Levofloxacin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Levofloxacin?

What is the drug Levofloxacin used for?

Levofloxacin is a drug used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. Levofloxacin includes quinolone antibiotics which are used to treat sinusitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis. This drug can also be used to treat skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and so on.

Lefofloxacin works by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause infection. This medicine does not work for viral infections (such as cold, flu). Improper, excessive, or unnecessary use of antibiotics can affect the effectiveness of the drug.

Levofloxacin dosage

How to use the drug Levofloxacin?

Read the drug instructions provided by the pharmacist before using this medication. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication as directed by your doctor, usually once a day with or without food. Drink plenty of water while using this medicine unless your doctor recommends it differently.

The dose of levofloxacin and the length of time it is used will depend on your health condition and response to treatment. For children with certain infectious diseases, levofloxacin dosage can also be based on body weight.

Antibiotics work best if the amount is always the same or constant in the body. So, use this drug at approximately the same intervals.

Continue to use this medication until the prescribed one is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the drug too quickly can allow the bacteria to continue to grow, which can eventually become infected again.

Use this medication at least 2 hours before or after using other drugs that can bind this drug, reducing its effectiveness. Ask your pharmacist about other products you use. For example, such as: quinapril, vitamins / minerals (including iron and zinc supplements), and products containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium (such as antacids, didanosine solution, calcium supplements).

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is the drug Levofloxacin stored?

Levofloxacin is a drug that should be stored at room temperature. Keep the medicine away from direct sunlight and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Levofloxacin side effects

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the levofloxacin dosage for adults?

To treat pneumonia, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 750 mg orally or intravenously (IV) every 24 hours for 7-14 days.

To treat sinusitis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 500 mg orally or intravenously (IV) every 24 hours for 10-14 days; or 750 mg orally or by infusion (IV) every 24 hours for 5 days.

To treat bronchitis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 500 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 7 days.

To treat skin or soft tissue infections, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• Non-complications: 500 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 7-10 days.
• Complications: 750 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 7-14 days.

To treat prostatitis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 500 mg orally or intravenously (IV) every 24 hours for 28 days.

To treat urinary tract infections, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• Non complication: 250 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 3 days.
• Complications: 750 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 5 days.

To treat pyelonephritis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• Because Escherichia coli: 250 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 10 days.
  Due to E coli (including cases with concurrent bacteremia): 750 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once daily for 5 days.

To treat cystitis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 250 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 3 days.

To treat anthrax prophylaxis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 500 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once daily for 60 days post exposure

To treat plague (including plague pneumonic and septicemia), the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 500 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day for 10-14 days. Drug administration should be started as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to Yersinia pestis infection. Higher doses (750 mg orally or IV once daily) can be used for plague therapy if needed.

To treat tuberculosis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• 500-1000 mg orally or intravenously (IV) once a day.

To treat Nongonococcal urethritis, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• CDC recommendation: 500 mg orally once a day for 7 days.

To treat chlamydia, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• CDC recommendation: 500 mg orally once a day for 7 days.

To treat pelvic inflammation, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• Mild to moderate acute pelvic inflammation: 500 mg orally once a day for 14 days.

To treat epididymitis and other sexually transmitted diseases, the dosage of levofloxacin is:

• CDC recommendation: 500 mg orally once a day for 10 days.

What is the levofloxacin dosage for children?

Child dosage for anthrax prophylaxis

• Over 6 months of weight less than 50 kg 8 mg / kg orally or IV every 12 hours for 60 days; not more than 250 mg per dose
• Over 6 months of weight over 50 kg: 500 mg orally or IV every 24 hours for 60 days

Child dosage for plague (including plague pneumonic and septicemia) and plague prophylaxis:

• Over 6 months of weight less than 50 kg: 8 mg / kg orally or IV every 12 hours for 10-14 days; not more than 250 mg per dose.
• Over 6 months of weight over 50 kg: 500 mg orally or IV every 24 hours for 60 days.

In what dosage is the drug Levofloxacin available?

Levofloxacin is available in the following dosages.

• Solution / liquid
• Oral: 25 mg / mL

Levofloxacin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What side effects can be experienced due to the use of the drug levofloxacin?

The most common side effects of levofloxacin are:

• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Nausea.
• Gag.
• Sleep disturbance (insomnia).
• Headache or lightheadedness.
• Vaginal itching or discharge.
• Allergic reactions that include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this drug and seek immediate medical care or contact a doctor if you experience serious side effects such as:

• Chest pain.
• Severe headache
• Fast or pounding heart rate.
• Sudden joint pain.
• Cracking or cracking sound in the joint.
• The joint is bruised, swollen, stiff, or immobile.
• Watery or bloody diarrhea.
• Ringing in ears.
• Pain behind the ear.
• Blurry eyes.
• Pale skin.
• Limp.
• Bruising or bleeding easily.
• Upper abdominal pain; itchy.
• No appetite.
• Dark urine.
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Urinating rarely or not at all.
• Numbness, burning pain, or tingling sensation in the hands or feet.
• Confused.
• Hallucinations.
• Depression.
• Tremor.
• Restless or anxious.
• Seizures.
• Severe skin reactions - fever, sore throat, burning in the eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially on the face or upper body) and causes blisters and peeling.

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Levofloxacin Drug Interactions

What should be known before using Levofloxacin?

There are several things you should know before using levofloxacin, including:

Antibiotic allergy

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic or have a severe reaction to other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin), gemifloxacin (Factive), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin) (not available in the US), moxifloxacin (Avelox), nalidixic acid (NegGram), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), and sparfloxacin (Zagam) (not available in the US): or other drugs, or allergies to other ingredients in levofloxacin tablets or solutions. Ask your pharmacist or read in the drug directions for a list of medicinal ingredients.

Other drugs

Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or planning to take. Make sure you mention the drugs in the section IMPORTANT WARNING and the following drugs:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
• Antidepressants.
• Antipsychotics (drugs to treat mental disorders).
• Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).
• Diuretic.
• Insulin.
• Oral diabetes medications such as glyburide (DiaBeta, in Glucovance, Micronase, others).
• Medicines for irregular heartbeats such as amiodarone (Cordarone), procainamide (Procanbid), quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine).
• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); tacrolimus (Prograf); or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, and others). Your doctor may change the dose or closely monitor any side effects.

Antacid drugs

If you are taking an antacid medicine that contains aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, others), didanosine (Videx), sucralfate (Carafate), or a vitamin or mineral supplement that contains iron or zinc, use this medication 2 hours before or after you take levofloxacin.

Medical conditions

Tell your doctor if you or a member of your family has had a prolonged QT interval (a heart disorder that can cause an irregular heartbeat, fainting or sudden death), nervous disorders, low potassium levels in the blood, slow heart rate, cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the vessels blood in or near the brain that can cause a stroke or mini-stroke), seizures, chest pain, or liver disease.

Pregnant and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant and are taking levofloxacin, contact your doctor.

Drive

You should know that this drug can make you confused, dizzy, lightheaded and tired. Do not drive a car or run motorized vehicles or activities that require coordination until the effects of the drug have run out.

Sunlight

Avoid unnecessary or prolonged sun exposure and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. This medicine may also make your skin sensitive to sunlight. If your skin is red, swollen, or blistered, such as sunburn, call your doctor.

Is the drug Levofloxacin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

There is not yet sufficient information about the safety of using this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

It is not known whether levofloxacin passes into breast milk or could harm a nursing baby. You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Levofloxacin overdose

What medicines may interact with the drug Levofloxacin?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

The following are some of the drugs that may interact with the antibiotic levofloxacin:

• Diuretic
• Theophylline
• Amiodarone
• Disopyramide
• Defetilide
• Dronedarone
• Procainamide
• Quinidine
• Sotalo
• Amitriptylline
• Clomipramine
• Desipramine
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Nortriptyline
• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen
• Celecoxib
• Diclofenac
• Indomethacin
• Meloxicam

Can food or alcohol interact with the drug Levofloxacin?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Levofloxacin?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, in particular:

• Bradycardia (slow heart rate).
• Diabetes.
• Diarrhea.
• Suffer from or a family history of heart rhythm disorders (for example, prolonged QT interval).
• Hypokalemia (low potassium level in the blood).
• Liver disease (including hepatitis).
• Myocardial ischemia (decreased back blood flow to the heart).
• Seizures or a history of seizures (epilepsy).
• Brain disease (for example, hardening of the arteries).
• Severe kidney disease.
• Organ transplant or history (eg, heart, kidney or lung).
• History of tendon disorders (eg, rheumatoid arthritis).
• History of myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness).

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.