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ofloxacin vs sucralfate

Side-by-side comparison of ofloxacin and sucralfate. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

In all case studies to date (cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, digoxin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and ranitidine), dosing the concomitant medication 2 hours before sucralfate eliminated the interaction.

Recommendation: You should take ofloxacin at least 2 hours before taking sucralfate. This helps make sure the antibiotic is fully absorbed into your system.

Drug Class
ofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
sucralfate Mucosal Protective Agent
Type
ofloxacin Prescription
sucralfate Prescription
Summary
ofloxacin

Ofloxacin ear drops are an antibiotic medicine. They fight bacteria to treat ear infections.

sucralfate

Sucralfate is a medicine that helps heal and protect ulcers in your small intestine. It creates a coating over the ulcer to shield it from stomach acid.

What It Treats
ofloxacin

This medicine treats ear infections caused by certain bacteria. It can treat outer ear infections in adults and kids over 6 months old. It also treats middle ear infections with a hole in the eardrum in people 12 and older, and middle ear infections with ear tubes in kids 1 year and older.

sucralfate

Sucralfate is used to treat active duodenal ulcers, which are sores in the first part of your small intestine. It can help heal these ulcers over a period of 4 to 8 weeks. Sucralfate can also be used as maintenance therapy at a lower dose to prevent ulcers from coming back after they have healed.

How It Works
ofloxacin

Ofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to clear up the infection in your ear.

sucralfate

Sucralfate works by forming a protective layer over the ulcer. This coating acts like a bandage, shielding the ulcer from stomach acid and enzymes. This protection helps the ulcer heal.

Common Side Effects
ofloxacin
  • Application site reaction
  • Itching
  • Taste changes
sucralfate
  • Constipation (2%)
FAERS Reports
ofloxacin
  • Eye pain 345
  • Headache 284
  • Pain 278
  • Tiredness 257
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 251
sucralfate
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,262
  • Feeling very tired 1,733
  • Loose, watery stools 1,701
  • General discomfort 1,482
  • Pain in your head 1,381
Serious Warnings
ofloxacin

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to ofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics, or any of the ingredients in the drops.

sucralfate

Inadvertent injection of sucralfate has led to fatal complications, including blood clots in the lungs and brain. Sucralfate is not intended for intravenous administration.

Pregnancy
ofloxacin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if ofloxacin ear drops will harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.

sucralfate

It is not known if sucralfate can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ofloxacin vs sucralfate Comparison

ofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while sucralfate sits within the Mucosal Protective Agent class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ofloxacin has 1,415 submissions while sucralfate has 8,559. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to sucralfate interferes with how your body absorbs ofloxacin, which can stop the antibiotic from working correctly.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between ofloxacin and sucralfate - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.