Gatifloxacin

Gatifloxacin is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections of the eye (commonly known as “pinkeye”). It can be used in adults and children aged 1 year and older.

Gatifloxacin belongs to a group of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. These work by killing bacteria that cause infections.

This medication comes in solution form to be instilled directly into the eyes. It is used up to 8 times a day.

Common side effects of gatifloxacin include eye irritation and headache.

Gatifloxacin can also cause temporary blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how gatifloxacin affects you.

Gatifloxacin is a prescription medication used to treat infections of the eye (commonly known as “pinkeye”) that are caused by certain bacteria.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Gatifloxacin may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Tequin

• Zymar

• Zymaxid

Serious side effects have been reported with gatifloxacin. See the “Gatifloxacin Precautions” section.

Common side effects of gatifloxacin include the following:

• red, irritated, itchy, or teary eyes
• blurred vision
• eye pain
• eye discharge
• swollen eyelids
• broken blood vessels in the eyes
• headache
• unpleasant taste

This is not a complete list of gatifloxacin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• theophylline (TheoDur)

This is not a complete list of gatifloxacin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with gatifloxacin.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms, which may indicate a serious reaction to gatifloxacin:

• rash
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness

Gatifloxacin can cause temporary blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how gatifloxacin affects you.

Do not take gatifloxacin if you are allergic to gatifloxacin or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of gatifloxacin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Talk to your doctor about drinking coffee or other beverages containing caffeine while you are taking gatifloxacin.

Before taking gatifloxacin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to gatifloxacin or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to any other fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Ciloxan), levofloxacin (Levaquin, Quixin, Iquix), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox, Vigamox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin, Ocuflox), and sparfloxacin (Zagam)
• are allergic to benzalkonium chloride
• wear contact lenses
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Gatifloxacin falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if gatifloxacin crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using gatifloxacin.

Take gatifloxacin exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in solution form to be instilled directly into the eyes. It is used up to 8 times a day. 

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of gatifloxacin at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends is based on the condition being treated.

The recommended dose of gatifloxacin is 1 drop every 2 hours in the affected eye(s) while awake, up to 8 times, on Day 1. Instill 1 drop 2 to 4 times daily in the affected eye(s) while awake on Days 2 through 7.

If you take too much gatifloxacin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If gatifloxacin is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store gatifloxacin at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.