joint damage may be increased in CHILDREN.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Noroxin while you are pregnant. It is not known if Noroxin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Noroxin .

Possible side effects of Noroxin :

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; stomach upset or cramps; vomiting.

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

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); agitation; anxiety; bizarre behavior; bloody stools; change in sense of touch or temperature; chest pain; confusion; convulsions; dark urine (or unusual change in amount of urine); depression; easy bruising or bleeding; fever; hallucinations; increased pressure in the head; irregular heartbeat; joint pain or swelling; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness; mental changes; nervousness; nightmares; oral thrush; pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon; pale stools; persistent sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; restlessness; seizures; severe dizziness; severe or persistent diarrhea; severe stomach cramps/pain; suicidal thoughts; tingling, burning, numbness, or weakness of arms, legs, or skin; tremors; trouble sleeping; unusual fatigue; vaginal yeast infection; vision changes; weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Noroxin :

Store Noroxin at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not freeze. Keep Noroxin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

If you have any questions about Noroxin , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Noroxin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Noroxin . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: November 5, 2008

Database Edition 08.4.1.002