Drug interactions
Ofloxacin + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Ofloxacin and Tolbutamide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Fluoroquinolones can cause significant hypoglycemia in patients taking sulfonylureas. Severe hypoglycemia is more likely in elderly patients and those with renal impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ofloxacin and Tolbutamide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Ofloxacin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Fluoroquinolones enhance insulin release from beta cells, adding to sulfonylurea stimulation.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose closely during the antibiotic course and reduce the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia occurs. Counsel patients on hypoglycemia symptoms.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Ofloxacin and Tolbutamide, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Ofloxacin
- Ofloxacin + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Ofloxacin Major
- Amiodarone + Ofloxacin Major
- Amisulpride + Ofloxacin Major
- Anagrelide + Ofloxacin Major
- Arsenic trioxide + Ofloxacin Major
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ofloxacin with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ofloxacin and Tolbutamide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Fluoroquinolones can cause significant hypoglycemia in patients taking sulfonylureas. Severe hypoglycemia is more likely in elderly patients and those with renal impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Ofloxacin and Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose closely during the antibiotic course and reduce the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia occurs. Counsel patients on hypoglycemia symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Ofloxacin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ofloxacin with, for example, Thioridazine, Adagrasib, Amiodarone. The full list is on the Ofloxacin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
