Akilen Special Precautions

If hypersensitivity reactions and shock-like symptoms occur, discontinue the drug.
Use with caution in patients with reduced renal function, and adjust doses according to the severity of renal dysfunction. Elderly patients may require a reduction in dosage, since they may have reduced creatinine clearance.
It should be given with caution during fertile age.
Concomitant administration with antacid containing aluminium or magnesium hydroxide may reduce absorption of Ofloxacin. Therefore, it should be administered 1 to 2 hours before or after Ofloxacin.
Cardiac Disorders: Caution should be taken when using fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, in patients with known risk factors for prolongation of the QT interval such as, for example: congenital long QT syndrome; concomitant use of drugs that are known to prolong the QT interval (e.g. Class IA and III anti-arrhythmics, tricyclic antidepressants, macrolides, antipsychotics); uncorrected electrolyte imbalance (e.g. hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia); elderly; cardiac disease (e.g. heart failure, myocardial infarction, bradycardia).
Exacerbation of Myasthenia Gravis: Fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, have neuro-muscular blocking activity and may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. Post-marketing serious adverse events, including deaths and requirement for ventilatory support, have been associated with fluoroquinolone use in persons with myasthenia gravis. Avoid ofloxacin in patients with a known history of myasthenia gravis.
Peripheral Neuropathy: Cases of sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy affecting small and/or large axons resulting in paresthesias, hypoesthesias, dysesthesias and weakness have been reported in patients receiving fluoroquinolones, including AKILEN. Symptoms may occur soon after initiation of AKILEN and may be irreversible. AKILEN should be discontinued immediately if the patient experiences symptoms of peripheral neuropathy including pain, burning, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness or other alterations of sensation including light touch, pain, temperature, position sense, and vibratory sensation.
Vision Disorders: If vision becomes impaired or any effects on the eyes are experienced, an eye specialist should be consulted immediately.
Disabling and Potentially Irreversible Serious Adverse Reactions: Fluoroquinolones, including AKILEN, have been associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions from different body systems that can occur together in the same patient. Commonly seen adverse reactions include tendinitis, tendon rupture, arthralgia, myalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system effects (hallucinations, anxiety, depression, insomnia, severe headaches, and confusion). Patients of any age or without pre-existing risk factors have experienced these adverse reactions.
Discontinue AKILEN immediately at the first signs or symptoms of any serious adverse reaction. In addition, avoid the use of fluoroquinolones, including AKILEN, in patients who have experienced any of these serious adverse reactions associated with fluoroquinolones.
Psychiatric Adverse Reactions: Fluoroquinolones, including AKILEN, have been associated with an increased risk of psychiatric adverse reactions, including: toxic psychosis, hallucinations, or paranoia; depression or suicidal thoughts or acts; anxiety, agitation, or nervousness; confusion, delirium, disorientation, or disturbances in attention: insomnia or nightmares; memory impairment. These adverse reactions may occur following the first dose. If these reactions occur in patients receiving AKILEN, discontinue AKILEN immediately and institute appropriate measures.
Blood Glucose Disturbances: As with all fluoroquinolones, disturbances in blood glucose, including both hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia have been reported with AKILEN. In AKILEN-treated patients, dysglycaemia occurred predominantly in elderly diabetic patients receiving concomitant treatment with an oral hypoglycaemic agent (for example, sulfonylurea) or with insulin. Severe cases of hypoglycaemia resulting in coma or death have been reported. In diabetic patients, careful monitoring of blood glucose is recommended. If a hypoglycaemic reaction occurs, discontinue AKILEN and initiate appropriate therapy immediately.
Aortic aneurysm or dissection and heart valve regurgitation/incompetence: Epidemiologic studies report an increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection, particularly in elderly patients, and of aortic and mitral valve regurgitation after intake of fluoroquinolones. Cases of aortic aneurysm and dissection, sometimes complicated by rupture (including fatal ones), and of regurgitation/incompetence of any of the heart valves have been reported in patients receiving fluoroquinolones.
Therefore, fluoroquinolones should only be used after a careful benefit-risk assessment and after consideration of other therapeutic options in patients with positive family history of aneurysm disease or congenital heart valve disease, or in patients diagnosed with preexisting aortic aneurysm and/or dissection or heart valve disease, or in presence of other risk factors or conditions predisposing for both aortic aneurysm and dissection and heart valve regurgitation/incompetence (e.g. connective tissue disorders such as Marian syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Turner syndrome, Behçet's disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis) or additionally; for aortic aneurysm and dissection (e.g. vascular disorders such as Takayasu arteritis or giant cell arteritis, or known atherosclerosis, or Sjögren's syndrome) or additionally; for heart valve regurgitation/incompetence (e.g. infective endocarditis).
The risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection, and their rupture may also be increased in patients treated concurrently with systemic corticosteroids.
In case of sudden abdominal, chest or back pain, patients should be advised to immediately consult a physician in an emergency department.
Patients should be advised to seek immediate medical attention in case of acute dyspnoea, new onset of heart palpitations, or development of oedema of the abdomen or lower extremities.