Adult: As 0.3% soln: Instill 1 drop 2 hrly into affected eye(s) while awake (up to 8 times daily) for the 1st 2 days then reduce to 1 drop 4 times daily while awake for the next 5 days. Child: ≥1 yr Same as adult dose.
Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to gatifloxacin, other quinolones.
Special Precautions
Medication should not to be introduced into the anterior chamber of the eye. Pregnancy and lactation.
Adverse Reactions
Conjunctival irritation, increased lacrimation, keratitis, papillary conjunctivitis, chemosis, conjunctival haemorrhage, ocular dryness and redness, ocular discharge/irritation/pain, eyelid oedema, headache, reduced visual acuity, and taste disturbance. Potentially Fatal: Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis; fungal or bacterial superinfection.
Contact lenses should not be worn during treatment. Avoid contamination of the applicator tip w/ material from the eye, fingers or other sources.
MonitoringParameters
Monitor signs of infection. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fluorescein staining may be necessary for careful monitoring.
Drug Interactions
Additive effect w/ drugs that prolong QT interval e.g. antiarrhythmic agents (amiodarone, quinidine, sotalol), arsenic trioxide, cisapride, chlorpromazine, droperidol, mefloquine, dolasetron, mesoridazine, moxifloxacin, pimozide, tacrolimus, pentamidine, thioridazine, ziprasidone. Increased risk of blood glucose disturbances w/ drugs that alter blood glucose concentrations (e.g. antidiabetics). Systemic admin may elevate plasma concentrations of theophylline, interfere caffeine metabolism, enhance effects of oral anticoagulant (warfarin and its derivatives), and transient elevations in serum creatinine w/ ciclosporin.
Action
Description: Gatifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial which acts by inhibiting DNA synthesis in susceptible organisms via inhibition of both DNA gyrase (essential for bacterial reproduction) and topoisomerase IV (essential during bacterial cell division). Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Not measurable. Distribution: Widely distributed into body tissues. Plasma protein binding: Approx 20%. Metabolism: Limited metabolism. Excretion: Via urine mainly as unchanged drug w/ <1% as metabolites; faeces (approx 5% as unchanged drug). Elimination half-life: 7-14 hr.
Chemical Structure
Gatifloxacin Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Gatifloxacin, CID=5379, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Gatifloxacin (accessed on Jan. 22, 2020)
Anon. Gatifloxacin (EENT). AHFS Clinical Drug Information [online]. Bethesda, MD. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. https://www.ahfscdi.com. Accessed 17/07/2014.Anon. Gatifloxacin. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 17/07/2014.Buckingham R (ed). Gatifloxacin. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 17/07/2014.Wickersham RM. Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic. Facts and Comparisons [online]. St. Louis, MO. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://www.wolterskluwercdi.com/facts-comparisons-online/. Accessed 17/07/2014.Zymaxid Solution/Drops (Allergan Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 17/07/2014.