Pefloxacin
About Pefloxacin
Pefloxacin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, including pneumonia, typhoid fever, urinary tract and gonorrhea (sexually transmitted disease). Bacterial infection is a condition in which bacteria grow in the body and cause infection. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly.
Pefloxacin contains Pefloxacin, an antibacterial that helps treat and prevent a wide range of bacterial infections. It is bactericidal and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It inhibits the repairing of bacterial cells and kills the bacteria, thereby preventing the further spread of the infection. Pefloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic against most Gram-negative bacteria, many Gram-positive bacteria, and some anaerobic bacteria (that live without oxygen).
Take Pefloxacin as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Pefloxacin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical conditions. You may experience nausea, headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, itching, and dizziness. Most of these side effects of Pefloxacin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Before starting Pefloxacin, please inform your doctor if you have any allergy (against any antibiotic) or kidney or liver problems. Do not take Pefloxacin on your own, as self-medication may lead to antibiotic resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections. Consult your doctor before taking Pefloxacin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Pefloxacin as it causes increased dizziness. Pefloxacin may cause dizziness and vision problems, so be cautious while driving.
Uses of Pefloxacin
Medicinal Benefits
Pefloxacin belongs to the group of medicines called antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, soft tissue, pneumonia, urinary tract, and gonorrhoea (sexually transmitted disease). It is also used for the treatment of typhoid fever. It is bactericidal in nature and works by killing bacteria that cause infections by preventing the formation of the cell wall required for living. It also prevents the repairing of bacterial cells. Overall, it kills the bacteria.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Pefloxacin
- Nausea
- Headache
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Dizziness
Drug Warnings
Do not take Pefloxacin if you are allergic to any of its contents or if you had swelling or tearing of tendons while taking quinolone antibiotics. Pefloxacin is associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture and tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon) at all age groups; this risk is higher in patients older than 60years, who are taking corticosteroids and have had kidney, heart, or lung transplants. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation while taking Pefloxacin. Pefloxacin should not be taken un for conditions like kidney and liver disease, epilepsy/fit disorder, and history of brain and spinal cord disease. Avoid contact with sunlight as it may cause severe sunburn. Immediately discontinue the Pefloxacin and inform your doctor if you get itchy skin, a rash, swelling of face and mouth, or have a problem in breathing. Do not take Pefloxacin on your own, as self-medication may lead to antibiotic resistance in which antibiotics fail to act against specific bacterial infections. Consult your doctor before taking Pefloxacin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Pefloxacin as it causes increased dizziness. Pefloxacin may cause dizziness and vision problems, so be cautious while driving. Pefloxacin should not be recommended for children less than 12 years old.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: This Pefloxacin may have an interaction with antidiabetic medicines (chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, metformin, tolazamide, and tolbutamide), blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin), medicines used in asthma (theophylline).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid dairy products such as milk and yoghurt while taking Pefloxacin as they might decrease the effectiveness of Pefloxacin.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Pefloxacin may have interactions with tendonitis (inflammation in tendons), diabetes, kidney, liver, and heart problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAlcohol may cause unpleasant, serious side effects if consumed while on treatment with Pefloxacin. So, consumption of alcohol should be avoided while using Pefloxacin.
Pregnancy
cautionAvoid taking Pefloxacin if you are pregnant unless prescribed by a doctor. Please consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionPefloxacin is not recommended for using in breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
unsafePefloxacin may cause dizziness. So, it is not recommended to drive or operate heavy machinery when you take Pefloxacin.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Please consult your doctor before taking Pefloxacin if you have liver disease.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this or if you have kidney problems before taking Pefloxacin.
Children
unsafePefloxacin should not be given to children below 12 years due to the increased risk of serious side effects.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, or chocolate. Pefloxacin may increase nervousness, sleeplessness, and anxiety caused by caffeine.
- Probiotics should be taken after taking a full course of Pefloxacin in order to restore some healthy bacteria in the intestines that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like yoghurt, cheese, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi can help to restore the good bacteria of the intestine.
- Include more fibre-enriched food in your diet. Fibre-rich foods can be easily digested by your gut bacteria, which helps stimulate their growth. Thus, fibre-rich foods may help restore healthy gut bacteria after a course of antibiotics. Whole grains like whole-grain bread and brown rice should be included in your diet. Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids daily while taking Pefloxacin.
- Avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Pefloxacin as it can make you dehydrated and may affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the Pefloxacin in fighting off infections.
Special Advise
Tendon damage can occur after a few months of starting Pefloxacin treatment. The onset of symptoms and signs of the side effects may be delayed several months after stopping treatment. At the first sign of tendinitis (like painful swelling or inflammation), immediately stop taking Pefloxacin. The affected limbs should be appropriately treated (e.g., immobilization).
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply and infect our bodies. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms like fevers, chills and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms comprising, commonly spherical, rod, and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses like sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis. A few harmful bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Anyone can become infected with a bacterial infection. People with weak immune systems or taking immunosuppressive medicine can make them more prone to bacterial infection.
FAQs
Pefloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections, including pneumonia, typhoid fever, urinary tract infections and gonorrhoea (sexually transmitted disease).
Yes, the use of the Pefloxacin can cause diarrhoea. It is an antibiotic that kills harmful bacteria. Though, it also affects the helpful bacteria in your intestine or stomach and leads to diarrhea. If you are suffering from severe diarrhea, inform your doctor about it.
Yes, the use of Pefloxacin is known to raise the risk of muscle damage, frequently in the ankle. Muscle damage can occur in people who take Pefloxacin at all times. Tell your doctor if you feel any muscle pain while using this Pefloxacin.
Pefloxacin is bactericidal and works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It prevents the repairing of bacterial cells and kills the bacteria, thereby preventing the further spread of the infection. Pefloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic against most gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and some anaerobic bacteria (that live without oxygen).
No, Pefloxacin 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.
Avoid consuming dairy products such as milk and yogurt along with Pefloxacin as they can decrease the effectiveness of Pefloxacin.
