Quinolone is a class of antibiotics used to treat various diseases caused by bacterial infections. Quinolone is available in the form of tablets, injections, eye drops, and ear drops.
Quinolone is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic that is effective in killing various types of bacteria, both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This drug works by inhibiting the enzyme topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase which are needed by bacteria to reproduce.
Quinolones are used to treat various diseases caused by bacterial infections, such as:
- Urinary tract infection
- Lower respiratory tract infection
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Bone and joint infections
- Pneumonia
- Gonorrhea
- anthrax
Precautions Before Using Quinolone
Quinolones should not be used carelessly. There are several things you should pay attention to before using quinolones, including:
- Do not use antibiotics belonging to the quinolone class if you are allergic to these drugs.
- Quinolones can cause dizziness. Therefore, avoid driving or doing activities that require alertness after you use this medicine.
- Be careful using quinolones in people with sinusitis, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and children under 18 years of age. This drug should only be used as an alternative option and will be given if the benefits outweigh the side effects.
- Tell your doctor your medical history, especially diabetes, joint disease, kidney problems, mental disorders or mood, neurological disorders, heart and blood vessel disease, myasthenia gravis, seizures, high blood pressure, and genetic disorders, such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
- Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including vitamin supplements and herbal remedies.
- Tell your doctor if you plan to have any vaccinations, especially vaccinations with live bacteria, such as the typhoid vaccination.
- Tell your doctor if you plan to have dental work or surgery.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to this medicine or overdose after using this medicine.
Quinolone Side Effects and Dangers
The use of quinolones can cause some of the following side effects:
- Hard to sleep
- Nauseous
- Diarrhea
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Joint pain
- muscle weakness
- tingling
- Numb
- daze
- hallucination
Check with your doctor if you experience any of the side effects mentioned above, or if you have an allergic reaction to the drug, such as an itchy rash, swelling of the eyelids and lips, and shortness of breath.
Types, Trademarks and Dosage of Quinolone
The following are the types of drugs that are included in the quinolone group, along with the trademark and dosage according to the condition and age of the patient:
ofloxacin
Trademarks ofloxacin: Akilen, Grafloxin, Rilox, Tarivid, Ximex Koniflox.
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the ofloxacin drug page.
Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin trademarks: Baquinor, Bernoflox, Bestypro, Bimaflox, Bufacipro, Ciflos, Cifloxan, Ciprec, Ciprofloxacin, Ciproipha, Ciproxin, Civell MR, Cylowam, Etaflox, Floxifar, Floxigra, Giprorabloc, Kifarox, Mensipox, Quidexol , Vioquin, Phaproxin, Vioquin, Ximex Cylowam, Zeniflox
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the ciprofloxacin drug page.
Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin trademarks: Armolev, Cravit, Difloxin, Evofion, Farlev, Floxacap, Floxacom, Floxidin, Inacid, Lecrav, Lefos, Lekuicin, Levocin, Levofloxacin, Levonic, Levores, Levovid, Levoxal, Lovequin, Lovesco, Nislev, Neo Levo , Optiflox, Prolecin, Prolevox, Q-Vlox, Rilevo, Rinvox, Simlev, Volequin, Volox, Voxin, Zidalev
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the levofloxacin drug page.
Moxifloxacin
Moxifloxacin trademarks: Avelox, Floxaris, Garena, Infimox, Kabimox, Molcin, Movibet, Moxibat, Moximed, Moxivid, MXN, Respira, Vigamox, Zigat
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the moxifloxacin drug page.
Nalidixic Acid
Nalidixic acid trademark: Urineg
Condition: lower urinary tract infection
- Adults: 1 g, 4 times daily for 1–2 weeks. For long-term treatment, reduce the dose to 2 g per day.
- Children >3 months: 50 mg/kg, divided into 4 doses per day. For long-term therapy, the dose can be reduced to 30 mg/kg per day. For prevention, the dose is 15 mg/kg, 2 times a day.
Condition: shigellosis or Shigella infection
- Adults: 1 g, 4 times daily for 5 days.
- Children >3 months: 15 mg/kg, 4 times daily for 5 days.
Norfloxacin
Norfloxacin trademark: Pyrflox
- Condition: chronic bacterial prostatitis
Adult: 400 mg, 2 times daily for 28 days.
- Condition: minor urinary tract infection
Adults: 400 mg, 2 times daily for 3–10 days, depending on the type of bacteria causing it.
- Condition: severe urinary tract infection
Adult: 400 mg, 2 times daily for 10–21 days.
- Condition: recurrent urinary tract infections
Adult: 400 mg, 2 times daily for 12 weeks. If improving, the dose can be reduced to 1 time a day.
Sparfloxacin
Trademark of sparfloxacin: Newspar
- Condition: acute exacerbation of pneumonia and chronic bronchitis
Adults: 100-300 mg, 1-2 times daily.
Gatifloxacin
Gatifloxacin trademarks: Gaforin, Giflox
- Condition: bacterial conjunctivitis (eye drops)
Adult: 1-2 drops 0.3% fluid into infected eye, 8 times daily for the first 2 days, then reduce dose to 1 drop, 4 times daily for the next 5 days. This dose can also be used for children aged 1 year and over.
For quinolones in the form of injections, the dose will be determined by the doctor at the hospital according to the patient's condition.