SKU	747
Generic For	Noroxin
Strength	400 mg
Active Ingredient	Norfloxacin

Product Description

Norflox 400mg (Norfloxacin) – Affordable Noroxin Alternative

Norflox 400 mg contains the active ingredient Norfloxacin, an antibiotic used in adults to treat certain bacterial infections. It is used to treat urinary tract infections and acute bacterial gastroenteritis. Norflox is also effective for treating bacterial infections of the urethra or cervix.

Norfloxacin acts by preventing bacterial DNA from functioning, thereby inhibiting growth and killing bacteria. Antibacterial medicine like Norflox treats only bacterial infections. These are not effective against viral infections, such as the common cold.

Precautions

Do not take Norflox if you have a history of allergic reaction to an antibiotic called fluoroquinolone or are allergic to any of the ingredients present in the medication. Avoid taking this medicine if you have had tendinitis or tendon rupture while taking Norfloxacin. Tell your healthcare specialist about all medical conditions, including if you have tendon problems, epilepsy, nerve problems, myasthenia gravis, low blood potassium (hypokalemia), a history of seizures, kidney problems, rheumatoid arthritis, or a slow heartbeat. You should also let your healthcare specialist know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is still not known if the medication will harm your unborn child. It is unknown whether Norflox is safe or effective in children under 18 years of age. Children are more likely to get bone, joint or tendon problems while taking Norfloxacin.

Your healthcare provider should also be aware of all the medications that you have been using. Especially inform about the following:

Glyburide (diabeta, glynase, Micronase, glucovance
AN NSAID (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Antiarrhythmics are medicines to control your heart rate or rhythm
A tricyclic antidepressant
A water pill (diuretic)
A steroid medicine
Erythromycin
A blood thinner (Jantoven, Warfarin, Coumadin)
Probenecid
Clozapine
Ropinirole
Cyclosporine
Products that contain caffeine
An anti-psychotic medicine
Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
Tacrine
Cisapride
Theophylline

Certain medications may prevent Norfloxacin from working properly. Take the medication either two hours before or two hours after taking these products. These include medications such as sucrafate (an antacid) and didanosine. Concomitant use with nitrofurantoin is completely prohibited.

Norflox 400 mg can cause dizziness and lightheadedness. Avoid driving, operating complex machines or engaging in other activities that require complete attention or coordination until you know how this antibiotic medicine affects you. Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps and limit your sun exposure.

Dosage Instructions

Side Effects

Side effects Norflox 400mg

Norflox 400mg can cause side effects that may be serious or even life-threatening. Seizures have been reported in people who take Norfloxacin. Central nervous system adverse effects may occur as soon as after taking the first dose of Norflox.

Seek medical help if you develop restlessness, confusion, tremors, hear voices, seizures, or feel lightheaded. Other serious reactions include skin rash, worsening of myasthenia gravis, intestinal infection, serious heart rhythm changes, low blood sugar and sensitivity to sunlight.

The common side effects of Norflox include nausea, weakness, stomach cramping, diarrhoea, dizziness, changes in certain liver function tests, and headache.

These are not all the possible side effects of Norfloxacin. Tell your healthcare specialist about any side effects that trouble you or do not go away.

How to Use

How to use Norflox 400mg

Norflox 400mg is to be taken as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Patients usually take the tablet every twelve hours with normal kidney function. Take the tablet with a glass of water. Drink plenty of water during the antibiotic treatment. Take the medication at least an hour before or 2 hours after a meal, or after having milk or other dairy products. For urinary tract infection, 400 mg twice daily is usually recommended. The Maximum recommended daily dosage is 800mg.

Avoid skipping doses or stopping medication even if you begin to feel better, until you finish the entire course of treatment. However, if you experience any tenderness or have a serious allergic reaction, please talk to your healthcare provider and discontinue treatment. Moreover, misuse or overuse of antibiotics can lead to the growth of bacteria that Norfloxacin cannot destroy. This means resistance develops, and the medication may stop working in the future. Also, call your healthcare professional if you suspect your condition is not getting better while you are taking Norfloxacin.

Infographics

FAQ

What is Norflox 400mg used for?

Norflox 400mg is the standard adult-dose norfloxacin tablet. It is used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adults — including complicated UTIs and recurrent UTIs — as well as gastrointestinal infections including bacillary dysentery (Shigella infection), infectious diarrhoea, and gonorrhoea (a sexually transmitted infection). At 400mg, it achieves higher concentrations in the urinary tract and gut compared to the 200mg dose, making it more appropriate for more significant or complicated urinary or gastrointestinal infections.

Who should not take Norflox 400mg?

Norflox 400mg is not suitable for anyone allergic to norfloxacin or other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It should be avoided in people with epilepsy, QT-prolonging heart conditions, a history of fluoroquinolone-related tendon injury, myasthenia gravis, or significantly reduced kidney function. Elderly patients who are also taking steroid medicines face a particularly elevated risk of tendon rupture. Children and teenagers should not take norfloxacin tablets. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid norfloxacin — safer alternatives are available for most infections in these groups.

What is the usual dose of Norflox 400mg?

The standard adult dose for most infections is one 400mg tablet taken twice daily (every 12 hours). For uncomplicated UTIs, 3–7 days is typical. For complicated UTIs, 7–10 days may be prescribed. For infectious diarrhoea or dysentery, a 5-day course is common. For gonorrhoea, a single 800mg dose (two 400mg tablets at once) may be used, but single-dose gonorrhoea treatment is becoming less common due to rising antibiotic resistance. Always follow your doctor's specific dose and duration instructions and complete the full course.

Should Norflox 400mg be taken with or without food?

Norflox 400mg should ideally be taken on an empty stomach — at least 1 hour before eating or 2 hours after a meal — to ensure maximum absorption. Antacids containing aluminium, magnesium, or calcium, iron supplements, zinc, and dairy products reduce norfloxacin absorption substantially and must be kept at least 2 hours apart from each dose. Take the tablet with a large glass of water. Good hydration — drinking at least 1.5–2 litres of water throughout the day — is important to flush bacteria from the urinary tract and support kidney function.

Is Norflox 400mg safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Norfloxacin is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. All fluoroquinolones are generally avoided during these periods due to concerns about effects on the developing baby's joints and cartilage (based on animal studies), and because safer antibiotics are available for most infections. For UTIs in pregnancy, your doctor will typically prescribe nitrofurantoin, cefalexin, or amoxicillin-based alternatives. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding, always tell your doctor before starting any antibiotic so a safe and effective alternative can be chosen.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Norflox 400mg?

Alcohol should be avoided during the norfloxacin course. Fluoroquinolones can cause dizziness and headache, and alcohol worsens these effects. More importantly, when treating UTIs, maintaining high fluid intake with water is essential — alcohol actively counteracts this by causing dehydration and reducing urine flow, which can slow bacterial clearance from the urinary tract. For the short course typically used with norfloxacin (3–10 days), avoiding alcohol entirely is a small sacrifice that meaningfully supports the effectiveness of the treatment.

How does Norflox 400mg compare to nitrofurantoin (Martifur) for UTIs?

Both norfloxacin (400mg) and nitrofurantoin are used for UTIs and both concentrate specifically in the urinary tract. Nitrofurantoin is often preferred as a first-line choice for uncomplicated lower UTIs (bladder infections) because it has lower rates of antibiotic resistance among common UTI bacteria and is generally safer for most patients. Norfloxacin is typically used when nitrofurantoin is not suitable — for example, in people with kidney impairment (where nitrofurantoin is avoided), or when urine culture results confirm the bacteria are sensitive to norfloxacin but not to first-line options.

Does Norflox 400mg interact with other medicines?

Norfloxacin 400mg can interact with several commonly used medicines. It significantly reduces theophylline (asthma medicine) clearance, raising theophylline to potentially toxic levels — avoid using both together. It enhances the effect of warfarin, increasing the risk of bleeding. QT-prolonging medicines (certain heart drugs, antipsychotics) carry increased risk of dangerous heart rhythm changes when combined with norfloxacin. NSAIDs combined with norfloxacin increase the risk of seizures. Antacids, iron, zinc, and dairy products must be separated by at least 2 hours. Always provide a full medication list to your prescriber.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Norflox 400mg?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If the next scheduled dose is nearly due, skip the missed tablet and continue normally — never take two doses at once. With twice-daily dosing, try to maintain consistent 12-hour intervals between doses. For a 5–7 day course treating a UTI or gastrointestinal infection, missing a single dose is not catastrophic, but consistent dosing from start to finish is important for a complete cure. Setting phone reminders for morning and evening doses linked to a daily routine helps prevent missed doses.

Why are fluoroquinolone antibiotics like norfloxacin usually kept for second-line use?

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (including norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin) are among the most important antibiotics available to modern medicine. Overuse has led to increasing resistance among bacteria that were once reliably treatable with these drugs. Medical guidelines therefore recommend reserving fluoroquinolones for situations where first-line antibiotics (like nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim for UTIs) cannot be used — whether due to allergy, resistance shown on urine culture, or specific patient factors. Using the narrowest appropriate antibiotic, when possible, helps protect these important medicines for future use.

What are the common side effects of norfloxacin?

Common side effects of norfloxacin include nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhoea, and headache. Dizziness and light-headedness are also reported. Norfloxacin increases sensitivity to sunlight, which can cause the skin to burn more easily than usual — sunscreen and protective clothing are recommended during treatment. Oral or vaginal thrush (yeast infection) can occur as the antibiotic disrupts the body's natural microbial balance. Mild tendon discomfort — particularly in the heel area — should be taken seriously and mentioned to your doctor rather than dismissed as a minor ache.

What side effects of norfloxacin require urgent medical attention?

Seek emergency care for signs of a serious allergic reaction — sudden hives, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or collapse. Stop norfloxacin immediately if you develop any tendon pain, swelling, or sudden difficulty moving a joint (especially the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel). Neurological symptoms — seizures, sudden confusion, hallucinations, or agitation — need emergency assessment. Heart palpitations, dizziness, or fainting may indicate a dangerous heart rhythm disturbance. Severe or bloody diarrhoea may indicate C. difficile colitis. Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy) should also be reported promptly.

Norflox 400mg