Levofloxacin

Janssen Pharmaceutica | Levofloxacin (Medication)

Desc:

Levofloxacin is in a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Levaquin fights bacteria in the body.

Levaquin is the brand name for Levofloxacin and it is used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, or prostate. It is also used to treat bacterial infections that cause bronchitis or pneumonia, and to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or plague. ...

Side Effect:

The most frequently reported side events are nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and constipation. Less common side effects include difficulty sleeping, dizziness, abdominal pain, rash, abdominal gas, and itching.

Rare allergic reactions have been described, such as hives and anaphylaxis (shock). ...

Precaution:

Before taking levofloxacin, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, muscle weakness or trouble breathing, joint problems, seizures, diabetes, myasthenia gravis, a history of head injury of brain tumor, a condition called pseudotumor cerebri, low levels of potassium in your blood, a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic.

Avoid taking antacids, vitamin or mineral supplements, sucralfate, or didanosine powder or chewable tablets within 2 hours before or after you take levofloxacin. It may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel.

These effects may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take steroid medication, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Stop taking the drug and call your doctor at once if you have sudden pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or movement problems in any of your joints. Rest the joint until you receive medical care or instructions.

Levofloxacin should be used with caution in patients with central nervous system diseases such as seizures, because rare seizures have been reported in patients receiving levofloxacin. Levofloxacin should be avoided in children and adolescents less than 18 years of age, as safe use in these patients has not been established. ...