Ofloxacin (Otic)

Brand Names : Floxin Otic

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 ofloxacin otic preparations, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to any medicine containing ofloxacin (including tablets, injections, eye drops, and eardrops) or to any related antibiotics such as cinoxacin (e.g., Cinobac), ciprofloxacin (e.g., Ciloxan or Cipro), enoxacin (e.g., Penetrax), levofloxacin (e.g., Levaquin), lomefloxacin (e.g., Maxaquin), nalidixic acid (e.g., NegGram), norfloxacin (e.g., Chibroxin or Noroxin), or trovafloxacin/alatrofloxacin (e.g., Trovan). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Otic ofloxacin has not been studied in pregnant women. Studies in animals that were given high doses of ofloxacin by mouth have shown that ofloxacin can cause birth defects or other problems. However, ofloxacin has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems when given in doses comparable to the amount of ofloxacin that is found in the eardrops. Before you use this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether otic ofloxacin passes into breast milk. However, ofloxacin given by mouth does pass into breast milk. Because there is a potential for serious adverse reactions from ofloxacin in nursing babies, 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 younger than 1 year of age.

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 otic 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 taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.