Monograph: |
Pefloxacin Mesylate
Pefloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial with actions and
uses similar to those of ciprofloxacin . It also has bac-
tericidal activity against Mycobacterium leprae and has been
tried in the treatment of leprosy .
Pefloxacin has a longer plasma half-life than ciprofloxacin
(about 8 lo 13 hours) and is also extensively metabolised. the
principal metabolite being YV-desmethyl Pefloxacin .which is
otherwise known as norfloxacin.
Pefloxacin is given by mouth or by intravenous infusion as the
mesylate in the treatment of susceptible infections. Doses are
expressed in terms of the equivalent amount of pefloxacin and
are usually 400 mg twice daily by mouth or by intravenous
infusion.
Fluoroquinolones have caused adverse effects on the muscu-
loskeletal system (see under Ciprofloxacin) and in the
case of Pefloxacin this has led to certain restrictions in some
countries.
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