Quinolones

Fluoroquinolones

Mechanism of action

Inhibit the bacterial DNA gyrase or the topoisomerase IV enzyme, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and transcription.

Generic Name: Ciprofloxacin

Brand Name: Cifran, Ciplox, Ciprobid, Ciprolet 250, 500, 750 mg tab, 200/100ml I.V. infusion.

Indication

Ciprofloxacin is used in treatment of proven serious and life threatening bacterial infections such as:

• Urinary Tract Infections.
• Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis in females.
• Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis.
• Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.
• Acute Sinusitis.
• Skin and Skin Structure Infections.
• Bone and Joint Infections.
• Infectious Diarrhea.
• Typhoid Fever (Enteric Fever) caused by Salmonella typhi.

Adverse effects

• Gastrointestinal- Nausea, vomiting, bad taste, anorexia.
• CNS- Dizziness, headache, restlessness, anxiety, dexterity tremor.
• Hypersensitivity- Rash, pruritis, photosensitivity, urtricaria, swelling of lips etc.
• Tendonitis and tendon rupture.

Generic Name: Norfloxacin

It is primarily used for urinary and genital tract infections and bacterial diarrhoeas.

Brand Name: Norbactin, Norflox 200, 400, 600, 800mg tab; 3mg/ml eye drops.

Generic Name: Ofloxacin

• It is particularly used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and other respiratory tract and ENT infections.
• It also used in treatment of gonorrhoea and non-gonocozzl urethritis.

Generic Name: Levofloxacin

Brand Name: Lomecon, Lomaday 400 mg tab.

Generic Name: Gatifloxacin

Brand name: Zanocin, Tarvid 100, 200, 400mg tab; 200mg/100ml IV infusion.

Indication

• In community acquired pneumonia.
• Chronic bronchitis.
• Lower and upper respiratory tract infection.