Moxifloxacin (Sanis Health): Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What is MOXIFLOXACIN used for?

MOXIFLOXACIN is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infection of the eye (pink eye).

How does MOXIFLOXACIN work?

MOXIFLOXACIN is an antibiotic that stops the growth of bacteria. This kills the bacteria and reduces eye infections.

What are the ingredients in MOXIFLOXACIN?

Medicinal ingredients: Moxifloxacin 0.5% w/v (as moxifloxacin hydrochloride)

Non-medicinal ingredients: Boric acid, sodium chloride, and water for injection. May also contain hydrochloric acid/sodium hydroxide to adjust pH.

MOXIFLOXACIN comes in the following dosage forms:

MOXIFLOXACIN solution is a liquid (a solution) supplied in a white, translucent 5 mL LDPE bottle, which contains 3 mL MOXIFLOXACIN solution. MOXIFLOXACIN solution is a clear yellow solution.

Do not use MOXIFLOXACIN if you are:

• Allergic to moxifloxacin or any of the ingredients in MOXIFLOXACIN (see What are the ingredients in MOXIFLOXACIN?).
• Allergic to other quinolones.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take MOXIFLOXACIN. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• Develop an allergic reaction (see Serious side effects and what to do about them). Stop taking MOXIFLOXACIN and get immediate medical help.
• Notice your infection gets worse. Stop taking MOXIFLOXACIN and get immediate medical help. As with any antibiotic, use of MOXIFLOXACIN for a long time may lead to other infections. Do NOT use MOXIFLOXACIN longer than your doctor tells you to.
• Develop pain or swelling in your tendons. Stop taking MOXIFLOXACIN and get immediate medical help. This is more likely to happen if you are elderly or taking corticosteroids at the same time as MOXIFLOXACIN.

Other warnings you should know about:

• MOXIFLOXACIN can be used in children as young as 1 year of age. MOXIFLOXACIN should not be used in children younger than 1 year of age.

• Do NOT wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection.

• Your vision may be temporarily blurry after using MOXIFLOXACIN. Wait until your vision clears before driving or using machinery.

• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are breast- feeding or planning to breastfeed, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using MOXIFLOXACIN.

• Antibacterial drugs like MOXIFLOXACIN treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections, such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, MOXIFLOXACIN should be taken exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of MOXIFLOXACIN could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by MOXIFLOXACIN (resistance). This means that MOXIFLOXACIN may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with MOXIFLOXACIN:

• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are:

  • taking or have recently taken any prescription or non-prescription medicines,
  • using any other eye products,
  • taking corticosteroids as this may increase your chance of developing pain or swelling of your tendons.

How to take MOXIFLOXACIN:

1. 1. Get the bottle of MOXIFLOXACIN and a mirror.
2. 2. Wash your hands.
3. 3. Twist off the cap.
4. 4. Hold the bottle, pointing down, between your thumb and fingers.
5. 5. Tilt your head back.
6. 6. Pull down your eyelid with a clean finger, until there is a “pocket” between your eyelid and eye. The drop will go in there.
7. 7. Bring the bottle close to the eye. Use the mirror if it helps.
8. 8. Do not touch your eye or eyelid, surrounding areas or other surfaces with the dropper. It could contaminate the drops.
9. 9. Gently squeeze the bottle to release one drop of MOXIFLOXACIN solution.
10. 10. If the drop misses you eye, wipe it up and try again.
11. 11. If you need drops in both eyes, repeat the steps for your other eye.
12. 12. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Usual dose:

Apply one drop in the affected eye(s) three times a day (morning, afternoon and at night) unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Use MOXIFLOXACIN for seven days or as long as your doctor tells you to.

Overdose:

If you use too much MOXIFLOXACIN, rinse it out of your eyes with warm water. Do not put any more drops of MOXIFLOXACIN in until it’s time for your next dose.

If you accidentally swallow MOXIFLOXACIN, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Missed Dose:

If you miss a dose, apply the missed dose as soon as possible and then go back to your regular dosing schedule. If the drop misses your eye, try again.

What are possible side effects from using MOXIFLOXACIN?

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking MOXIFLOXACIN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

Common eye side effects while using MOXIFLOXACIN include:

• mild temporary burning or stinging,
• itching or redness.

Other less common eye side effects include:

• dryness,
• sensation of pressure, discomfort, corneal inflammation, broken blood vessels in the white part of the eye, swelling of the eye or eyelid,
• blurry vision,
• temporary reduction of vision,
• pain, inflammation of the eye surface or eyelid, tired eyes, redness of the eyelid,
• watery eyes, sensitivity to light, eye discharge.

You may also experience reactions in other areas of your body, including:

• bad taste,
• headache,
• throat pain,
• abnormal liver blood tests,
• abnormal skin sensation,
• vomiting,
• nose discomfort,
• dizziness,
• irregular heart rhythm,
• shortness of breath,
• nausea,
• allergic reaction,
• skin redness or itching,
• rash or hives.

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

Storage:

Store at 4°C to 25°C. Discard 28 days after opening. Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Do not use MOXIFLOXACIN after the expiry date (shown as EXP on the package.) Discard 28 days after opening

If you want more information about MOXIFLOXACIN:

• Talk to your healthcare professional.
• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website https://www.sanis.com/products/, or by calling 1-866-236-4076 or emailing quality@sanis.com.

1 President's Choice Circle

Brampton, Ontario

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Last revised: July 14, 2022