Enoxacin (patient information)

IMPORTANT WARNING
Enoxacin is no longer available in the U.S. If you are currently taking enoxacin, you should call your doctor to discuss switching to another treatment.

Why this medication is prescribed
Enoxacin is an antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as gonorrhea and urinary tract infections. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How this medication should be used
Enoxacin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 12 hours (twice a day) for 7-14 days. To treat gonorrhea, a single dose is taken. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take enoxacin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

The tablets should be taken with a full glass of water.

Continue to take enoxacin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking enoxacin without talking to your doctor.

Special precautions
Before taking enoxacin:


 * tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to enoxacin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), cinoxacin (Cinobac), nalidixic acid (NegGram), or any other drugs.
 * tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other antibiotics, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), cancer chemotherapy agents, cimetidine (Tagamet), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxin), medications with caffeine (NoDoz, Vivarin), probenecid (Benemid), sucralfate (Carafate), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
 * do not take with antacids (Mylanta, Maalox), Pepto-Bismol, iron or zinc supplements, or vitamins that contain iron or zinc. Take them 2 hours before or 4 hours after enoxacin.
 * tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, epilepsy, colitis, stomach problems, vision problems, heart disease, or history of stroke, and if you have ever had tendinitis or tendon rupture when taking enoxacin or a similar antibiotic.
 * tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking enoxacin, call your doctor immediately.
 * if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking enoxacin.
 * you should know that this drug may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and tiredness. Do not drive a car or work on dangerous machines until you know how enoxacin will affect you.
 * plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Enoxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

Special dietary instructions
Take enoxacin 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal with a full glass of water. Drink at least eight full glasses of water or other liquid every day. Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products as coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate. Enoxacin increases nervousness, sleeplessness, heart pounding, and anxiety caused by caffeine.

What to do if you forget a dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Minor side effects
Although side effects from enoxacin are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:


 * upset stomach
 * diarrhea
 * vomiting
 * stomach pain
 * headache
 * restlessness

Severe side effects
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:


 * skin rash
 * itching
 * hives
 * difficulty breathing or swallowing
 * swelling of the face or throat
 * yellowing of the skin or eyes
 * dark urine
 * pale or dark stools
 * blood in urine
 * unusual tiredness
 * sunburn
 * seizures or convulsions
 * vaginal infection
 * vision changes
 * pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon
 * tremors
 * restlessness
 * nervousness
 * difficulty falling or staying asleep
 * anxiety
 * nightmares
 * lightheadedness
 * confusion
 * seeing visions or hearing voices that do not exist
 * depression
 * thoughts about dying or killing yourself

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the tablets at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Keep away from light. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Other information
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to enoxacin.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the enoxacin, call your doctor.

Brand names

 * Penetrex®