Azithromycin+levofloxacin
About Azithromycin+levofloxacin
The prescription medicine Azithromycin+levofloxacin is used to treat severe bacterial infections, particularly those affecting the lungs and airways. Recovering from a severe lung infection can take time and may leave you feeling tired or unwell. Taking this medicine exactly as prescribed and allowing yourself adequate rest can help support your recovery. This treatment is commonly prescribed for conditions like severe lung infections and worsening bronchitis when multiple bacteria are involved. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria and helping to eliminate the infection.
To get the best results, you should take Azithromycin+levofloxacin at the exact frequency prescribed by your doctor to keep a steady amount of the medicine in your body. It can be taken with or without food, though taking it with food can help prevent stomach upset if your system is sensitive. Drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest may help support your recovery.
While taking this medicine, you may experience mild side effects like nausea, diarrhoea, or a temporary change in your sense of taste. However, if you experience serious symptoms like sudden joint pain, severe watery diarrhoea, or an irregular heartbeat, you must contact your doctor immediately.
Before starting Azithromycin+levofloxacin, tell your doctor if you have a history of heart rhythm problems, liver damage, kidney disease, or myasthenia gravis. You should not take this medicine if you have previously had severe allergic reactions to similar antibiotics or a history of tendon rupture.
Certain medications, like antacids and blood thinners, can interfere with Azithromycin+levofloxacin or increase your risk of bleeding, while alcohol should be avoided because it can worsen dizziness and stomach upset. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or over the age of 65, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to make sure this medication is safe for you.
Uses of Azithromycin+levofloxacin
Medicinal Benefits
Azithromycin+levofloxacin helps treat severe bacterial infections affecting the lungs and airways by stopping the growth and spread of bacteria. Controlling the infection, it helps relieve symptoms and supports your body's natural recovery. Taking the medicine exactly as prescribed also helps reduce the risk of the infection worsening or returning.
- Relieves Symptoms of Respiratory Infections: By treating the bacterial infection, it helps reduce symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, chest congestion, and breathing discomfort, allowing you to feel better as the infection clears.
- Supports Recovery from Bacterial Infections: Clearing the infection helps improve your overall health, making it easier to regain your energy and return to your usual daily activities.
- Helps Prevent Infection Progression: Completing the full prescribed course helps eliminate the bacteria causing the infection and reduces the risk of the infection worsening or recurring.
Directions for Use
- Take Azithromycin+levofloxacin with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Azithromycin+levofloxacin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Azithromycin+levofloxacin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting
- Mild diarrhea or loose stools
- Headache or mild dizziness
- Temporary changes in taste or smell
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Severe, watery, or bloody diarrhoea accompanied by stomach cramps
- Sudden pain, swelling, or stiffness in your tendons or joints (especially around your ankle)
- A fast, pounding, or fluttering heartbeat
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your hands or feet
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as a skin rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, and difficulty breathing
Drug Warnings
- Check the Packaging: Always inspect the packaging before taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin; do not use the medicine if the seal is broken or the tablets look damaged.
- Watch for Tendon Problems: Stop exercising and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any sudden pain or swelling in your ankle, knee, or shoulder, as this medicine can cause tendon issues.
- Take Care When Driving: Be careful when driving or operating machinery, as Azithromycin+levofloxacin can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or affect your coordination.
- Seek Advice for Severe Diarrhoea: If you develop severe, persistent diarrhoea during your treatment or even several weeks after stopping, contact your doctor before taking any anti-diarrheal medicines.
- Inform Healthcare Professionals: Inform your healthcare professional that you are taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin before any medical tests or procedures.
Drug Interactions
Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines, as they may interact.
- Antacids and mineral supplements: Taking antacids containing magnesium or aluminium, or iron and zinc supplements, can bind to the medicine and stop it from working. Always separate these by at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after your dose.
- Blood thinners: Taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin with blood-thinning medications (like warfarin) can increase your risk of bleeding, requiring closer monitoring by your doctor.
- Steroids: Combining this medicine with oral corticosteroid medications (like prednisone) can significantly increase your risk of joint and tendon problems.
- Heart medications: Taking this medicine alongside drugs that affect your heart rhythm (such as certain antiarrhythmics) can increase the risk of severe irregular heartbeats.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption with Azithromycin+levofloxacin as it may increase the severity of adverse effects. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol while using Azithromycin+levofloxacin.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult a doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Azithromycin+levofloxacin is given to pregnant women only if the doctor thinks benefits outweigh risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAzithromycin+levofloxacin may be excreted in human milk. Therefore, Azithromycin+levofloxacin is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Please consult a doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionAzithromycin+levofloxacin may cause dizziness, drowsiness or changes in vision. Therefore, drive only if you are alert after taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin.
Liver
cautionTake Azithromycin+levofloxacin with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Azithromycin+levofloxacin with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeAzithromycin+levofloxacin is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay Well Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay well-hydrated and help your kidneys process the medication safely.
- Separate Calcium-Rich Products from Your Dose: Avoid taking dairy products (such as milk, cheese, or yoghurt) or calcium-fortified drinks at the same time as your dose, as calcium may reduce the absorption of levofloxacin. Take them at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin.
- Be Aware of Caffeine: Limit your intake of caffeine, including coffee, tea, and energy drinks, because Levofloxacin may slow the removal of caffeine from the body in some people, increasing the likelihood of caffeine-related effects such as nervousness or a rapid heartbeat.
- Protect Your Skin from Sunlight: Stay out of direct sunlight and avoid tanning beds while taking this medication. It can make your skin much more sensitive to light, leading to severe sunburns. If you must go outside, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen.
- Consider Taking Probiotics Separately: Wait at least 2 hours after taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin before consuming probiotics, yoghurt, or active-culture foods to help protect your gut health without reducing the antibiotic's effectiveness.
Special Advise
If you are about to undergo any blood or urine tests, inform your doctor that you are taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin as it may interfere with certain tests such as urine tests for opiates and tuberculosis tests.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infection: It is a condition in which harmful bacteria grow in the body and cause infection. It can target any part of the body and multiply very quickly. Bacteria come in three basic shapes, namely spherical, rod, or spiral-shaped. Bacteria may be gram-positive (have thick cell walls) or gram-negative (do not have cell walls). Appropriate tests are done to identify bacterial strains, and based on the results, proper medication is prescribed. Some common symptoms of bacterial infection include cough, fever, and tiredness.
FAQs
Azithromycin+levofloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections of the urinary tract, ears, nose, throat, chest, lungs, prostate gland, skin, and soft tissue.
Azithromycin+levofloxacin contains Azithromycin and Levofloxacin. Azithromycin works by inhibiting the production of essential proteins that are necessary for bacteria to grow, multiply and increase in numbers. Levofloxacin works by interfering with a bacterial enzyme involved in repairing and replicating the DNA (genetic material) of bacteria. Together, they kill bacteria and clear infection.
Azithromycin+levofloxacin may be used to treat lung infection caused by bacteria. Azithromycin+levofloxacin is an antibiotic that kills bacteria and prevents the spread of infection.
You are not recommended to take Azithromycin+levofloxacin with warfarin as co-administration of these two medicines may increase the risk of bleeding more easily. However, please consult your doctor before taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin with other medicines.
Azithromycin+levofloxacin may cause diarrhoea as a common side effect. However, if the condition persists, worsens or if you notice blood or mucus in stools, avoid taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin and consult a doctor immediately.
Azithromycin+levofloxacin is not used to treat viral infections. Azithromycin+levofloxacin is an antibiotic which is used to treat only bacterial infections.
You are not recommended to stop taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin without consulting your doctor as it may worsen the infection or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Azithromycin+levofloxacin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it and if you experience any difficulty while taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin, please consult your doctor.
It is best to avoid alcohol while taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin. Alcohol can increase your risk of experiencing side effects like dizziness, lightheadedness, and an upset stomach, which can make your recovery more difficult. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more advice.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you miss multiple doses.
No, you should not take antacids containing aluminium or magnesium, or multivitamins containing iron, zinc, or calcium, at the same time. These can bind to levofloxacin and reduce its absorption. Take them at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking Azithromycin+levofloxacin. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need help planning when to take these medicines.
Azithromycin+levofloxacin can make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. This means you can get a severe sunburn much more easily than usual. Wear protective clothing, apply sunscreen, and avoid tanning beds while taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor if you develop a severe sunburn or skin rash.
Yes, Azithromycin+levofloxacin belongs to a class of medicines that can occasionally cause tendon pain, swelling, or even tears, especially in the Achilles tendon. This risk is higher if you are over 65, taking steroid medications, or have kidney issues. If you experience sudden joint or tendon pain, stop taking the medicine and talk to your doctor immediately.
Azithromycin+levofloxacin is generally not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless your doctor decides that the benefits outweigh the potential risks to the baby. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to discuss alternative treatment options.
