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The Food and Drugs Administration of the United States gave final
approval to Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals for the manufacture and
sale of Floxin on 28th December, 1990. Ofloxacin is sold under the
brand name Floxin in the US and Tarivid in Europe and some countries
in Asia. Floxin is a fluoroquinolone. In clinical trials, Ofloxacin
has exhibited the side effects which are common to other
fluoroquinolones. The FDA has approved the use of Ofloxacin for the
treatment of gonorrhea.
The drug has also been approved by the FDA for use in the treatment
of respiratory tract infections. Clinical trials have been conducted
to test the effectiveness of the pill in the treatment of syphilis.
But so far, the drug has not had any effect on the disease. So using
the drug for treating syphilis is not approved by the FDA. The FDA
has attached several warning labels to Ofloxacin.
The FDA has attached warning labels which warn potential users that
Ofloxacin may cause Peripheral Neuropathy, heart problems, tendon
damage, pseudo membranous colitis, muscle wasting and Steven Johnson
Syndrome. Clinical studies have shown that ruptured tendons are more
likely to occur if the patients are being treated with
corticosteroids along with Ofloxacin. So the FDA advises against the
use of corticosteroids when patients are being treated with
Ofloxacin.
The FDA has advised against using the combination of corticosteroids
and Ofloxacin in elderly patients as they are more at risk to
rupture their tendons. The FDA has also approved the use of
Ofloxacin for use in the treatment of anthrax. Ofloxacin may be used
as an alternative to ciprofloxacin.
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