Drug

Floxal eye drops

introduction

Floxal® eye drops are used to treat infections of the eye with bacterial pathogens. They contain the active ingredient ofloxacin, which belongs to the group of antibiotics. The drug works directly on the eye and can thus lead to rapid improvement in diseases such as conjunctivitis.

Indication for Floxal eye drops

Floxal® eye drops are used for bacterial infections of the anterior segment of the eye. This includes the i.a. the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye. The antibiotic eye drops can also help with inflammation of the edge of the eyelid or the eye sac, for example in the context of a stye.

The Floxal® eye drops are not helpful for viral inflammations, allergic reactions (e.g. in the context of hay fever) or for infections of the back of the eye (e.g. the retina).

Use of Floxal eye drops for conjunctivitis

If you suffer from conjunctivitis, also called conjunctivitis, this can have different causes.
A distinction is made between infectious conjunctivitis, i.e. complaints triggered by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses, and non-infectious conjunctivitis, which e.g. may be allergic.
The Floxal® eye drops are intended for the treatment of infectious bacterial conjunctivitis, as a pathogenic bacterium irritates the eye. The active ingredient ofloxacin attacks these pathogens directly and destroys them. It should be noted that bacterial conjunctivitis can be highly contagious and patients should ensure adequate hand hygiene to avoid further infection.

Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment options for a Conjunctivitis.

Floxal eye drops for stye

Under a stye, too Hordeolum called, one understands an acute bacterial inflammation of the eyelid, more precisely one of the numerous glands of the eyelid. Most infections are caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and show up as a painful, reddened lump on the eyelid.

A stye can also be treated with Floxal® eye drops, as the active ingredient ofloxacin also attacks the bacterium here and thus leads to healing. Barley grains usually heal without complications with local antibiotic therapy, but if the symptoms persist, an ophthalmologist should be consulted.

Learn more at: Eye ointment for a stye

Using Floxal eye drops for ear pain

The active ingredient of Floxal® eye drops ofloxacin is also used for bacterial diseases of the ear, more precisely of the outer ear and the middle ear. Bacterial inflammation of the ear can cause a variety of symptoms, including ear pain and hearing loss, as well as general symptoms such as fever and fatigue.
Strictly speaking, Floxal® eye drops are only suitable for infections of the eyes. In the case of an acute inflammation of the external auditory canal, however, the drops can also be used here if they are at hand. The drops can be used locally on the ear.
However, we do not recommend self-therapy; you should definitely go to the house doctor or ENT doctor in order to determine the correct diagnosis and therapy!

Contraindications to Floxal eye drops

Floxal® eye drops must not be used if you are known to be allergic to the active ingredient ofloxacin! The same applies to the antiseptic additive benzalkonium chloride. There are no further contraindications.

How do Floxal eye drops work?

The active ingredient in Floxal® eye drops is called ofloxacin. It is an antibiotic, a remedy for bacterial infections.

Ofloxacin has a wide range of uses and can provide relief from inflammation in many parts of the body. It works in the urinary tract in e.g. Inflammation of the bladder or kidney pelvis, but also with infections in the mouth and throat, with middle ear infections or skin infections. The sex disease gonorrhea, also known as gonorrhea, can also be treated with ofloxacin.

Ofloxacin belongs to the fluoroquinolones subgroup of antibiotics. These drugs make use of the bacteria 's own enzymes, which inhibit their function and thus prevent bacterial growth.

The Floxal® eye drops work strictly locally in the eye, which means that the active ingredient cannot act in the whole body, as it e.g. is the case with tablets. As a result, the drug can only be used for the above-mentioned eye diseases.

Side effects of Floxal eye drops

Since Floxal® eye drops only work in the eye, only a few side effects are known.
Most often, patients complain of irritation or irritation of the eye in the form of a slight burning sensation or reddening of the conjunctiva. These symptoms are usually only present for a short time.
Deposits on the cornea of the eye have been reported less frequently, mostly in connection with pre-existing corneal diseases.
Very rare but potentially life-threatening are strong allergic reactions to the active ingredient ofloxacin or carrier substances of the drug. These can range from painful swelling of the eye to systemic allergic shock with circulatory failure.
Life-threatening skin rashes (so-called Stevens-Johnson syndrome) have also been observed. Should symptoms such as severe swelling of the eyes, skin rashes or malaise occur, these should be taken seriously and the attending physician should be consulted.

Interactions of Floxal eye drops

When prescribing a new medication, the attending physician should always be informed of all other medications taken. However, there are currently no known interactions with other drugs for Floxal® eye drops.
It should just be noted that other eye drops or eye ointments should be administered at least 15 minutes apart. Eye ointments should be used last.

Are there Floxal eye drops without a prescription?

Floxal® eye drops contain an antibiotic and are a prescription drug. This means that the eye drops can only be prescribed by a doctor and then picked up from the pharmacy with the appropriate prescription.

Cost of Floxal eye drops

Floxal® eye drops cost around 16 euros for 5ml in pharmacies and require a prescription. With a till prescription, the additional payment is 5 euros.

How do I use Floxal eye drops correctly?

Before using Floxal® eye drops, the patient should first wash their hands thoroughly. Then he can lean his head back slightly and pull the lower eyelid down slightly. The bottle with the eye drops can now be brought close to the eye - but it should not touch it - and a drop can be placed directly into the spreading conjunctival sac by applying slight pressure. This can cause a slight burn. In order to distribute the liquid evenly, you should blink several times or keep your eyes closed briefly. When stowing the packaging, make sure that the drops are not soiled.

Duration and frequency of use

The prescription of the attending physician is binding for the dosage of Floxal® eye drops - you should absolutely adhere to this. Unless otherwise prescribed, one drop should be put into the conjunctival sac of the affected eye four times a day. The usual duration of therapy is a maximum of 14 days. Depending on the cause and severity of the infection, this dosage can be varied. You should not stop taking the drops prematurely, even if the symptoms improve, as you risk a recurring infection.

Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The use of any medication should be discussed with the attending physician during pregnancy and breastfeeding in order to rule out possible harm to the child! There is currently no evidence of harm to the unborn child for Floxal® eye drops because they are used locally. The same applies to breastfeeding. In order not to take any risk, the attending physician should carefully weigh the risks and benefits.

Use in babies / children

So far, there is only very limited experience with its use in babies, children and adolescents. If your child suffers from an eye infection, you should definitely see your pediatrician or ophthalmologist so that they can choose an appropriate therapy. Even if the child is most likely infected with you, your Floxal® eye drops should not be given to your child without consultation!

Does your child have conjunctivitis? Read more on the topic Conjunctivitis in toddlers

When can an improvement in symptoms be expected?

Depending on the clinical picture and severity, the noticeable onset of action of the Floxal® eye drops can vary. As a rule, however, the symptoms should improve significantly after a few days.
If this is not the case, you should consult your ophthalmologist again so that he can check whether the drops are being taken correctly and are actually effective for the pathogen present.
If the inflammation of the eye worsens, it may also be necessary to take systemic antibiotics in the form of tablets or infusions.

Shelf life after opening

Floxal® eye drops should be kept dry, protected from light and at temperatures up to a maximum of 25 ° C. Once opened, they can be kept for 6 weeks, after which they must be disposed of. After the expiration date (to be found on the packaging), even closed eye drops may no longer be used.

Floxal eye drops without preservatives

With Floxal® eye drops there is the option of doing without preservatives. The eye drops, which are packaged as single doses, are mostly free of this. Just speak to your pharmacist if you are sensitive to preservatives.

Alternatives to Floxal eye drops

Floxal® eye drops are a product from Bausch + Lomb. However, eye drops with the active ingredient ofloxacin are available from different manufacturers at different prices (e.g. Ratiopharm). Your pharmacist will certainly be happy to advise you in this case and offer you the most cost-effective alternative.

In addition, a Floxal eye ointment can be used instead of eye drops.

Read more on the topic: