News
Ofloxacin Intravenous for Adults
Who can administer
May be administered by registered competent doctor or nurse/midwife
Important information
- This product has been discontinued (April 2021) - so no longer available in GUH once current stocks depleted
- Non-formulary- highly restricted in GUH. Occasionally requested for pelvic inflammatory disease but if needed, it is generally used orally for this indication (ref 1)
- Consider intravenous to oral switch as soon as possible as excellent bioavailability
- Quinolones may be associated with side effects relating to musculoskeletal, peripheral and central nervous systems, some of which may be serious, disabling and potentially permanent. Quinolones should be used with special caution in the elderly, patients with kidney disease, those who have had an organ transplantation or in patients being treated concomitantly with corticosteroids. These patients are at a higher risk of tendon injury. Patients should be informed of the risks and advised to stop treatment and contact prescriber if they experience pain or swelling in tendons / joints /muscle or neuropathy
- The same dose may be given orally as intravenously
- See under 'Dose' for adjustments required in renal impairment
Available preparations
Tarivid 200mg per 100ml infusion
Reconstitution
Already in solution
Infusion fluids
Not required (product ready for infusion)
Methods of intravenous administration
Intermittent intravenous infusion
- Administer 200mg dose over at least 30 minutes
- Administer 400mg dose over at least 60 minutes (ref 2)
- As administration is from a glass bottle, the following precautions should be observed to prevent air embolism
Bottles must be vented in one of two ways (ref 3)
- Directly by means of a filter needle into the bottle which goes through the rubber stopper and opens into the air, or
- Direct air vent on the air inlet of the administration set, located between the drip chamber and piercing pin, it is covered with a bacterial retentive filter to reduce the chance of contamination
Dose in adults
Usual dose
- Give 200 to 400mg twice daily according to indication and severity of infection
- Usual dose for pelvic inflammatory disease is 400mg twice daily
Renal impairment (ref 1)
| eGFR (ml per minute/1.73m2) | Dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 50 | 200 to 400mg | Once daily |
| Less than 10 | 100 to 200mg | Once daily |
| Renal replacement therapies | Consult pharmacy or specialist literature | |
Hepatic impairment (severe)
- A maximum daily dose of 400mg should not be exceeded
Storage
Store below 250C
References
SPC 15th Nov 2017
1. GAPP app, 2018
2. Injectable medicines administration guide, Medusa, downloaded 27/2/2019
3. Glass bottle administration
Therapeutic classification
Quinolone antibiotic