Besifloxacin
About Besifloxacin
Besifloxacin belongs to the class of ophthalmic medications called ‘fluoroquinolone antibiotics' primarily used to treat bacterial infections, including conjunctivitis/pink eye. Conjunctivitis is the infection of the outer white membrane of the eyeball. This infection is highly contagious and can pass from one person to another. Signs and symptoms include pink/red-toned eyes, gritty feeling in eyes, itchiness in areas of eyes, teary eyes and thick discharge around eyes.
Besifloxacin contains Besifloxacin, which helps treat and prevent a wide range of bacterial infections. It kills bacteria (bactericidal action) by preventing the synthesis of enzymes, namely DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which is essential for the growth and survival of the bacterial cell. Besifloxacin has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against aerobic gram-positive and aerobic gram-negative bacteria (that live in oxygen).
Besifloxacin is available for ophthalmic use only in eye drops. You are advised to take Besifloxacin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects, such as eye irritation, eye redness, pain during administration, and blurred vision. Most of these side effects of Besifloxacin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Do not take Besifloxacin on your own, as self-medication may lead to antibiotic resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections. You should not wear contact lenses while you have symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis or while you are applying Besifloxacin. Consult your doctor before taking Besifloxacin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Besifloxacin should be used with caution in children. It is not recommended for use in newborns. Besifloxacin may cause temporary vision problems (blurred vision), so be cautious while driving and operating machinery.
Uses of Besifloxacin
Medicinal Benefits
Besifloxacin belongs to the group of medicines called fluoroquinolone antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, including conjunctivitis (pinkeye). Besifloxacin contains Besifloxacin that kills bacteria (bactericidal action) by preventing the synthesis of enzymes, namely DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which is essential for the growth and survival of the bacterial cell. Besifloxacin has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against aerobic gram-positive and aerobic gram-negative bacteria (that live in oxygen). Besifloxacin is used to prevent or treat only bacterial eye infections.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Besifloxacin
- Eye redness
- Eye irritation
- Eye pain
- Temporary blurred vision
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Besifloxacin or any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics, please tell your doctor. Use Besifloxacin for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Stopping Besifloxacin too soon may allow the bacteria to continue to grow, increase your risk of secondary infection that is resistant to medication. Please inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before starting Besifloxacin. Besifloxacin is not recommended for children below 1 year of age as the safety and effectiveness have not been established. Also, inform your doctor about all other medications you have been taking before starting Besifloxacin. Besifloxacin is available in the form of eye drops and should not be injected into the eyes. Besifloxacin may cause blurred vision for sometimes, so it is advised not to drive a car or operate machinery after administrating it. Before taking Besifloxacin, inform your doctor if you have fungal infections, viral infections such as viral infection of conjunctiva or cornea of an eye or parasitic infections such as amoebiasis. Please do not touch the container tip to the eye, eyelids or surrounding areas as it may contaminate Besifloxacin and cause eye infections.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: No interaction was found.
Drug-Food Interaction: No interaction was found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Besifloxacin should not be given to patients with other types of eye infections (such as infections caused by viruses, fungi, and mycobacteria).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDo not take alcohol while using Besifloxacin as it may affect your ability to fight infections.
Pregnancy
cautionBesifloxacin is a pregnancy Category C medicine. It is not known whether Besifloxacin can be used in pregnancy. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing this medicine.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known if Besifloxacin passes into breastmilk. Consult your doctor before using Besifloxacin if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionDrive with caution, Besifloxacin usually causes temporary blurred vision and affects driving ability.
Liver
safe if prescribedBesifloxacin can be used for treating eye infections in patients with liver diseases.
Kidney
safe if prescribedBesifloxacin can be used for treating eye infections in patients with kidney diseases.
Children
cautionBesifloxacin is not recommended for children below 1 year of age. However, please consult your doctor before giving Besifloxacin to children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Try to maintain good hygiene to keep your eyes clean and irritant-free.
- Do not rub your eyes even though some ophthalmic drugs make your eye itchy.
- Know your allergy triggers, such as pollen, dust and other factors.
- Sleep for at least six to eight hours to rejuvenate your eyes naturally.
- Wash your eyes with clean water at least two to three times a day
- Manage stress, eat healthily, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
- Wash your hands thoroughly, and do not touch the dropper before using drops to avoid contamination.
- Reduce screen time (by avoiding watching tv or phone) and use sunglasses while going into the sunlight.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages as they can make you dehydrated and affect your sleep. This effect can also affect your body’s ability to fight off infections.
Special Advise
- Besifloxacin should not be administered directly into the anterior chamber of the eye.
- Do not take Besifloxacin on your own, as self-medication may lead to antibiotic resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections.
- Using Besifloxacin for prolonged may result in a new fungal eye infection (secondary infection). Do not use Besifloxacin for longer than prescribed.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Conjunctivitis: Also known as pink eye, it is a condition in which the outer membrane of the eyeball gets swollen and infected. There are usually three types of conjunctivitis, namely bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Common signs and symptoms include red-toned eyes with a thick discharge with intense itchiness. It is highly contagious and can spread from one person to another.
FAQs
Besifloxacin is used to treat bacterial eye infections such as conjunctivitis/pink eye.
Besifloxacin contains Besifloxacin, that works by inhibiting the synthesis of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV required for the growth and survival of the bacterial cell. This prevents the bacteria from repairing and multiplying. Thus, it helps treat infections.
Besifloxacin should be taken in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. If you take it in more than the recommended dose, it might cause unpleasant side effects. If you think your symptoms are not improving, please consult your doctor.
Do not take Besifloxacin on your own, as self-medication may lead to antibiotic resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections.
Yes, Besifloxacin may cause eye irritation. Besifloxacin contains a preservative, Benzalkonium chloride, known to cause eye irritation. If it becomes severe, please visit your doctor immediately.
Inform your doctor before any medications while using Besifloxacin. If your doctor advises you to take other eye drops with Besifloxacin, maintain at least 10 minutes between two eye drops.
Do not wear contact lenses while using Besifloxacin. Also, avoid prolonged use, as it may cause cataracts (clouding of the eye).
You are generally recommended to use Besifloxacin 3 times a day. However, it's important to follow the specific instructions given by your doctor, as they may adjust the dosage based on your condition.
Besifloxacin begins to work as early as 3 days. Itching and discharge will be relieved first but soreness and pain may take 7 days. However, complete the full course of treatment as prescribed by your doctor and inform your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen.
No, using Besifloxacin for prolonged time may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible (resistant) organisms including fungi. If you develop a new fungal eye infection (secondary infection), discontinue use and consult your doctor. Therefore, do not use Besifloxacin for longer than prescribed.
No, you should not wear contact lenses while using Besifloxacin. You can re-insert the contact lenses 15 minutes after applying the Besifloxacin.
You should consult your doctor if you experience eye pain, increased redness or irritation, allergic reactions, no improvement within days of treatment. Also, you should inform your doctor if you have an eye injury or eye surgery.
Besifloxacin should be avoided if you are allergic to Besifloxacin, if you have recent eye injuries or surgeries and in infants below 1 year. However, consult your doctor before using Besifloxacin.
Yes, Besifloxacin can cause a burning sensation in the eyes when you first use it. This is usually temporary and should subside quickly. However, if the burning sensation persists, consult your doctor.
Yes, Besifloxacin is an antibiotic. It belongs to the class of ophthalmic medications called fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
No, you need not refrigerate Besifloxacin. Store Besifloxacin at room temperature in a cool and dry place away from sunlight. Do not freeze. Keep it out of reach of children.
The common side effects of Besifloxacin are eye irritation, eye redness, eye pain, and blurred vision. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
