Introduction
Bacterial infections have been quite a challenge in medical history. Antibiotics are prescribed by medical practitioners and doctors after considering the medical history of the patient. However, a study shows that about 10 out of 100 patients take antibiotics without necessity. Doctors express their distress upon this careless behavior of patients and the misuse of antibiotics. On taking antibiotics without proper prescription and observation, they may lead to irreversible side effects, that sometimes can be lethal. Please read the article as it talks about Ofloxacin and its adverse effects and some of the key facts that you must know before you use it or any of its categories.
Ofloxacin- What is it?
Ofloxacin is an antibiotic drug used to treat bacterial infections that causes pneumonia, bronchitis, skin infections, infections of the prostate, chlamydia, and urinary tract infections. The drug is available in 200 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg dosages and in the brand name: Floxin.
Ofloxacin is advised to the patient when the condition is serious, the patient cannot be administered in any other medical options. As the side effects of the drug outweigh the benefits of the treatment, the decision is to carry it across the medical world. Hence it is a huge responsibility that the Ofloxacin manufacturers mention that the drug has to be administered with proper prescription in the drug leaflet.
Fluoroquinolones toxicity:
Fluoroquinolone is a broad-spectrum antibiotic drug class that includes drugs such as Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Norfloxacin. They work by blocking the enzymes called class II topoisomerase that replicate and repair the DNA of the bacteria and thus stops the multiplication of bacterial cells. This action kills the bacteria.
The drugs under the class have always been associated with irreversible adverse reactions and conditions that cannot be treated. Hence doctors will thoroughly understand the medical history of the patient before prescribing any antibiotic under this class. If the patient intakes dosage without a proper prescription, it may lead to serious side effects.
Fluoroquinolones are considered to be the most valuable invention to treat bacterial infections and are considered safe for most people. However, the fluoroquinolone toxicity does not just kill the microbes, they affect the human cells also. Some of the serious side effects that have to be taken into consideration are below.
1. Tendinitis:
This condition occurs in a patient who has a history of arthritis or any bone-related conditions or otherwise. Tendinitis is a condition where the tendons are affected, inflammation and irritation of the tendons are commonly observed. Tendons are the fire cords that connect the muscle with the bones. In the worst scenario, they undergo wear and damage.
2. Peripheral neuropathy:
Another side effect that is found is Peripheral neuropathy where the drug affects the nerves outside the spinal cord. This can be found with symptoms like numbness, weakness, and burning pain, especially during the nights.
3. Myasthenia gravis:
This condition is an autoimmune near muscular disorder where the patient experiences severe muscle weakness. The drug might exacerbate the condition as the message passing between the nervous system and the muscles are interrupted and become impaired. A study conducted in America shows that about 14 out of every 1,00,000 people are affected by this condition.
Rare case
In a very rare case, the drugs can cause damage to the aorta, the main blood artery of the body. This condition can cause serious blood loss and lead to death.
Conclusion:
It is well known that any medicine that is taken overdosed or without proper prescription can lead to severe consequences. However, the misuse of antibiotics is quite prevalent in India, says a doctor. Before taking these drugs, it is important to consider the drug interactions also. Ofloxacin is known to enhance the anti-coagulation of blood which may lead to severe blood loss.
