Is Norfloxacin an antibiotic or not? Analogs

Norfloxacin belongs to antibacterial drugs. The antibiotic is one of the main representatives group of fluoroquinolones of the 2nd generation. It is used to treat infectious diseases caused by microbes that do not have resistance to it. The use of tablets is important in the treatment of infections of the gastrointestinal tract, excretory system, respiratory system, or for sexually transmitted diseases.

Basic instructions

Norfloxacin is a synthetic agent of the fluoroquinolone group that has a wide spectrum of bactericidal action.

The drug has the following mechanism of action:

• Suppresses the enzyme DNA gyrase.
• Interferes with the production of the enzyme topoisomerase.
• Violates the process of synthesis of the structure of the DNA of the microbial cell.
• As a result, the pathogenic microorganism not only loses its ability to reproduce, but also cannot exist, dies.

The drug is highly active against bacteria such as:

• Salmonella;
• Shigella;
• Klebsiella;
• Haemophilus influenzae;
• Gonococcus;
• Staphylococcus aureus and many others.

However, there are bacteria that are resistant to the action of norfloxacin. The microbial cell is capable of modifying its structure so that the antibiotic cannot destroy it. This is a natural evolutionary process laid down by nature.

Microorganisms that are not sensitive to this fluoroquinolone include:

• Enterococci;
• Gram-negative bacteria Acinetobacter spp.

Thus, in the treatment of diseases caused by these microbes, norfloxacin will be powerless. Therefore, it is important to establish an accurate diagnosis and its etiology. For some pathogens, other drugs are required. Norfloxacin has many side effects and contraindications, so it should not be used as a self-medication.

Norfloxacin is an antibiotic or not, says the list of indications for which the use of this drug will be relevant for systemic use:

• Cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis;
• Prostate infections
• Gastrointestinal tract infections and traveler's diarrhea;
• Gonorrhea.

When applied topically, norfloxacin helps with diseases such as:

• Conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, ulcerative lesion of the cornea of ​​the eye, dacryocystitis.
• Prevention of complications after surgical ophthalmic interventions, after a chemical burn of the eye organs.
• Otitis externa or otitis media or prevention of bacterial infection after ear surgery.

Antibiotic or not?

Norfloxacin is an antibiotic. The active ingredient of the drug is norfloxacin (400 mg per 1 tablet). This compound is of synthetic origin and is a derivative of nalidixic acid, which gave rise to the discovery of a whole class of antibacterial agents of the fluoroquinolone group. Norfloxacin is the main representative of the 2nd class.

Norfloxacin has an antibacterial effect, destroys microbial cells bactericidal. This means that the drug interferes with the synthesis of DNA or protein structures, without which the vital activity of the pathogen is impossible. There is no doubt that the drug is an antibiotic.

Antibacterial agents can only be prescribed by a specialist, otherwise complications or severe undesirable side reactions may develop.

Analogs

Preparations of the fluoroquinolone group were discovered 60 years ago. During this time, they have become widespread in medical practice. The drugs are considered among the most effective antibiotics and have a high safety profile. The modern pharmaceutical market has many analogues based on norfloxacin.

All of them can be divided into 2 main groups:

• Structural analogs. These are drugs that have an identical composition and concentration of the active ingredient. Such analogs have the same spectrum of action, indications for use and features of use.
• Functional analogs. These are drugs that have a different active ingredient, but the same area of ​​application. These include all drugs that belong to the group of fluoroquinolones of 2 or later generations.

If it is impossible to use Norfloxacin, the doctor tries to replace it with another structural analogue. This helps to adhere to the original treatment strategy without switching to other antibiotics. Functional analogs are more relevant in cases where the patient is allergic to norfloxacin or it is impossible to take it because the patient has strict contraindications. This article will consider structural analogs.

These include drugs such as:

• Nolicin produced by KRKA, Slovenia.
• Norbactin manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories, India.
• Normax manufactured by IPCA Laboratories, India.

Each tool has its own peculiarities of application, which will be discussed below.

Nolitsin

Norfloxacin antibiotic or not, the list of drug analogues can answer. Nolitsin also belongs to antibacterial agents and acts bactericidal on a wide range of microbes.

The drugs have many characteristics in common:

• Active ingredient and its concentration.
• Spectrum of action.
• Mechanism of action.
• Indications for use.
• Contraindications
• List of side effects.

However, the drugs still differ from each other in several points:

• Manufacturer. Norfloxacin is produced in the Russian Federation by a number of pharmaceutical plants. Nolicin is produced and packaged in Slovenia.
• Production technology. Each manufacturer has the right to change the technology for creating a drug, if this does not change its pharmacodynamic properties, safety and efficacy. Therefore, when comparing the auxiliary components of Nolicin and Norfloxacin, differences can be noticed. For this reason, the tablet of the domestic product is white, and the tablet of the drug from Slovenia is orange. In theory, this does not affect the therapeutic effect of the drugs.
• The risk of developing adverse reactions. Both drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and sleep disturbance. However, patients undergoing treatment with Nolitsin are less likely to notice the development of these symptoms. Also, the Slovenian analogue is less likely to provoke the development of an allergic reaction. This can be explained by the higher quality of the medicinal raw materials used in the production of this can be explained by the higher quality of medicinal raw materials used in the production Nolitsin.
• Safety. Nolitsin has higher safety. According to the instructions for use, Nolitsin has fewer risks of developing adverse reactions or bacterial complications.

Norbactin

This drug is a functional analogue of Norfloxacin and is in many ways similar to it.

For example:

• The name of the active substance. Norfloxacin.
• Concentration. 400 mg per tablet.
• Release form. Both drugs are administered orally as film-coated tablets.
• Pharmacokinetic properties. Preparations based on norfloxacin are absorbed by 40%, and about 14% binds to blood proteins.
• Indications for use. Both drugs are effective in treating most bacterial infections.
• Contraindications for use. Both drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for the treatment of patients under 15 years of age.
• Storage conditions. Norfloxacin tablets should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25 ℃.
• Conditions for dispensing from a pharmacy. Like all other agents of the fluoroquinolone group, they are dispensed strictly according to the doctor's prescription. The fact is that recently, cases of self-treatment of various diseases with antibiotics have become more frequent. It is a great misconception that antibacterial drugs can cure any pathology. Often antibiotics are mistakenly taken with a viral infection, which does not lead to recovery, but only exacerbates the situation. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics leads to the formation of bacterial resistance. As a result, the person needs to take more and more powerful antibiotics. For this reason, antimicrobial agents can be prescribed by the attending physician during the examination and after establishing the exact bacterial nature of the infection.
• The main difference between drugs is the manufacturer. The rest of the funds have the same composition and spectrum of action. As a rule, not only the quality of the medicine, but also its cost depends on the manufacturer. It is possible that it will be different. The prices of the funds will be presented below.

Normax

Whether norfloxacin is an antibiotic or not, only a doctor or pharmacist can professionally answer. All drugs based on this compound are antibacterial agents. For example, an analogue of Indian production called Normax also has a bactericidal mechanism of action, therefore it destroys most gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms.

In general, the funds are similar in everything, with the exception of the manufacturer. Unlike the Russian drug, Normask is produced in India. It is impossible to say which remedy is most effective. From a pharmaceutical point of view, both drugs will destroy pathogenic microorganisms, because they have the same active ingredient.

Norfloxacin, Norbactin and Normax are generics of the original product containing norfloxacin as active. We are talking about a medicinal product under the trade name Noroxin.

The original product is distinguished by the special quality of the raw materials used, the most pronounced therapeutic effect, and the minimum risk of side effects. In addition, the creators of the original are conducting their own studies proving the effectiveness and safety of a particular molecule, norfloxacin. Generic drugs do not have their own evidence base.

The manufacturer guarantees the safety of using the tablets and high biological activity, but the therapeutic effect of analogs may differ from Noroxin. In the treatment of any antibacterial infections, preference should be given to original medicines.

However, such drugs are characterized by high cost, so not everyone makes such a choice. In addition, the drug Noroxin has not been supplied on the territory of the Russian Federation for several years. However, the modern pharmaceutical market offers many quality alternatives.

Price of funds

Norfloxacin-based drugs are available in several countries. The cost of a particular drug depends on the manufacturer. For this reason, each of them has its own price.

Name	Price
Norfloxacin 400 mg, 10 tablets, 20 tablets	RUB 155-175 RUB 170-190
Nolitsin 400 mg, 10 tablets, 20 tablets	RUB 180-200 RUB 330-380
Norbactin 400 mg, 10 tablets, 20 tablets	RUB 160-180 RUB 280-330
Normax 400 mg, 6 tablets	130-150 rub.

The specific amount of money that the buyer will need to pack a particular drug depends on the region, city and pricing policy of a particular pharmacy organization.

The domestic remedy Norfloxacin is produced by several pharmaceutical factories:

• FP Obolenskoe;
• Vertex;
• OZONE.

But since all drugs are of domestic origin, they will have approximately the same price range. The table shows the cost of the drug, which is produced at the FPO Obolenskoye plant.

Norfloxacin is an antibiotic or not, it is important to know before using it. Since the agent belongs to the antimicrobial group of drugs, it is dispensed strictly by prescription, regardless of which trade name it is produced under. Therefore, a pharmaceutical worker can only dispense a drug that has been prescribed by a doctor.

However, the buyer still has a choice. In the prescription form, the specialist indicates, as a rule, the international non-proprietary name (Norfloxacin 400 mg).

Therefore, a pharmacist or pharmacist can talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each drug, and the patient can opt for a specific trade name. To understand what is better to choose if there is no original Noroxin on the market, you should consider not only the differences between each of them, but also their cost. And it, as can be seen from the table, can be different.

In order to understand which particular antibiotic will be the most profitable to purchase, it is important to calculate the cost of one tablet of each drug. To do this, the average price value must be divided by the number of tablets in one package.

• Norfloxacin: 165/10 = 16.5 rubles. (cost of 1 tablet when buying a package of 10 pieces) or 180/20 = 9 rubles. (cost of 1 tablet when purchasing a package containing 20 tablets).
• Nolitsin: 190/10 = 19 rubles. or 350/20 = 17.5 rubles.
• Norbactin: 170/10 = 17 rubles. or 305/20 = 15.3 rubles.
• Normax: 140/6 = 23.3 rubles.

As you can see, packages containing 20 antibiotic tablets are somewhat more profitable to purchase. In the production of each pack of tablets, funds are spent on production, packaging and transportation. Normax is available in packs of 6 tablets. This is done so that the buyer does not purchase more than he needs for a course of treatment for a bacterial infection.

The standard course of treatment with norfloxacin for an adult is usually no more than 6 tablets. However, oddly enough, buying such a package will be the most expensive. After all, the cost of one tablet in this case is 23 rubles. While, for example, when buying a large package of domestic Norfloxacin, this figure will be only 9 rubles. It turns out that it is most profitable to purchase this particular drug.

Norbactin is not much more expensive (about 16 rubles. ((17 + 15.3)) / 2) per tablet). Nolitsin will be slightly more expensive (about 18 rubles. (19+17,5)/2). Compared to the domestic counterpart, the price does not differ much (on average 13 rubles. for 1 tablet). However, given that Nolitsin and Norbactin are less likely to cause the development of allergic reactions and have a higher safety profile, it is better to pay a little extra, but be confident in the treatment.

Economic benefit should not be a priority when it comes to treating bacterial infections. Antibiotics are quite aggressive and often cause disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system and the central nervous system.

If it is possible to choose a safer drug by overpaying a few rubles for 1 tablet, it is better to use it. In addition, bacterial infection, as a rule, is characterized by a rapid course and the ability to cause various complications (inflammation, pneumonia, sepsis). Therefore, during its therapy, you should not waste time taking medications with low efficacy or a high risk of developing unwanted adverse reactions.

Norfloxacin is often the drug of choice for infections that require antibiotic use. This remedy has been used in medicine for a long time for the treatment of systemic infectious processes or local bacterial inflammations. There is no doubt about its effectiveness. However, attention should be paid not only to the active ingredient of the drug, but also to its manufacturer.

Author: Olga Orlova

Norfloxacin video

Norfloxacin tablets description and instructions: