Oflox N

Uses

Nitazoxanide is used for diarrhoea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia, Amebiasis and helminth infections.

Ofloxacin Eye: It is used for the treatment of external ocular infections such as acute & sub-acute conjunctivitis, keratitis, kerato-conjunctivitis, blepharo-conjunctivitis, blepharitis, corneal ulcer and pre-operative prophylaxis in ocular surgery.

Ofloxacin Ear: It is used for the treatment of external ear infections (otitis externa) and certain middle ear infections (otitis media).

Ofloxacin Oral/Injection are used for the treatment of adults with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains.

• Lower Respiratory Tract: Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis lung abscess, pneumonia.
• Gastrointestinal Tract: Enteric fever, shigellosis.
• Multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
• Skin and skin structures: Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Acute, Uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhoea. Nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis. Mixed infections of the urethra and cervix.
• Urinary tract: Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections, Complicated urinary tract infections.

Oflox N is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Ascariasis, Cestode infections, Clostridium difficile infection recurrence, Cryptosporidiosis infection, Diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, Diarrhea caused by Giardia lamblia, Giardiasis, TrichuriasisAcute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis (ABECB), Acute Otitis Media, Bacterial Infections, Cervicitis, Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Complicated Urinary Tract Infection, Conjunctivitis, Epididymitis, Hansen's Disease, Nongonococcal urethritis, Otitis Externa, Prostatitis, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Bacterial Infections, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP), Traveler's Diarrhea, Ulcerative keratitis, Acute Pelvic inflammatory disease, Acute, uncomplicated Gonorrhea, Chronic suppurative Otitis media, Uncomplicated Cystitis

How Oflox N works

The most widely accepted mechanism of NTZ is believed to be the disruption of the energy metabolism in anaerobic microbes by inhibition of the pyruvate: ferredoxin/flavodoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) cycle . In parasitic-protozoa, Nitazoxanide also induces lesions in the cell membranes and depolarizes the mitochondrial membrane while inhibiting quinone oxidoreductase NQO1, nitroreductase-1 and protein disulphide isomerase enzymes. In addition, this drug also inhibits the glutathione-S-transferase (a major detoxifying enzyme) and modulates the Avr-14 gene, encoding for the alpha-type subunit of glutamate-gated chloride ion channel present in nematodes. Aside from its well understood non-competitive inhibition of the PFOR in anaerobic bacteria, NTZ also demonstrates various other antibacterial mechanisms. It inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase in E Coli, disrupts the membrane potential and pH homeostasis in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, suppresses the chaperone/usher (CU) pathway of the gram-negative bacteria, and stimulates host macrophage autophagy in tuberculosis patients . NTZ also suppresses viral replication by inhibiting the maturation of the viral hemagglutinin and the viral transcription factor immediate early 2 (IE2) as well as by activating the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (an antiviral intracellular protein). Lastly, NTZ exhibits an inhibitory effect on tumor cell progression by altering drug detoxification (glutathione-S-transferase P1), unfolded protein response, autophagy, anti-cytokines activity, and c-Myc inhibition .

Ofloxacin acts on DNA gyrase and toposiomerase IV, enzymes which, like human topoisomerase, prevents the excessive supercoiling of DNA during replication or transcription. By inhibiting their function, the drug thereby inhibits normal cell division.

Dosage

Oflox N dosage

Age 1-3 years: 5 ml (100 mg) twice daily for 3 days

Age 4-11 years: 10 ml (200 mg) twice daily for 3 days

Age >12 years: 25 ml or 1 tablet (500 mg) twice daily for 3 days

The suspension or tablet should be taken with food.

Ofloxacin Eye: Instill 1 drop in the affected eye(s) every 2 to 4 hours for the first two days and then 4 times daily. The length of treatment should not exceed ten days.

Ofloxacin Ear: Instill 1-2 drops in the affected ear(s) twice daily or as needed.

Ofloxacin Intravenous (Adult):

• Skin and soft tissue infections: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.
• Complicated urinary tract infections: 200 mg daily by infusion over at least 30 min. Max: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.
• Lower respiratory tract infections, Septicaemia: 200 mg bid by infusion over at least 30 min. Max: 400 mg bid infused over at least 1 hr.

Ofloxacin Oral (Adult):

General dosage recommendations: The dose of ofloxacin is determined by the type and severity of the infection. The dosage range for adults is 200 mg to 800 mg daily. Up to 400 mg may be given as a single dose, preferably in the morning, larger doses should be given as two divided doses. Ofloxacin tablets should be swallowed with liquid; they should not be taken within two hours of intake of magnesium/aluminium containing antacids or iron preparations since reduction of absorption of ofloxacin can occur.

• Enteric fever: For adults 200 mg, every 12 hours, for 5 days. For children 15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for 3 days.
• Shigellosis: 400 mg single dose.
• Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis: 400 mg twice daily along with conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs.
• Lower respiratory tract infection: 400 mg daily, increasing, if necessary, to 400 mg twice daily.
• Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A single dose of 200/400 mg.
• Uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhoea: A single dose of 400 mg.
• Non-gonococcal urethral and cervicitis: 400 mg daily in single or divided doses.
• Complicated Urinary Tract Infection: 200/400 mg/day for 7 days.

Children: Ofloxacin is usually not indicated for use in children or growing adolescents.

Elderly: No adjustment of dosage is required in the elderly.

30 ml suspension: Shake the bottle well before adding water. Then add 20 ml of boiled and cooled water (with the help of provided cup) into the bottle and shake well to make 30 ml suspension.

60 ml suspension: Shake the bottle well before adding water. Then add 40 ml of boiled and cooled water (with the help of provided cup) into the bottle and shake well to make 60 ml suspension.

May be taken with or without food. Avoid antacids or supplements containing Fe or Zn within 2 hr before or after ofloxacin. Ensure adequate hydration.

Side Effects

Nitazoxanide is generally well tolerated. However abdominal pain, diarrhoea vomiting and headache have been reported rarely

Ofloxacin Eye: Transient ocular irritation, burning, stinging, redness, itching or photophobia have been reported.

Ofloxacin Ear: Mild irritation or mild discomfort in the ear may occur. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling or trouble breathing.

Ofloxacin tablet or injection is generally well tolerated and clinical side-effects of ofloxacin has been quite low. Among the adverse effects gastrointestinal and central nervous systems' reactions are common. Nausea, rash, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal distress are the gastrointestinal adverse effects. Common central nervous system reactions are headache, dizziness and insomnia.

Toxicity

Data on nitazoxanide overdosage is not available . In studies in rodents and dogs, the oral LD50 was higher than 10,000 mg/kg. One-time oral doses of up to 4000 mg nitazoxanide have been given to healthy adult volunteers without severe adverse effects. Gastric lavage may be appropriate soon after oral administration if overdose occurs. Supportive and symptomatic treatment should also be administered .

According to previous studies , less than 1% of the patients age 12 years and older participating in clinical trials with NTZ suffered from the following adverse effects: Systemic: asthenia, fever, pain, allergic reaction, pelvic pain, back pain, chills, fever, flu-like syndrome. Central Nervous System: dizziness, somnolence, insomnia, tremor, hypesthesia. Gastrointestinal System: vomiting, dyspepsia, anorexia, flatulence, constipation, dry mouth, thirst. Urogenital System: discolored urine, dysuria, amenorrhea, metrorrhagia, kidney pain, edema labia. Metabolic & Nutrition: increased SGPT. Hemic & Lymphatic Systems: anemia, leukocytosis. Skin: rash, pruritus. Special Senses: eye discoloration, ear ache. Respiratory System: epistaxis, lung disease, pharyngitis. Cardiovascular System: tachycardia, syncope, hypertension. Muscular System: myalgia, leg cramps, spontaneous bone fracture.

LD₅₀=5450 mg/kg (orally in mice)

Precaution

Nitazoxanide should be administrated with caution to patients with hepatic, renal and biliary disease.

Patients being treated with Ofloxacin should not expose themselves unnecessarily to strong sunlight and should avoid UV rays. Caution is recommended if the drug is to be used in psychotic patients or in-patients with a history of psychiatric disease.

Prolonged use of eye drops & ear drops may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms and secondary infection respectively.

Interaction

Nitazoxanide is highly bound to plasma protein (>99.9%). Therefore, caution should be used when administering Nitazoxanide concurrently with other highly plasma-protein bound drugs.

Antacids containing magnesium, aluminium or calcium may decrease absorption of ofloxacin. Iron or Zinc may decrease oral absorption of ofloxacin.

Elimination Route

The relative bioavailability of the suspension compared to the tablet was 70%. When administered with food the AUC and C_max increased by two-fold and 50%, respectively, for the tablet and 45 to 50% and ≤ 10%, respectively, for the oral suspension .

Bioavailability of ofloxacin in the tablet formulation is approximately 98%

Half Life

7.3h

9 hours

Clearance

Nitazoxanide is cleared in the urine and feces. The metabolite, tizoxanide, is also found in the urine, plasma, and breastmilk . The drug is not found unchanged in the urine .

Elimination Route

Tizoxanide is excreted in the urine, bile and feces, and tizoxanide glucuronide is excreted in urine and bile. Approximately 2/3 of the oral dose of nitazoxanide is excreted in the faeces and 1/3 in the urine .

Ofloxacin is mainly eliminated by renal excretion, where between 65% and 80% of an administered oral dose of ofloxacin is excreted unchanged via urine within 48 hours of dosing. About 4-8% of an ofloxacin dose is excreted in the feces and the drug is minimally subject to biliary excretion.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy category B. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing mother: It is not known whether Nitazoxanide is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Nitazoxanide is administrated to a nursing woman.

Use in pregnancy: There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Use in lactation: It is not known whether Ofloxacin is excreted in human milk. Cautions should be taken when Ofloxacin eye & ear drops is administered during lactation.

Contraindication

Known hypersensitivity to Nitazoxanide or any other ingredient in the formulations

It is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to Ofloxacin or any other component of Ofloxacin (Eye/Ear Drops).

Ofloxacin tablet injection should not be used in-patients with known hypersensitivity to 4-fluoroquinolone antibacterials. It is contraindicated in-patients with a history of epilepsy or with a lowered seizure threshold. Ofloxacin is usually contraindicated in children or growing adolescents and in pregnant or breast feeding women.

Special Warning

Paediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness of Nitazoxanide for Oral Suspension in paediatric patients less than one year of age have not been studied.

Impaired renal or hepatic function: The pharmacokinetics of Nitazoxanide in patients with impaired renal or hepatic function have not been studied. Therefore, Nitazoxanide must be administered with caution to patients with hepatic and biliary disease, to patients with renal disease and to patients with combined renal and hepatic disease.

Renal Impairment:

• CrCl <20 and patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis: 100 mg 24 hrly following usual initial dose.
• CrCl 20-50: Reduce dose by half 24 hrly following usual initial dose.

Hepatic Impairment:Severe: Reduce dose. Max: 400 mg daily

Acute Overdose

Information on Nitazoxanide overdosage is not available. Single oral doses of up to 4000 mg Nitazoxanide have been administered to healthy adult volunteers without significant adverse effects.

Symptoms: Confusion, dizziness, impairment of consciousness, convulsive seizures, GI reactions (e.g. nausea, mucosal erosions).

Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment. Remove any unabsorbed drug by gastric lavage or admin of adsorbants and Na sulfate. Antacids are recommended for protection of gastric mucosa. Elimination may be increased by forced diuresis.

Storage Condition

Store in a cool and dry place, away from light and moisture. Once reconstituted suspension should be used within 7 days.

Store between 15-30° C. Protect from light.

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