Levaquin (LEVOFLOXACIN) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections (e.g., urinary tract infections, skin infections, or respiratory tract infections).
Take your complete prescription exactly as directed, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop taking Levaquin too soon, the infection may come back. You may take Levaquin at mealtimes or in between, but you should avoid taking it within 2 hours of the following:
The ulcer medication Carafate
Be sure to drink plenty of fluid while taking Levaquin.
Levaquin Side Effects
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Levaquin.
More common side effects may include:
Headache, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping
Less common or rare side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, abnormal vision, aggressiveness, agitation, anemia, angina, anxiety, asthma, bad taste, back pain, bone inflammation, blood abnormalities, blood clot, bursitis, changeable emotions, chest pain, circulatory failure, colitis, coma, confusion, coughing, decreased senses, dehydration, depression, difficulty breathing, difficulty concentrating, disorientation, disturbed sense of smell, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, exaggerated sense of well-being, fainting, fever, fungal infection, gas, general feeling of unwellness, genital infection and itching, hallucination, heart attack, heart failure, high or low blood pressure, high or low blood sugar, hives, impaired thinking, impotence, indigestion, intestinal bleeding, intestinal inflammation, involuntary muscle movement, irregular heartbeat, itching, joint inflammation and pain, kidney disorders, lack of muscle coordination, liver disorders, loss of appetite, lung inflammation, muscle pain, muscle tension, muscle weakness, nervousness, nosebleed, pancreatitis, paralysis, purple or red spots on skin, rapid or slow heartbeat, rash, ringing in the ears, seizures, skin disorders, sinus or nasal inflammation, sleep disorders, speech difficulty or disorder, sweating, swelling, swollen tongue, trembling, tendon inflammation, tremor, tumor, vaginal inflammation, vertigo, vomiting, weakness, weight loss, yeast infection, yellowing of eyes and skin
Levaquin Medical Precautions
If any other quinolone antibiotic—such as Cipro, Floxin, Maxaquin, Noroxin, or Penetrex—has ever given you an allergic reaction, avoid Levaquin.
In rare cases, Levaquin has caused convulsions and other nervous disorders. If you develop any warning signs of a nervous reaction—ranging from restlessness and tremors to depression and hallucinations—stop taking this medication and call your doctor.
Levaquin may cause dizziness or light-headedness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
Hypersensitivity to quinolone antibiotics can, in rare instances, lead to severe illnesses ranging from blood disorders to liver or kidney failure. The first sign of a developing problem is often a rash; so you should stop taking Levaquin and check with your doctor when any type of skin disorder appears. Remember, too, that an immediate allergic reaction is also a possibility.
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking theophylline, other antibiotics, iron, zinc, antacids, sucralfate, quinapril, didanosine (chewable/buffered tablets or oral solution), NSAID (e.g., ibuprofen, aspirin), live vaccines, medicines for diabetes (e.g., glyburide or insulin), or warfarin. OTHER MEDICINES BESIDES LEVOFLOXACIN which may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and sparfloxacin among others. QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Ask for instructions about whether you need to stop any other QTc-prolonging drugs you may be using in order to minimize the risk of this effect. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including kidney disease, seizures, tendon problems, nervous system disorders, blood vessel disease, brain disorders (e.g., cerebral arteriosclerosis, tumors or increased intracranial pressure), allergies (especially to other quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin), pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IN CHILDREN under 18 years old is not recommended. This medicine can cause joint or bone problems in young children. Please talk with your doctor about risks and benefits before giving this medicine to your child.
Levaquin Drug Interactions
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin, Advil, and Naprosyn can increase the risk of a nervous reaction to Levaquin. Also, consult with your doctor before combining Levaquin with an oral diabetes drug such as Micronase, Glucotrol, or Orinase; changes in blood sugar levels could result. If you are taking the asthma medication, theophylline, or the blood-thinning drug, Coumadin, make sure the doctor is aware of it. Other quinolone antibiotics have been known to interact with these medicines.
Levaquin Medical Notes
The possibility that Levaquin might harm a developing baby has not been ruled out. It should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the possible risk. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Levaquin is likely to appear in breast milk and could harm a nursing infant. If the drug is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to stop nursing until your treatment is finished.
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Levaquin Missed Dosages
If you miss a dose of Levaquin, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Levaquin Storage
Store at room temperature. Keep container tightly closed.
