norfloxacin Health Article

• seizure (convulsions);

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• sudden pain or swelling near your joints (especially in your arm or ankle);

• numbness, pain, tingly feeling, or weakness; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Continue taking norfloxacin and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• dizziness, headache;

• mild nausea, stomach cramps, heartburn, vomiting, loss of appetite;

• diarrhea, constipation, gas, rectal pain;

• increased sweating;

• weakness; or

• dry mouth.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect norfloxacin?

Before taking norfloxacin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• bepridil (Vascor);

• caffeine;

• cisapride (Propulsid);

• droperidol (Inapsine);

• methadone (Methadose);

• nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid);

• pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);

• probenecid (Benemid);

• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Slo-Phyllin, Slo-Bid, Elixophyllin);

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

• antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab), telithromycin (Ketek);

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil);

• heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), or sotalol (Betapace);

• insulin or an oral diabetes medication you take by mouth, such as glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase);

• medicines to treat psychiatric disorder, such as pimozide (Orap), haloperidol (Haldol), or thioridazine (Mellaril); or

• aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use norfloxacin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect norfloxacin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has information about norfloxacin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Norfloxacin is available with a prescription under the brand name Noroxin. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Noroxin 400 mg--oval, dark-pink, film-coated tablets

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.