Moxifloxacin is categorized under a genre of medications known as quinolone antibiotics. The key activity of this drug is to stall further growth of infectious bacterial strands. The active ingredients of moxifloxacin rupture the cellular DNA of bacteria, thus killing the microbe. You need to know that powerful antibiotics such as moxifloxacin are taken only when other drugs fail to yield desired results. Care needs to be taken when it is taken with other drugs – especially, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
Foremost of all, you need to know that moxifloxacin is effective only against bacterial attacks. Intake of this quinolone antibiotic needlessly can result in tolerances. Over a period of time, bacterial strands may develop resistance against this drug and its active ingredients. Given the powerful nature of moxifloxacin, it is important to read all the instructions printed on the label carefully. If you have any questions on this drug and chemicals it is made of, talk to your treating doctor as well as pharmacist.
Moxifloxacin is taken orally; it can be taken either before or after a meal. The dosage strength prescribed to you is often not the same administered to another individual. This is done so due to variations in clinical conditions, age and other pre-existing medical conditions. For maximum results, you are advised to take this drug at the same times each day of your medication plan. Also, you are advised to space out the dosages to enhance the efficacy levels of moxifloxacin.
What happens when you take it along with ibuprofen?
It is a good practice to tell your medical team details about the drugs you are currently taking. Not only of drugs, share information about treatment plans you are pursued presently. For added safety, you need to make a list of all the drugs you are taking. While making this list, care to include prescription meds, over the counter medications, herbal aids, dietary supplements, nutraceutical products, vitamins, etc.
You doctor may tell you to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or painkilling drugs along with quinolone antibiotics like moxifloxacin. You may turn excessively sensitive to sun’s rays due to this antibiotic drug. In general, you are advised to stay away from tanning booths or sun-beds. Care to wear needful protection in the form of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and sun-resisting clothing such cotton garments with long sleeves as well as gloves.
It is also likely that you may develop thrushes in the oral parts. In some women, it may show up in vagina. This condition shows up as itchiness and redness of the affected parts. Upon sensing these discomforts, it is safe to consult your pharmacist and / or treating physician on an emergency basis.
It is equally important to remember that moxifloxacin may significantly control and may also alter the working of vaccines taken for conditions like typhoid; especially, those taken orally. Hence, it is essential to tell about the intake of antibiotic drugs such as moxifloxacin prior to taking vaccines. In general your care giver may advise discontinuing the intake of antibiotics during the run-up time of taking orally administered vaccines for typhoid and other similar medical conditions.
In case of NSAIDs like ibuprofen with moxifloxacin may – in very remote cases – trigger a few side effects. Some of these side effects may pertain to the working of your central nervous system (CNS). Thus, taking ibuprofen with moxifloxacin can lead to involuntary twitching of muscles, shakes or tremors, being in a confused state of mind, etc. A few people who took painkillers with these fluoroquinolone antibiotics experienced mood swings such as being depressed, agitated or turning extremely anxious. Reactions like convulsions, fits, seizures as well as weird thoughts / dreams have also been reported in some remote instances. Continuous intake of NSAIDs and painkilling meds with moxifloxacin may lead to systemic repair of the functioning of your nerve health.
It is very important to talk to your doctor if you witness any of these adverse side effects. You also need to tell your physician to prescribe safer alternatives to ibuprofen or other such NSAIDs / painkilling meds. As an extended safety measure, monitor your health and watch out for early signs of possible nerve damage or CNS-related clinical conditions. The initial signs may show up as pain, twitching of muscles on their own, etc.
Other safe practices associated with the intake of moxifloxacin
It is not safe to stop taking this drug immediately after witnessing an initial relief. Such relief may only be short-lived and can recur / relapse once you have stopped the doses completely. It is a safe practice to continue taking this drug till your physician advises to stop it. You need to remember that your physician has recommended the intake of moxifloxacin because its benefits clearly outweigh the risks of side effects.
In most people who took moxifloxacin, it hardly produced any side effects. In some cases, the drug did trigger a few adverse reactions and undesired side effects. Severe side effects include internal bleeding, altered discharges of urine (due to possible renal conditions) and abdominal discomforts (such as vomiting, nausea – owing to likely hepatic repair), etc. In some rare instances, some people have also reported discoloration of skin or eyes, excessive levels of weariness, persistent spells of fever, etc.
If you witness once or more of these side effects, you must quickly inform your treating physician and pharmacist. Those who are living in the US are advised to call 911 without any delay. You may also consider reaching out to the emergency helpline numbers of the food and drug administration (FDA). People who are residents of any of the Canadian provinces can call Health Canada; or, you may also reach out to a poison control center situated closer to where you live.
In sum, you must not take painkilling medications or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen while you are consuming moxifloxacin. You need to inform your doctor to provide safer substitutes for ibuprofen. More importantly, remember to monitor your overall health condition and watch out for signs such as twitching of muscles, pain during reflexive action, etc. Upon witnessing any such symptoms, it is safe to consult your doctor and pharmacist without any further delay.