Fluoroquinolone antibiotic
Ofloxacin
Brand names: Tarivid, Exocin (eye)
Adult dose
Dose: PO 200–400mg BD. Eye drops 0.3%: 1 drop every 2–4h on day 1, then QDS
Route: PO/Topical
Frequency: BD
Clinical pearls
- MHRA: only when other antibiotics inappropriate
- Eye drops for bacterial conjunctivitis
Contraindications
- History of tendon disorders with fluoroquinolones
- Children/pregnancy/breastfeeding (avoid systemic)
- Concurrent QT-prolonging drugs
Side effects
- Tendon rupture
- QT prolongation
- C. difficile
- CNS effects
- Aortic aneurysm/dissection
- Disabling MSK/CNS effects (MHRA)
Interactions
- Antacids/iron/calcium/dairy
- NSAIDs
- Theophylline
- Warfarin
Monitoring
- U&E
- ECG
Reference: BNF; MHRA Drug Safety Update; UK AMR; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/ofloxacin/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- Centor / McIsaac Score for Strep Pharyngitis · Throat
- FeverPAIN Score for Strep Throat · Throat
- Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction Severity Assessment · Treatment Reactions
- PID Severity (CDC Diagnostic Criteria) · Gynaecological Infections
- Gustilo-Anderson Classification (Open Fractures) · Fracture Classification
- DRIP Score for Drug-Resistant Pneumonia · Pneumonia
Drugs
Pathways
- Infective Endocarditis · ESC 2023 Infective Endocarditis Guidelines; NICE NG41
- Eczema Herpeticum · BAD; NICE CKS
- Suspected Bacterial Meningitis (Adult) · NICE NG240 (2024); NICE NG143 (paeds)
- Clostridioides difficile Colitis · NICE NG199 (2021); IDSA/SHEA 2021
- Returning Traveller — Fever · NaTHNaC; PHE; ESCMID 2018
- Malaria — Diagnosis & Management · PHE 2016; WHO 2023