Moxifloxacin (Vigamox) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that treats bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) in people of all ages. It's an eye drop that's placed in the affected eye(s) 3 times per day for 7 days. Side effects aren't common but can include dry eye, eye pain, eye redness, and itchy eyes. This medication is available as a brand-name and generic version.
Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Moxifloxacin (Vigamox) is a fluoroquinolone (or "quinolone") antibiotic. It works by blocking certain proteins that bacteria use to grow, repair their genetic material (DNA), and survive. By blocking this process, moxifloxacin (Vigamox) kills bacteria.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Fainting or loss of consciousness
fast or irregular breathing
itching or skin rash
swelling of the eyes or eyelids
tightness in the chest
trouble with breathing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Burning, dry, or itching eyes
change in vision
decreased vision
excessive tearing
eye discharge
itching of the eye
pain in the eye
red, sore eyes
tearing
Less common
Body aches or pain
congestion
cough or hoarseness
decreased hearing
dryness or soreness of the throat
fever or chills
general body discomfort
lower back or side pain
painful or difficult urination
rubbing or pulling of the ears (in children)
tender, swollen glands in the neck
trouble with swallowing
voice changes
vomiting and diarrhea (in infants)
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Can typically start to improve symptoms in a few days
Generally used less often during the day than alternatives
Safe to use in children and infants
Available as a lower-cost generic
Need to use 3 times a day
Can cause eye discomfort
Might be difficult for some people to use properly
Be sure to use moxifloxacin (Vigamox) for the full amount of time that your prescriber told you to, even if your eye infection starts getting better. Stopping moxifloxacin (Vigamox) too soon can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
Wash your hands before and after putting moxifloxacin (Vigamox) drops in your eyes. Don't let the dropper tip touch your eye or any other surface, and don't touch the dropper tip with your hands. This lowers the risk for contaminating the medication with germs.
How to use moxifloxacin (Vigamox): To use the antibiotic eye drops, tilt your head backward and look up. Gently pull your lower eyelid down to form a small pocket. Then, squeeze one drop of medication into this pocket. Don't blink or wipe your eye. Close your eye while pressing a finger against the inside corner of your eye for about one minute to help keep the medication in your eye.
If you need to use other eye drop medications in addition to moxifloxacin (Vigamox), wait 5 minutes between using each drop to give your eyes time to fully absorb each medication.
If you need to use an eye ointment at the same time as moxifloxacin (Vigamox), use moxifloxacin (Vigamox) first, wait 5 minutes, and then apply your eye ointment.
Don't wear contacts while you're using moxifloxacin (Vigamox). In general, it's usually best not to wear contacts while you have an eye infection, since this can affect how quickly your symptoms improve.
Throw away any contact lenses you were wearing before you started using moxifloxacin (Vigamox), as they most likely have bacteria on them. Wear a new pair of contacts once your infection is cleared up.
Keep the moxifloxacin (Vigamox) bottle at room temperature. Don't put it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Moxifloxacin (Vigamox) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Moxifloxacin (Vigamox) is an eye drop medication that should only be placed on the surface of the eye. Don't put moxifloxacin (Vigamox) on or into any other place on your body.
Using moxifloxacin (Vigamox) for too long can allow any bacteria, fungi, or other germs that the medication can't get rid of to infect the eye. Contact your primary care provider for follow up if your eye infection isn't improving. You might need additional testing and treatment.
It's not recommended to wear contact lenses while you have symptoms of a bacterial infection in your eye (pink eye). Throw away any contacts you wore before you started treatment since they might have bacteria on them. Also don't wear contacts while you're treating your infection with moxifloxacin (Vigamox). Ask your primary care provider or optometrist when it's safe to put contacts back into your eyes once your infection clears.
Risk factors: Allergy to fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Some people who took other forms of moxifloxacin (e.g., oral tablets, injection) have experienced severe allergic reactions. These can include life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Get medical help right away if you notice hives, rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, or trouble breathing after you use moxifloxacin (Vigamox).
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
3ml of 0.5% | 1 eye dropper | $110.17 | $110.17 |
The typical dose is 1 drop in the affected eye(s) 3 times a day for 7 days.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Severe allergy to fluoroquinolone antibiotics
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Chaudhary, O. R. (2022). Can I wear contact lenses while I have pink eye? American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Mwangi, N., et al. (2023). Empowering patients to manage their eye medication at home. Community Eye Health.
Pham, T. D. M., et al. (2019). Quinolone antibiotics. MedChemComm.
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Valentini, C., et al. (2021). Price differences between otic and ophthalmic drops. Otology & Neurotology.
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