Ofloxacin

Pronunciation: oh-FLOX-a-sin.

Generic name
ofloxacin
Drug class
Fluoroquinolone antibiotic
Form
Film-coated tablets (200 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg)
Route
Oral
Legal status
Prescription-only

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: not identified for the oral/systemic form (5) · Full directory

What ofloxacin is and how it works

Ofloxacin is a prescription-only fluoroquinolone antibiotic tablet used to treat certain bacterial infections, including some urinary tract, respiratory, skin, and sexually transmitted infections, when other commonly used antibiotics are not suitable. (1) (2)

Because of real risks of tendon, nerve, and central nervous system problems, ofloxacin is generally reserved for infections where alternative antibiotics are not appropriate. Take it exactly as your prescriber directs, for the full course they specify.

Mechanism of action: how ofloxacin works

Ofloxacin is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone that inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, enzymes required for bacterial DNA replication, transcription, repair, and recombination, leading to bacterial cell death. (1) (2)

What ofloxacin is used for

Bacterial infections needing a fluoroquinolone

Used for acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections, uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections, acute pyelonephritis, prostatitis, non-gonococcal and gonococcal urethritis/cervicitis, and acute pelvic inflammatory disease, generally when other first-line antibiotics are inappropriate. (1) (2)

Before taking ofloxacin

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take ofloxacin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ofloxacin or any other quinolone/fluoroquinolone antibiotic. (all countries) (1) (2)
  • Not recommended if you have a history of tendon problems related to a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, epilepsy or a condition that lowers your seizure threshold, or myasthenia gravis. (all countries) (1) (2)
  • Not for use in children, growing adolescents, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding (UK/EU labelling) -- discuss any exceptional circumstances with your prescriber. (United Kingdom, European Union) (2)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any personal or family history of tendon problems, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, or heart rhythm problems (including QT prolongation).
  • Kidney or liver problems, which may require a lower dose or different dosing interval.
  • Diabetes and the medicines you use to manage it, since blood sugar disturbances have been reported.
  • All other medicines, including antacids, iron or zinc supplements, theophylline, warfarin or other blood thinners, NSAIDs, and corticosteroids.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
(1) (2)

How to take ofloxacin

  • Take exactly as prescribed, at evenly spaced intervals, for the full length of the course even if you feel better.
  • Swallow tablets whole; can be taken with or without food, but maintain good hydration.
  • Separate ofloxacin from antacids, iron, zinc, or other mineral supplements by at least 2 hours, since these reduce absorption.
(1) (2)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next one -- in that case skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose. Contact your prescriber if you are unsure, especially partway through a short antibiotic course.

Overdose

Seek urgent medical attention or contact a poison control service if too much ofloxacin has been taken, particularly if there are seizures, severe dizziness, or an irregular heartbeat. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

What to notice: Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Headache, dizziness, or insomnia.

What to notice: Headache, dizziness, or insomnia.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Rash or increased sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity).

What to notice: Rash or increased sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity).

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Serious warnings

Tendon pain, swelling, or tendon rupture — boxed_warning

Symptoms: Pain, swelling, or inflammation in a tendon (commonly the Achilles tendon, but also shoulder, hand, or other sites), which can occur during treatment or up to months after stopping.

Action: Contact your prescriber promptly and rest the affected area -- ofloxacin is generally stopped under clinician direction if a tendon problem is suspected. Risk is higher over age 60, with corticosteroid use, or after a kidney/heart/lung transplant. (1) (2)

Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) — boxed_warning

Symptoms: New numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness, usually in the arms or legs, which can develop rapidly and may be irreversible.

Action: Tell your prescriber promptly -- ofloxacin is generally stopped under clinician direction if these symptoms appear, to help reduce the chance of permanent damage. (1) (2)

Central nervous system effects — boxed_warning

Symptoms: Seizures, severe headache with confusion, or new/worsening anxiety, depression, hallucinations, or thoughts of self-harm.

Action: Seek prompt medical attention -- these effects require urgent clinician evaluation and generally clinician-directed discontinuation. (1) (2)

Worsening of myasthenia gravis — boxed_warning

Symptoms: New or worsening muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, double vision, or difficulty breathing or swallowing in a person with myasthenia gravis.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately -- this can be life-threatening. Ofloxacin is not recommended in people with known myasthenia gravis. (1) (2)

Serious allergic or severe skin reactions — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, widespread rash, blistering, or skin peeling.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1) (2)

Heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation) or severe blood sugar changes — high caution

Symptoms: A fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or symptoms of very low or very high blood sugar (shakiness, confusion, excessive thirst).

Action: Tell your prescriber promptly, especially if you have a heart rhythm condition, take other QT-prolonging medicines, or have diabetes. (1) (2)

Severe or persistent diarrhoea — high caution

Symptoms: Watery or bloody diarrhoea, with or without stomach cramps and fever, which can occur during treatment or for up to several weeks afterward.

Action: Contact your prescriber promptly -- this can be a sign of Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea and may need clinician-directed treatment changes. (1) (2)

Interactions

  • Antacids, sucralfate, and iron or zinc supplements reduce ofloxacin absorption -- separate dosing by at least 2 hours. (1) (2)
  • Theophylline levels may rise, and NSAIDs may add to the risk of CNS stimulation and seizures. (1) (2)
  • Warfarin and other blood thinners may have an enhanced effect -- clotting may need closer monitoring. (1) (2)
  • Insulin and other diabetes medicines (such as glibenclamide) can interact to cause unusually high or low blood sugar. (1) (2)
  • Other medicines that prolong the QT interval increase the risk of heart rhythm problems. (1) (2)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Ofloxacin is contraindicated in pregnancy under UK/EU labelling; the US label states safety in pregnancy has not been established. Discuss any exceptional circumstances with your prescriber. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Breastfeeding

Ofloxacin passes into breast milk at concentrations similar to blood plasma and is contraindicated while breastfeeding under UK/EU labelling because of potential arthropathy and toxicity risk to the infant. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Children

Not recommended in children or growing adolescents because of the risk of arthropathy (joint/cartilage effects) seen with fluoroquinolones in immature animals. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Elderly

Higher risk of tendon problems, especially when combined with corticosteroid use -- extra caution is applied by prescribers in older adults. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Hepatic_impairment

Significant liver impairment caps the maximum daily dose -- your prescriber will adjust this individually. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Renal_impairment

Reduced kidney function requires a longer dosing interval or lower dose -- your prescriber will calculate this from your kidney function. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Kidney function
  • Personal/family history of tendon disorders, seizures, or myasthenia gravis
  • Review of other medicines, including QT-prolonging drugs

During treatment

  • Watching for tendon pain/swelling, nerve symptoms, or mood/behaviour changes.
  • Blood sugar monitoring in people with diabetes.
  • Heart rhythm monitoring if other risk factors for QT prolongation are present.
(1) (2)

Storage

Store at room temperature, protected from excessive heat and moisture, out of reach of children. UK-licensed tablets have no special storage conditions and a 2-year shelf life from manufacture.

Study the drug class: Fluoroquinolones

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current US FDA and UK SmPC prescribing information; verify against the current full label before prescribing.

United States

Indication: Susceptible bacterial infections (see uses)

Dose summary: 200-400 mg orally every 12 hours; duration and exact dose individualised by indication (typically 3-14 days). Renal impairment (CrCl ≤50 mL/min): extend dosing interval or halve the dose per label tables. Severe hepatic impairment: maximum 400 mg/day.

Renal context: Dose/interval adjustment required for creatinine clearance ≤50 mL/min -- see full label dosing table. (1)

United Kingdom

Indication: Susceptible bacterial infections (see uses)

Dose summary: Dose and duration individualised by indication and severity; UK SmPC restricts use to situations where other commonly recommended antibacterials are inappropriate.

Renal context: Dose adjustment required in renal impairment; see full SmPC. (2)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Severe hepatic impairment reduces clearance; the US label caps the dose at 400 mg/day in this setting.

Overdose note

Manage overdose with supportive care and monitoring for seizures and cardiac rhythm disturbance; no specific antidote. (1) (2)

Frequently asked questions

Is oral ofloxacin available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

Oral ofloxacin tablets are confirmed authorised in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada via direct regulator sources. Current oral/systemic registration in Australia and New Zealand could not be confirmed in this research pass -- an ophthalmic ofloxacin eye-drop product is confirmed current in Australia, and a 2025 New Zealand safety communication names only ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and norfloxacin as currently registered systemic fluoroquinolones there. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Why do fluoroquinolone antibiotics like ofloxacin carry a boxed warning?

Regulators found that fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, can cause disabling and potentially irreversible tendon, nerve, and central nervous system problems, and can worsen myasthenia gravis. Because of this, they are generally reserved for infections where other antibiotics are not suitable. (1)

Can I take antacids with ofloxacin?

Not at the same time. Antacids and other products containing metal cations (such as calcium, magnesium, iron, or zinc) reduce how well ofloxacin is absorbed. Separate them by about 2 hours from your ofloxacin dose, or ask your pharmacist for guidance on timing. (1)

What is the mechanism of action of ofloxacin?

Ofloxacin is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone that inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, enzymes required for bacterial DNA replication, transcription, repair, and recombination, leading to bacterial cell death. (1) (2)

What is the generic name of Ofloxacin?

The generic name is ofloxacin. (1) (2)

What class of drug is ofloxacin?

Ofloxacin is classed as: Fluoroquinolone antibiotic. (1) (2)

References

  1. OFLOXACIN tablets -- full prescribing information (includes boxed warning)U.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH), full prescribing information · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
  2. Ofloxacin 200 mg Tablets -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
  3. Quinolone- and fluoroquinolone-containing medicinal products -- Article 31 referral outcome (includes ofloxacin)European Medicines Agency (EMA) · European Union · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
  4. Ofloxacin Tablets (House Standard), 200 mg, 300 mg and 400 mg -- Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
  5. Ofloxacin -- healthdirect medicinal product listing (search for oral/systemic ARTG entry)Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) / healthdirect Australia medicinal product database · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
  6. Systemic fluoroquinolone antibiotics: Safety reminderMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient ofloxacin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • OCUFLOX3 mg/mL · allergan, inc.
  • Olfoxacin Otic Soln3 mg/mL · direct_rx
  • Ofloxacin Ophth Soln3 mg/mL · direct_rx

United Kingdom

  • Ofloxacin (generic) (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 200 mg · Viatris/Mylan and other licence holders

Canada

  • OCUFLOX

Australia

  • not identified for the oral/systemic form (5)only an ophthalmic ofloxacin product confirmed current · not applicable · not identified

New Zealand

  • not identified for the oral/systemic form (6)2025 medsafe safety communication names only ciprofloxacin moxifloxacin norfloxacin as current · not applicable · not identified
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Ofloxacin (generic, nationally authorised across member states) (3)

This page provides general reference information about oral ofloxacin and is not a substitute for advice from the prescriber managing your treatment. All dosing and treatment decisions should be made with your prescriber.

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