Also indexed as: Floxin, Ocuflox
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
 May Be Beneficial: Side effect
reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or
severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication. |
Bifidobacterium longum*
Lactobacillus acidophilus*
Lactobacillus casei*
Saccharomyces boulardii*
Saccharomyces cerevisiae*
|
| May Be Beneficial: Supportive
interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication
work better. |
Saccharomyces boulardii*
|
Avoid: Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability—Avoid these supplements
when taking this medication since the supplement may decrease the absorption and/or activity
of the medication in the body. |
Calcium
Iron
Magnesium
Zinc
|
Check: Other—Before taking any of these supplements or eating any of
these foods with your medication, read this article in full for details. |
Vitamin K
|
| Depletion or interference |
None known
|
| Adverse interaction |
None known
|
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Minerals
Minerals including calcium, iron,
magnesium, and zinc can bind to
fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, greatly reducing drug absorption.1 Ofloxacin
should be taken four hours before or two hours after consuming antacids (Maalox®, Mylanta®, Tumms®,
Rolaids® and others) that may contain these minerals and mineral-containing supplements.2
Probiotics
A common side effect of antibiotics is
diarrhea, which may be caused by the elimination of beneficial bacteria normally found in
the colon. Controlled studies have shown that taking probiotic microorganisms—such as
Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium
longum, or Saccharomyces boulardii—helps prevent antibiotic-induced
diarrhea.3
The diarrhea experienced by some people who take antibiotics also might be due to an
overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which causes a disease known as
pseudomembranous colitis. Controlled studies have shown that supplementation with harmless
yeast—such as Saccharomyces boulardii4 or Saccharomyces
cerevisiae (baker’s or brewer’s yeast)5 —helps prevent
recurrence of this infection. In one study, taking 500 mg of Saccharomyces boulardii
twice daily enhanced the effectiveness of the antibiotic vancomycin in preventing recurrent
clostridium infection.6 Therefore, people taking antibiotics who later develop
diarrhea might benefit from supplementing with saccharomyces organisms.
Treatment with antibiotics also commonly leads to an overgrowth of yeast (Candida
albicans) in the vagina (candida
vaginitis) and the intestines (sometimes referred to as “dysbiosis”).
Controlled studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus might prevent candida
vaginitis.7
Vitamin
K
Unlike with most other antibiotics, preliminary research suggests that people taking ofloxacin
do not need to supplement vitamin K to protect against possible drug-induced
depletion.8
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Food
Ofloxacin may be taken with or without food; food slows the absorption but not the total
amount of ofloxacin absorbed from.9 10 Milk does not alter ofloxacin
absorption.11
References:1. Lomaestro BM, Bailie GR. Quinolone-cation interactions: a review.
DICP 1991;25:1249–58.
2. Threlkeld DS, ed. Systemic Anti-Infectives, Fluoroquinolones. In
Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, Feb 1994,
340q–0r.
3. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A
neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal
infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
4. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A
neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal
infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
5. Schellenberg D, Bonington A, Champion CM, et al. Treatment of
Clostridium difficile diarrhoea with brewer’s yeast. Lancet
1994;343:171–2.
6. Surawicz CM, Elmer GW, Speelman P, et al. Prevention of
antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: A prospective study.
Gastroenterol 1989;96:981–8.
7. Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A
neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal
infections. JAMA 1996;275:870–6 [review].
8. Verho M, Malerczyk V, Rosenkranz B, Grotsch H. Absence of interaction
between ofloxacin and phenprocoumon. Curr Med Res Opin 1987;10:474–9.
9. Dudley MN, Marchbanks CR, Flor SC, Beals B. The effect of food or milk
on the absorption kinetics of ofloxacin. Eur J Clin Pharmacol
1991;41:569–71.
10. Neuvonen PJ, Kivisto KT. Milk and yoghurt do not impair the
absorption of ofloxacin. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1992;33:346–8.
11. Dudley MN, Marchbanks CR, Flor SC, Beals B. The effect of food or
milk on the absorption kinetics of ofloxacin. Eur J Clin Pharmacol
1991;41:569–71.