It is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which is being used to treat prostatitis, bronchitis, folliculitis, edema, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, otitis externa, influenza, colds, respiratory tract infection, and skin and soft tissue infection. It has approved by FDA in 1996 for the indication and treatment of sinusitis, pneumonia, skin infection, and chronic bronchitis.
There are many medicines which are not suitable for many people. Before taking levofloxacin you should follow some precautions and instruction and its interaction in certain conditions. Such as, if you are pregnant consult your physician before taking this medicine. Secondly, levofloxacin is contraindicated in conditions like tendonitis, kidney problem, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, mental health problem, heart disease, aneurysm disease, or any recent surgery.
Symptoms and Indications
Levofloxacin is being used for the indication and treatment of the following diseases
Nosocomial Pneumonia
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Acute Bacterial Sinusitis
Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis
Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infection (SSSI)
Uncomplicated SSSI
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
Complicated Urinary Tract Infection or Acute Pyelonephritis
Inhalational Anthrax
Dosage
If you are facing acute bacterial sinusitis you can take levofloxacin 500mg BD for about ten days. In bronchitis, pneumonia, soft tissue infection, and urinary tract infection the dosage should be 7-14 days 500mg once daily.
Dosage Table
Type of Infections Dosage/Duration
Nosocomial Pneumonia 500-750mg/24 hours for 7-14 days
Community Acquired Pneumonia 500mg/24 hours for 5 days
Acute Bacterial Sinusitis 500mg-750/24 hours for 5 days
Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis 500mg/24 hours for 7 days
Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infection (SSSI) 500-750mg/24 hours for 7-14 days
Uncomplicated SSSI 500mg/24 hours for 7-10 days
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis 500mg/24 hours for 28 days
Complicated Urinary Tract Infection or Acute Pyelonephritis 250-750mg/ 24 hours for 5-10 days
Inhalational Anthrax (Post-Exposure) 500mg/ 24 hours for 60 days
Side Effects of Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin is usually well tolerated but some adverse effects reported during its therapy
General: Some allergic reaction may occur such as urticaria, cramping of bronchi, breathing problem, and swelling of the skin
Skin Reactions: Itching and rashes may occur
Gastrointestinal tract/metabolism: Levofloxacin also cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and pain in the abdominal side
Nervous System: In the nervous system, it may cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, restlessness, and confusions
Cardiovascular System: Heartbeat and blood pressure changes
Muscle and bones: Levofloxacin also causes pain and inflammation in joints and muscle
Liver and Kidney: Levofloxacin increases liver enzymes such as ALT, AST. It increases the level of bilirubin and serum creatinine. Also increases inflammation of the liver and kidney failure may occur
Some serious and fatal events may also occur such as
- Fever and some dermatologic reactions may occur
- Vasculitis, myalgia, serum sickness, and arthralgia may occur
- Allergic pneumonitis
- Acute and renal insufficiency failure
- Interstitial nephritis
- Acute necrosis failure
- Sometimes it also causes anemia
Contraindications
Levofloxacin is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to levofloxacin and other quinolone antibiotics. It is also contraindicated in children and adolescents and cartilage damages cannot be excluded.
Precautions
Levofloxacin has neuromuscular blocking activity and may cause muscle weakness in patients with myasthenia gravis. Do not give levofloxacin to myasthenia gravis patients.
Consult your physician if it starts to decrease your blood pressure. Secondly, care should be taken, if you have any mental problem or liver disease.
Do not give levofloxacin to a patient who has glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Do not give levofloxacin to a patient who is suffering from epilepsy.
Also do not give levofloxacin to children, because it can damage the cartilage.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Do not use Levofloxacin in pregnancy and lactation. Consult your physician before taking Levofloxacin in pregnancy and Lactation.
Paediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of six months have been not established, therefore do not give Levofloxacin to children below 6 months.