Ofloxacin Otic Solution Shortage

• • Ofloxacin otic solution, Apotex, 0.3%, 10 mL bottle, 1 count, NDC 60505-0363-02
  • Ofloxacin otic solution, Apotex, 0.3%, 5 mL bottle, 1 count, NDC 60505-0363-01
  • Ofloxacin otic solution, Sandoz, 0.3%, 10 mL bottle, 1 count, NDC 61314-0015-10
  • Ofloxacin otic solution, Sandoz, 0.3%, 5 mL bottle, 1 count, NDC 61314-0015-05

• • Apotex discontinued ofloxacin otic solution in early-2015.
  • Sandoz discontinued ofloxacin otic solution in mid-2015.
  • Valeant could not provide a reason for the shortage.

• • Ofloxacin otic solution, Valeant, 0.3%, 10 mL bottle, 1 count, NDC 24208-0410-10
  • Ofloxacin otic solution, Valeant, 0.3%, 5 mL bottle, 1 count, NDC 24208-0410-05

Estimated Resupply Dates

• • Valeant has ofloxacin otic 5 mL and 10 mL vials available.

Safety

• • Ophthalmic drops can generally be used in the ears; however, otic drops should never be used in the eyes. Ophthalmic drops cannot automatically be substituted for otic drops; prescribers must specifically indicate this on the prescription.
  • Ofloxacin ophthalmic and otic drops have similar inactive ingredients except for the concentration of benzalkonium chloride is 0.005% in the ophthalmic solution and 0.0025% in the otic formulation.
  • The dosage and administration of ofloxacin is significantly different between the otic and ophthalmic routes.