Table of Contents
Why would a doctor prescribe levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin is used to treat infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, airways, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria. Levofloxacin is frequently used to treat urinary infections, including those resistant to other antibiotics, as well as prostatitis (infection of the prostate).
What is Levofloxacin used for treating?
Levofloxacin is used to treat certain infections such as pneumonia, and kidney, prostate (a male reproductive gland), and skin infections.
What infections is Levaquin good for?
Levaquin is an antibiotic that treats a diverse array of bacterial infections in the lungs, urinary tract, kidneys, sinuses, and skin. Healthcare providers often prescribe it to treat pneumonia, bacterial sinusitis, bronchitis, prostatitis, and urinary tract infections.
What are the side effects of taking levofloxacin?
What are the possible side effects of levofloxacin?
- low blood sugar –headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, or feeling anxious or shaky;
- nerve symptoms in your hands, arms, legs, or feet –numbness, weakness, tingling, burning pain;
How many days should I take levofloxacin?
500 mg taken every 24 hours for 10–14 days or 750 mg taken every 24 hours for 5 days. Your dose will depend on bacteria causing the infection. This drug should not be used in children younger than 17 years for this condition. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to.
What should I avoid while taking levofloxacin?
Avoid dairy products such as milk and yogurt for at least 2 hours before and after taking the medicine. If you take vitamins or antacids such as Tums or Maalox, take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking levofloxacin.
Should I take levofloxacin at night?
This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times, day and night. For example, if you are to take one dose a day, try to take it at the same time each day.
Is 5 days of Levaquin enough?
A high-dose (750 mg) short-course (5 days) of once-daily levofloxacin is approved for use in the US in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) and acute pyelonephritis (AP).
How does levofloxacin work in the body?
Levofloxacin works by converting two bacterial enzymes, topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase, into toxic enzymes that inhibit the manufacture and repair of DNA and other DNA processes, killing the bacteria. Levofloxacin belongs to a group of medicines called fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
How long does levofloxacin stay in the body?
If the patient generally has good health, the body can eliminate Levaquin (levofloxacin) in about 30 to 40 hours, or about a day and a half to two days, but some side effects of the drug can show up as long as two months or longer after taking the medicine. Some of the adverse reactions are irreversible.
What kind of Medicine is levofloxacin used for?
Levofloxacin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
When to use levofloxacin instead of fluoroquinolone?
Levofloxacin is used to treat different types of bacterial infections. Levofloxacin is also used to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or certain types of plague. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can cause serious or disabling side effects. Levofloxacin should be used only for infections that cannot be treated with a safer antibiotic.
Which is the L isomer of levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin : a review of its use as a high-dose, short-course treatment for bacterial infection Levofloxacin (Levaquin) is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial that is the L-isomer of ofloxacin.
What are the side effects of levofloxacin injection?
Levofloxacin can cause serious side effects, including tendon problems, side effects on your nerves (which may cause permanent nerve damage), serious mood or behavior changes (after just one dose), or low blood sugar (which can lead to coma).