skip to main content

What does it do?

Norfloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, G6PD deficiency, or if you have ever had a seizure or an aneurysm.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • Your doctor may do a heart test (ECG) before you start and while you are taking norfloxacin.

How should you take it?

Take norfloxacin regularly as directed with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food, but not with milk or yoghurt. Taking it with milk or yoghurt may stop norfloxacin from working.
Keep taking it until the course is finished, even when you start to feel better.

What if you forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as possible and continue as directed.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with norfloxacin including:

  • products containing aluminium, calcium, iron, magnesium or zinc, such as antacids (e.g. Mylanta®) or multivitamins

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Pain or swelling in tendons or joints

Sharp, sudden pain in your tummy, chest or back

Fainting

Seizures

Tell your doctor immediately

Confusion, agitation, unusual behaviour or thinking

Numbness or tingling of the fingers or toes

Changes in vision

Severe or persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain

Skin rash

Tell your doctor

Headache, dizziness

Stomach upset

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • Protect yourself from too much sunlight while being treated with norfloxacin. Always cover up and apply a thick layer of broad spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF 30) when outside. Do not use sunbeds.
  • Norfloxacin can impair your ability to do tasks such as driving or using machines. Alcohol makes this worse. Discuss your risk with your health professional. (search NZTA - Are you safe to drive?)

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2023

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

Web links for this sheet in different formats

Click on buttons to copy web addresses for this leaflet:

If your browser does not automatically copy these links use its copy command instead.

About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed