Levofloxacin
About Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin is a highly effective antibiotic that is active against a wide range of bacteria. Levofloxacin is used in a variety of bacterial infections, most importantly acute pneumonia (Lung infection), bronchitis (Inflammation of the lung passages), skin infections, and urinary tract infections. A bacterial infection is a condition in which bacteria multiply in the body, causing illness.
Levofloxacin contains Levofloxacin. It works by killing bacteria that cause infections in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, and other parts of the body. This helps stop the infection from spreading and supports recovery.
Take Levofloxacin as prescribed by your doctor. Levofloxacin may cause common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation, trouble sleeping, and allergies. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention. However, talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before starting Levofloxacin, please inform your doctor if you have any allergies (to any antibiotic), kidney or liver problems. Do not take Levofloxacin on your own, as self-medication can lead to antibiotic resistance, in which antibiotics fail to treat specific bacterial infections. Consult your doctor before using Levofloxacin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Uses of Levofloxacin
• Respiratory Infections: Levofloxacin is the antibiotic, effective against bacterial respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Levofloxacin is also used to treat complicated and uncomplicated UTIs.
• Skin Infections: Levofloxacin is prescribed to treat skin and soft tissue infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
• Sinusitis: Levofloxacin helps to treat bacterial sinus infections, easing symptoms and eliminating the disease.
• Prostatitis: Levofloxacin is effective in treating bacterial prostatitis, an infection that causes prostate gland inflammation.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: Levofloxacin can be used to treat Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), a bacterial infection of the female reproductive organs.
Medicinal Benefits
- Helps reduce symptoms of chest infections, such as cough, fever, and breathing discomfort.
- Supports faster relief from lung and airway infections.
- Helps ease pain and burning during urination.
- Supports recovery from bladder and kidney discomfort.Reduces redness, swelling, and infection-related pain.
- Promotes quicker healing of affected skin areas.
- Helps relieve pelvic pain and urinary discomfort.
- Helps reduce pain and pressure in the lower abdomen.
Directions for Use
- Levofloxacin can be taken with or without food.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Levofloxacin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Levofloxacin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Indigestion
- Trouble sleeping
Drug Warnings
- If you are allergic to Levofloxacin or any other ingredients in Levofloxacin, please tell your doctor.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor before taking Levofloxacin.
- Do not take Levofloxacin if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to any fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as delafloxacin, gemifloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and ciprofloxacin.
- Taking Levofloxacin may increase the risk of developing tendinitis (swelling of a fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle) or tendon rupture (tearing of a fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle).
- Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant, kidney disease, a joint or tendon disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder of joints causing pain, swelling, and loss of function), seizures (fits), epilepsy or if you participate in regular physical activity.
- Taking Levofloxacin may worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis (a nervous system disorder that causes muscle weakness) and cause severe difficulty breathing or death.
- Dairy products should be avoided along with Levofloxacin. Also, exposure to sunlight should be avoided while taking Levofloxacin, as it may increase phototoxicity or photosensitivity.
- Patients with epilepsy and irregular heartbeat (QT prolongation) should tell their doctor before taking Levofloxacin.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Inform your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines, as there may be an interaction.
- Pain-relief and anti-inflammatory medicines – NSAIDs (Aspirin, Ibuprofen)
• Potential effect: May increase the risk of seizures and nervous system side effects. - Blood sugar-lowering drugs (Insulin)
• Potential effect: May cause changes in blood sugar levels, leading to low or high blood sugar. - Blood thinners (Warfarin)
• Potential effect: May increase the risk of bleeding when used with levofloxacin injection. - Heart rhythm medicines – Antiarrhythmics (Disopyramide, Sotalol)
• Potential effect: May increase the risk of serious heart rhythm disturbances. - Antibiotics – Macrolides (Erythromycin, Azithromycin)
• Potential effect: May increase the risk of QT prolongation and irregular heartbeat. - Gout (painful joint swelling) and ulcer medicines (Probenecid, Cimetidine)
• Potential effect: May increase levofloxacin blood levels and raise the risk of side effects.
Drug-Food Interaction:
- Dairy Product: Levofloxacin should be avoided with milk and yoghurt.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Levofloxacin should be taken only after a doctor's advice in certain conditions.
- Colitis (swollen intestines)
- Myasthenia gravis (Weak muscles)
- Tendonitis (swelling and pain of a tendon)
- Diabetes
- Hemodialysis (kidney dialysis)
- Kidney dysfunction
- Disease of nerves
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAlcohol is not known to cause any unpleasant side effects if taken along with Levofloxacin. But intake of alcohol with Levofloxacin may damage your liver. So intake of Levofloxacin should be avoided with Levofloxacin.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorIt is not known whether Levofloxacin will affect pregnant women or the fetus or not. Hence, the intake of Levofloxacin should be avoided if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant unless your doctor recommends otherwise.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorBefore taking this drug doctor's consultation is mandatory. Levofloxacin is excreted in human milk. But the amount of Levofloxacin absorbed by the nursing infant is unknown.
Driving
unsafeAfter taking this drug, you can experience side effects like feeling dizzy, tired, and a spinning sensation (vertigo) or alterations in your vision. If this occurs, do not drive or perform any work that requires a high level of concentration.
Liver
cautionLevofloxacin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionLevofloxacin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
cautionLevofloxacin can be given to children, but under medical supervision. Levofloxacin is prescribed to the children to treat complicated urinary tract infections, anthrax infection or plague infection.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Food Timing:
- Avoid dairy products such as milk and yoghurt for at least 2 hours before and after taking the tablet.
- Take the medicine at the same time each day for better effect.
Hygiene:
- Maintain good personal hygiene to prevent infection.
- Wash your hands regularly, especially before meals.
Diet:
- Eat fibre-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Choose light, balanced meals to avoid stomach discomfort.
Gut Health:
- Consume probiotic foods after completing the antibiotic course to restore healthy gut balance.
- Probiotics help lower the chance of loose stools after antibiotics.
General Habits:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Get enough rest to support recovery.
Special Advise
- Before starting Levofloxacin treatment, a patient should take care of the following points:
- During treatment and after 48 hours of discontinuation of treatment with Levofloxacin, limit exposure to heavy sunlight or to artificial UV rays (e.g. sunlight).
- Before using eye drops of Levofloxacin, remove the contact lenses and wait at least 15 minutes before reinsertion.
- Monitor liver function test (LFT), renal function test, white blood cell count, and blood glucose level in diabetic patients, as Levofloxacin may cause harmful interactions in these patients.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infection: A condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply, and infect our bodies. It can target any body part and multiply very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalised symptoms like fevers, chills, and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms, commonly spherical, rod-shaped, and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections range from minor illnesses such as sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections such as meningitis and encephalitis. A few harmful bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and E. coli. Anyone can become infected with bacteria. People with weak immune systems or those taking immunosuppressive medication are more prone to bacterial infections.
FAQs
Levofloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections, including acute pneumonia (lung infection)‚ bronchitis (inflammation of lung passages), skin infections, as well as urinary tract infections.
Levofloxacin inhibits the growth of bacteria, which are then destroyed by our immune cells. Levofloxacin also kills bacteria by disrupting their inner cellular contents, thus helping fight infection.
Diarrhoea may be caused by Levofloxacin. It is an antibiotic that destroys dangerous bacteria by killing them. Nonetheless, it also affects the beneficial bacteria in your stomach or gut and causes diarrhoea. Talk to your doctor about it if you have serious diarrhoea.
It is recommended not to stop taking this drug without completing the course as prescribed by a doctor. If a patient stops taking this drug by himself/herself, it may be difficult to treat future infections with Levofloxacin due to resistance that microbes develop on non-completion of the drug course.
It is safe to use Levofloxacin alongside contraceptives; no harmful/negative interaction has been reported between them.
Before starting Levofloxacin, discuss your medical history, allergies, current medications, and any concerns with your physician.
To ensure safe usage of Levofloxacin, follow these simple steps. Take the recommended dose, never take an overdose, and inform your doctor if you become pregnant while using this medication. Monitor your body's response and report any side effects. Also, avoid consuming alcohol while taking this medication. By following these guidelines, you'll maximize the benefits of Levofloxacin and protect your health.
Levofloxacin is generally considered safe when taken as directed by your doctor. However, like all medications, it may cause side effects, and its safety depends on individual factors, such as your medical history, current health, and other medications you're taking. Always follow your doctor's instructions and advice.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it's almost time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Although Levofloxacin is generally safe, it's essential to be aware that it may carry a small risk of muscle damage. However, this risk can be minimised with proper use and medical supervision.
No, Levofloxacin is ineffective against viral infections such as the common cold or flu. It is specifically designed to target and treat bacterial infections.
It's best to consult your doctor before taking painkillers with Levofloxacin. Some painkillers may interact with Levofloxacin, so your doctor can advise on safe options.
It's recommended to avoid or limit alcohol consumption while taking Levofloxacin, as alcohol may interact with the medication and increase the risk of side effects. Consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Levofloxacin is generally well-tolerated, but some people may experience side effects like nausea, vomiting, and digestive issues. These effects are usually mild and temporary. If you experience any side effects, it's always best to consult your doctor.
