Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What Norfloxacin is used for
Norfloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat some bacterial infections, such as:
urinary tract infections
infections of the stomach or intestines, such as traveller's diarrhoea.
Norfloxacin is also used for patients who get frequent urinary tract infections. Norfloxacin may help stop these infections from coming back.
Urinary tract infections are caused by the presence of bacteria in the urinary system. The bacteria often come from the intestines where they are necessary for normal function.
In women, the most common infection involves the bladder and is called cystitis. In men, the infection may involve the prostate, which is called prostatitis. In both men and women, the bacteria may travel up to the kidneys and infect them.
The symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include an urge to urinate frequently and in small amounts, and painful burning when passing urine. Urinary tract infections should be treated to avoid the kidneys being infected.
Norfloxacin belongs to a group of antibiotics called quinolones (pronounced kwin - a - lones). Norfloxacin works by killing the bacteria causing the infection.
Your doctor may have prescribed Norfloxacin for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Norfloxacin has been prescribed for you.
Before you take Norfloxacin
When you must not take it
Do not take Norfloxacin if:
you have an allergy to Norfloxacin, other quinolone antibiotics (for example ciprofloxacin [Ciproxin] or ofloxacin [Ocuflox]) or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Norfloxacin may include itchiness, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat (which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing), muscle pain or tenderness, or joint pain.
you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Your baby may absorb this medicine in the womb or from breast milk and therefore there is a possibility of harm to the baby.
the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
the expiry date (EXP) on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.
Do not give Norfloxacin to children or to growing teenagers, unless advised by the doctor.
The safety of Norfloxacin has not been adequately studied in these people.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Norfloxacin, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Your doctor must know about all the following before you start to take Norfloxacin:
1. If you intend to become pregnant or intend to breastfeed.
Norfloxacin should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
2. If you have any medical conditions, especially the following:
kidney disease
seizures or fits or a history of them
Myasthenia gravis, a muscle disease.
3. If you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any Norfloxacin.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Norfloxacin may interfere with each other.
These include:-
nitrofurantoin, another antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections
theophylline, a medicine used to treat asthma
cyclosporin, a medicine commonly used in patients who have received organ transplants
warfarin, a medicine used to stop blood clots
probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout
glibenclamide, a medicine used to treat diabetes
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDs
erythromycin, another antibiotic used to treat & in some cases prevent infection
cisapride, a medicine used to treat discomfort due to the stomach acid flowing the wrong way up the oesophagus (also called the food pipe)
Some medicines used to treat irregular heart beats such as sotalol, amiodarone, quinidine, and procainamide
antipsychotics, a group of medicines used to treat certain mental & emotional conditions
tricyclic antidepressants, a group of medicines used to treat depression such as amitriptyline & nortriptyline.
These medicines may be affected by Norfloxacin, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
Some medicines may interfere with the absorption of Norfloxacin. These include:
iron or zinc supplements, and multivitamins containing them
antacids used for indigestion
sucralfate, a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers
didanosine (ddI), a medicine used to treat HIV infection.
You can still take these medicines while you are taking Norfloxacin. However, you must take Norfloxacin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any of these medicines to make sure there is no problem with absorption.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Norfloxacin.
How to take Norfloxacin
How much to take
Take Terry White Chemists Norfloxacin only when prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day.
The usual dose of Terry White Chemists Norfloxacin 400 mg tablets is one tablet twice a day.
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
When to take it
Take your Norfloxacin 400 mg tablets about 12 hours apart.
Taking Norfloxacin at evenly spaced times ensures that there is a reasonably constant amount in the blood and urine. This means that the medicine will fight the infection more effectively.
Take Norfloxacin on an empty stomach, at least one hour before food or 2 hours after food.
This will make sure the tablets will have a better chance of fighting the infection, because food can interfere with the absorption of Norfloxacin.
Do not take Norfloxacin at the same time as taking iron or zinc supplements (or multivitamins containing them), antacids, sucralfate, or didanosine (ddI).
Taking Norfloxacin at the same time or even within 2 hours of taking these can interfere with the absorption of Norfloxacin, so that the chance of Norfloxacin fighting the infection won't be as good.
How long to take it
Continue taking Terry White Chemists Norfloxacin 400 mg tablets until you finish the pack or until your doctor recommends.
For treatment of urinary tract infections:
The length of treatment may vary from 3 to 10 days.
To help stop frequent urinary tract infections from coming back:
You may need to take Norfloxacin for up to 12 weeks.
For infections of the stomach or intestines:
The length of treatment is usually 5 days.
Do not stop taking your tablets because you are feeling better.
If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, some of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablet(s) as you would normally.
If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Norfloxacin. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Keep telephone numbers of these places handy.
While you are using Norfloxacin
Things you must do
If you become pregnant while taking Norfloxacin, tell your doctor immediately.
If you develop severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after Norfloxacin has been stopped.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Drink plenty of water or fluids while taking Norfloxacin.
This will help to prevent crystals forming in the urine, which can cause kidney problems. However, this is not a common problem.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Norfloxacin.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Norfloxacin.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking your tablets because you are feeling better, unless advised by your doctor.
If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, some of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or it may return.
Do not give Norfloxacin to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Norfloxacin affects you.
Norfloxacin may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Norfloxacin before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed. If you drink alcohol, your dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Protect your skin when you are in the sun, especially between 10 am and 3 pm.
Norfloxacin may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. You may get severely sunburnt even though you've only been in the sun for a short time. Symptoms of severe sunburn include redness, itching, pain, swelling or blistering.
If outdoors, wear protective clothing and use a 15+ sunscreen. If your skin does appear to be burning, stop taking Norfloxacin and tell your doctor.
Be careful if you consume large amounts of caffeine while you are taking Norfloxacin.
Norfloxacin may increase the chance of you getting side effects from caffeine, for example sleeplessness, anxiety, tremor, increased heartbeat and headache. Caffeine is contained in coffee, tea, cola drinks and some tablets.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Norfloxacin.
Norfloxacin helps most people with infections of the urinary tract, stomach, or intestines but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Very rarely serious reactions involving the liver (hepatitis) have been reported. If you develop dark urine, pale stools, itching and/or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), during or after treatment with Norfloxacin tell your doctor immediately.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
While taking Norfloxacin
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea
headache
dizziness
disturbances to vision.
These are the more common side effects of Norfloxacin, usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
severe stomach pain
symptoms of severe sunburn, such as redness, itching, pain, swelling or blistering
pain, tenderness, swelling, or redness of muscles, joints or tendons
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, nose bleeds
signs of anaemia, such as tiredness, being short of breath, and looking pale
numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
any signs of mental disturbance, such as confusion or hallucinations
worsening of myasthenia gravis symptoms
changes in hearing
development of any pain, burning, tingling, numbness and/or weakness in arms or legs.
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, stop taking Norfloxacin and tell your doctor immediately or go to the accident and emergency at your nearest hospital:
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
a rash together with very dry eyes and dry mouth
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
sudden and severe pain or swelling of muscles, joints or tendons
severe and sudden onset of pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin, also called hives or nettlerash (not caused by sunburn)
convulsions
passing little or no urine, pain or tenderness around kidney area.
These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
After finishing it
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Norfloxacin:
severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
fever, in combination with one or both of the above.
These are rare but serious side effects. Norfloxacin can cause bacteria, which are normally present in the bowel and normally harmless, to multiply and therefore cause the above symptoms. You may need urgent medical attention. However, this side effect is rare.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
After using Norfloxacin
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep Terry White Chemists Norfloxacin 400 mg tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Where to go for further information
Pharmaceutical companies are not in a position to give people an individual diagnosis or medical advice. Your doctor or pharmacist is the best person to give you advice on the treatment of your condition.
Product Description
What it looks like
Terry White Chemists Norfloxacin 400 mg tablets are white, oval shaped, film coated tablets with "CD" embossed on one side and a bisect line on the other side. Available in packs of 14 tablets. AUST R 80658
Ingredients
Active Ingredient:
Norfloxacin
Inactive Ingredients:
cellulose-microcrystalline
croscarmellose sodium
hydroxypropyl cellulose
hypromellose
magnesium stearate
titanium dioxide
carnauba wax.
Terry White Chemists Norfloxacin 400 mg tablets do not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
GenRx Pty Ltd
ABN 52 096 916 148
Suite 2B, Level 3 Building A
11 Talavera Road
North Ryde NSW 2113
Australia
Distributor
Symbion Pharmacy Services Pty Ltd
ABN 25 000 875 034
48-58 Overseas Drive
Noble Park North VIC 3174
Australia
Terry White Chemists is a registered trade mark of Symbion Pharmacy Services Pty Ltd
This leaflet was prepared in: November 2006
