Medication Guide: Difloxacin HCL

Difloxacin HCL

Brand

Dicural

Availability

Tablets: 11.4 mg, 45.4 mg and 136 mg

Pharmacology

This is a newer 4-Fluoroquinolone and like that of other fluoroquinolones is a broad-spectrum, bactericidal, antibiotic. It is concentration dependent and similar to enrofloxacin.

Difloxacin has activity against some Gram-positive aerobes and a wide range of Gram-negative bacilli and cocci, which include klebsiella, pseudomonas, salmonella, and other organisms such as mycoplasma, staphylococci, and chlamydia. The mechanism of action is to inhibit bacterial DNA-gyrase, prevent DNA synthesis, and disrupt bacterial cell duplication.

Difloxacin is documented as having a longer elimination half-life than other fluoroquinolones, staying in the body longer. This allows for once a day dosing, however, it’s efficacy appears to be the same as enrofloxacin.

The safety of this drug for use in pregnant and nursing animals has not been determined.

The quinolone class of drugs have been shown to produce erosion of cartilage in weight bearing joints and other signs of arthropathy in immature animals of various species.

The use of fluoroquinolones has not been recommended for initial treatment in pregnant and nursing does, or rats under 4 months due to the risks of cartilage abnormalities (Egerbacher et al., 2000), however, in cases where other antibiotics are not helping, or if the infection is deemed severe, the benefit of using fluoroquinolones (alone or in combination with other compatible antimicrobials) may in fact outweigh the risks.

Indications

Useful in urinary tract infections, soft tissue injury, and mycoplasma.

Drug Interactions or Contraindications

Antacids containing Magnesium, Calcium, and Aluminum will prevent absorption.

Theophylline blood levels may be increased when used with difloxacin.

Probenecid blocks tubular secretion of difloxacin and may cause an increase in its blood level and half life.

Synergism can occur when aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, and extended-spectrum penicillins are used with fluorinated quinolones such as difloxacin.

Adverse Reactions

CNS: restlessness, may lower seizure threshold (increasing likelihood of seizure activity)

GI: decreased appetite, diarrhea

GU: crystaluria

Skin: can cause tissue damage when given IM or SQ

Other: itching

Dosage Recommendations

4.5 mg/lb , PO , BID ³

Note: see warning for young, pregnant or nursing rats in Pharmacology section above.

Considerations

Store tablets in tight moist free container.
Be sure to keep animals well hydrated in order to prevent crystalluria (formation of crystals in urine).
Reconstituted suspension from tablets should be kept refrigerated and has a 14 day expiration time.
Difloxacin can be used simultaneously with doxycycline in the treatment of Mycoplasma.
Also, in treating suspected polymicrobial infections, where a broader coverage may be needed, synergistic or combination drugs may be used. The following drugs may be seen used simultaneously with ciprofloxacin: aminoglycosides (e.g., amikacin or gentamicin), or aminopenicillins (e.g., amoxicillin or ampicillin), or third generation cephalosporins, or clindamycin, or metronidazole. ¹
Please note that it is imperative to discuss the changing, or adding of any medications during your rat’s treatment with your veterinarian, to prevent future resistance of microbes to the drugs prescribed.

Reference

Egerbacher, M., Seiberl, G., Wolfesberger, B., & Walter, I. (2000). Ciprofloxacin causes cytoskeletal changes and detachment of human and rat chondrocytes in vitro. Arch Toxicol, 73(10-11), 557-63. Retrieved December 20, 2008, from the PubMed database.