moxifloxacin hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Fluoroquinolone antibiotic
Available forms
Film-coated tablets and eye-drop solution
Food
Tablets may be taken with or without food, including dairy products
What is moxifloxacin hydrochloride used for?
Selected products are licensed for infections caused by organisms susceptible to moxifloxacin.
Tablets: specified respiratory infections when commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate.
Tablets: mild-to-moderate pelvic inflammatory disease without a tubo-ovarian or pelvic abscess; generally not as sole therapy unless moxifloxacin-resistant gonorrhoea has been excluded.
Tablets: completion after improvement with intravenous moxifloxacin for certain pneumonia or complicated skin infections.
Eye drops: purulent bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible strains.
How does moxifloxacin hydrochloride work?
Moxifloxacin blocks bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, enzymes needed to copy, repair and reorganise bacterial DNA. This prevents bacterial survival and replication.
moxifloxacin hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 0.5% w/v
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 400 mg
How to take moxifloxacin hydrochloride
Use the prescribed formulation exactly as directed. Do not stop early unless a serious reaction occurs or a clinician advises this.
Swallow tablets whole with sufficient liquid. They may be taken with or without food, including dairy products.
Separate tablets from magnesium- or aluminium-containing antacids, iron, zinc, sucralfate and didanosine.
For eye drops, wash hands and avoid touching the bottle tip to the eye, eyelids or other surfaces.
After an eye drop, gently close the eye and press the inner corner beside the nose.
Use other eye preparations separately; apply eye ointment last.
Do not wear contact lenses during an active eye infection. Wait for symptoms to clear and treatment to finish.
moxifloxacin hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Tablets: nausea, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness and oral or vaginal candidiasis.
- Eye drops: eye pain and eye irritation.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and breathing difficulty.
- Tendon inflammation or rupture; muscle or joint pain or weakness; or new nerve symptoms.
- Severe psychiatric effects, including marked mood change, confusion, hallucinations or thoughts of self-harm.
- Abnormal heart rhythm, fainting or palpitations.
- Severe liver injury, including jaundice or dark urine.
- Severe blistering or peeling skin reactions.
- Persistent or bloody diarrhoea.
- Eye drops: severe allergy, worsening eye pain, marked swelling or reduced vision.
moxifloxacin hydrochloride in pregnancy
The selected tablet product is contraindicated during pregnancy. The selected eye drops can be used during pregnancy because systemic exposure is expected to be negligible. Discuss treatment or exposure with the prescriber or maternity team.
moxifloxacin hydrochloride while breastfeeding
The selected tablet product is contraindicated during breastfeeding. The selected eye drops can be used during breastfeeding because systemic exposure is low and effects on the infant are not anticipated. Confirm advice relates to the intended formulation.
moxifloxacin hydrochloride interactions
Important interactions mainly concern oral moxifloxacin; clinically significant interactions are unlikely with eye drops because systemic exposure is low.
Medicines that prolong the QT interval
Combining them with oral moxifloxacin is contraindicated because it can increase the risk of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias.
Potassium-lowering medicines
Diuretics, high-dose laxatives, corticosteroids and amphotericin B may increase susceptibility to heart-rhythm disturbances.
Magnesium or aluminium antacids, iron, zinc, sucralfate and didanosine
These can reduce oral moxifloxacin absorption and must be taken separately.
Common questions about moxifloxacin hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is moxifloxacin a penicillin antibiotic?
No. It is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Previous allergy to a quinolone is a contraindication.
Can tablets be taken with milk or food?
Yes. Food and dairy products do not have a clinically relevant effect on the selected tablet product.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.