Clinical medicine profile
Pefloxacin
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
Some sections contain general class guidance rather than medicine-specific evidence. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Quinolones should be used with caution in children with a history of epilepsy or conditions that predispose to seizures, in G6PD deficiency, myasthenia gravis (risk of exacerbation).
- Exposure to excessive sunlight should be avoided (discontinue if photosensitivity occurs).
- Quinolones may induce convulsions in patients with or without a history of convulsions
- taking NSAIDs at the same time may also induce them.
- May cause arthropathy in the weight-bearing joints of immature animals and are therefore generally not recommended in children and growing adolescents.
- However, the significance of this effect in humans is uncertain and in some specific circumstances short-term use of a quinolone in children is justified.
- Should be avoid in pregnancy and lactation.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Orally, 400 mg BD. A single dose of 800 mg may be used in the treatment of gonococcal urethritis in men and acute uncomplicated cystitis in women.
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Severe infection in adults due to Staphylococcus and Gram-negative bacilli.
- Clinical selection for Pefloxacin should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class).
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- Flatulence, pain and phlebitis at injection site
- rarely dysphagia, pancreatitis, chest pain, tachycardia, syncope, oedema, hot flushes, abnormal dreams, sweating, hyperglycaemia, and erythema nodosum
- very rarely movement disorders, tinnitus, vasculitis, and tenosynovitis.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
Interferes with bacterial DNA synthesis by inhibiting topoisomerase II [DNA gyrase] and topoisomerase IV.
Read complete mechanism
Interferes with bacterial DNA synthesis by inhibiting topoisomerase II [DNA gyrase] and topoisomerase IV. Mechanism is agent-specific. At receptor, enzyme, ion channel, transporter or microbial target level, the drug alters a physiological or pathological pathway to produce its therapeutic effect. Confirm precise molecular mechanism in current SmPC / pharmacology reference for this INN before high-stakes decisions.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reviewed brand listings are linked yet. | |||
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.