Recommended Dosage of Ofloxacin for Adults
The standard recommended dose of ofloxacin for adults is 200 mg to 400 mg orally every 12 hours, with specific dosing based on the type of infection being treated. 1
Standard Adult Dosing Guidelines
- For most common infections, ofloxacin is administered at 400 mg every 12 hours, resulting in a total daily dose of 800 mg 1
- For certain uncomplicated urinary tract infections, a lower dose of 200 mg every 12 hours (400 mg daily) may be sufficient 1
- For prostatitis due to E. coli, the recommended dose is 300 mg every 12 hours for 6 weeks 1
- For nongonococcal cervicitis/urethritis due to C. trachomatis, the dose is 300 mg every 12 hours for 7 days 1
- For acute, uncomplicated urethral and cervical gonorrhea, a single dose of 400 mg is recommended 1
Dosage Adjustments for Special Populations
Renal Impairment
- For patients with creatinine clearance 20-50 mL/min: maintain the usual recommended unit dose but extend dosing interval to every 24 hours 1
- For patients with creatinine clearance <20 mL/min: reduce to half the usual recommended unit dose and extend dosing interval to every 24 hours 1
Hepatic Impairment
- For patients with severe liver function disorders (e.g., cirrhosis with or without ascites): maximum daily dose should not exceed 400 mg 1
Specific Infection-Based Dosing
- For acute pelvic inflammatory disease: 400 mg every 12 hours for 10 to 14 days 2, 1
- For respiratory tract infections (acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia): 400 mg every 12 hours for 10 days 1
- For uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections: 400 mg every 12 hours for 10 days 1
Administration Considerations
- Ofloxacin has almost complete bioavailability (95-100%) when taken orally 3
- Antacids containing calcium, magnesium, or aluminum; sucralfate; divalent or trivalent cations such as iron; multivitamins containing zinc; or didanosine should not be taken within two hours before or after taking ofloxacin 1
- The average half-life of ofloxacin is 5 to 8 hours, which supports the twice-daily dosing regimen 3
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
- Elimination of ofloxacin is highly dependent on renal clearance, making dosage adjustments essential in patients with impaired renal function 3
- Ofloxacin appears less likely to affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs (e.g., theophylline) that commonly interact with other fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin and enoxacin 3
- Ofloxacin suspension for oral liquid administration is not available in the United States 2
- When treating plague as an alternative agent, ofloxacin is dosed at 400 mg every 12 hours orally 2