LEVOFLOXACIN (ORAL)

(LEE voe FLOX a sin) Brand: Levaquin, Levaquin Leva-Pak

What is the most significant information I must know about levofloxacin?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to levofloxacin or similar antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and others.

• Till taking levofloxacin, speak your doctor if you have kidney or liver malady, 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 private 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 (Carafate), or didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets within 2 hours till or after you take levofloxacin.

• Levofloxacin may reason 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 medicine, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Stop taking levofloxacin 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 before you receive medical care or instructions.

What is levofloxacin?

• Levofloxacin is in a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (flor-o-KWIN-o-lones). Levofloxacin fights bacteria in the body.

• Levofloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, or prostate. Levofloxacin is also used to treat bacterial infections that reason bronchitis or pneumonia, and to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or plague.

• Levofloxacin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking levofloxacin?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to levofloxacin or another fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and others.

• To create certain you can safely take levofloxacin, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· myasthenia gravis;

· a heart rhythm mess, especially if you take amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), ibutilide (Corvert), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quin-G), or sotalol (Betapace);

· a history of allergic reaction to an antibiotic;

· joint problems;

· kidney or liver disease;

· seizures or epilepsy;

· a history of head injury or brain tumor;

· a condition called pseudotumor cerebri (high pressure internal the skull that may reason headaches, vision loss, or another symptoms);

· diabetes;

· muscle weakness or trouble breathing;

· low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia); or

· a private or family history of Long QT syndrome.

• FDA pregnancy category C: It is not known whether levofloxacin is deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Levofloxacin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Do not share this medicine with other face (especially a child), even if they have the same symptoms you have.

How must I take levofloxacin?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Take levofloxacin with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Drink different extra glasses of fluid every day while you are taking levofloxacin. You may take levofloxacin tablets with or without food.

• Take levofloxacin oral solution (liquid) on an empty stomach 1 hour till or 2 hours after meals. Measure liquid medication with a particular dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Take this medicine for the full predesigned length of time. Your symptoms may improve till the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also magnify your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Levofloxacin will not treat a viral infection such as the general cool or flu.

• This medicine can reason you to have a false positive drug screening test. If you provide a urine sample for drug screening, speak the laboratory staff that you are taking levofloxacin.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not let the liquid medication to freeze.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include loss of balance or coordination, drooping eyelids, weakness, decreased activity, trouble breathing, sweating, tremors, or seizure (convulsions).

What must I avoid while taking levofloxacin?

• You may be taking determined another medicines that must not be taken at the same time as levofloxacin. Avoid taking the next medicines within 2 hours till or after you take levofloxacin. These another medicines can create levofloxacin many smaller effective when taken at the same time:

· antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (such as Maalox, Mylanta, or Rolaids), or the ulcer medication sucralfate (Carafate);

· didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable tablets; or

· vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron or zinc.

• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Levofloxacin can create you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors. Call your doctor if you have severe burning, redness, itching, rash, or swelling after being in the sun.

• Antibiotic medicines can reason diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking levofloxacin and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medication unless your doctor tells you to.

What are the possible side effects of levofloxacin?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop using levofloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, quick or pounding heartbeats;

· sudden pain, snapping or popping sound, bruising, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or loss of movement in any of your joints;

· diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

· confusion, hallucinations, depression, tremors, feeling restless or anxious, unusual thoughts or behavior, insomnia, nightmares, seizure (convulsions);

· severe headache, ringing in your ears, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes;

· pale skin, fever, weakness, light bruising or bleeding;

· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· urinating smaller than normal or not at all;

· numbness, burning pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;

· the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· mild diarrhea, constipation, vomiting;

· sleep problems (insomnia);

· mild headache or dizziness; or

· vaginal itching or discharge.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect levofloxacin?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

· insulin or oral diabetes medication;

· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);

· an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), moxifloxacin (Avelox), or pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);

· an antidepressant such as amitriptylline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), clomipramine (Anafranil), or desipramine (Norpramin);

· anti-malaria medications such as chloroquine (Aralen) or mefloquine (Lariam);

· medication to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting such as dolasetron (Anzemet), droperidol (Inapsine), or ondansetron (Zofran);

· medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as clozapine (FazaClo, Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), ziprasidone (Geodon), and others;

· migraine headache medication such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet);

· narcotic medicine such as methadone (Methadose, Diskets, Dolophine);

· an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others; or

· a steroid medication (prednisone and others).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with levofloxacin. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about levofloxacin.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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