Levaquin (Levofloxacin) is an antibiotic in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. Levofloxacin is used to treat various types of bacterial infections. Generic Levaquin has been shown to have a safe and efficient profile for the treatment of many bacterial infections.
Generic Levaquin may also be marketed as: Levofloxacin, Levaquin
Levaquin is manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals.
Uses
Generic Levaquin (levofloxacin) is in a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Generic Levaquin fights bacteria in the body. Generic Levaquin is used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, or prostate. It is also used to treat bacterial infections that cause bronchitis or pneumonia, and to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or plague.
How to take
Take Levofloxacin tablets by mouth with or without food. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional, even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking it except on your prescriber’s advice.
Side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Levaquin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Generic Levaquin and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast 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, easy bruising or bleeding;
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- urinating less than usual or not at all;
- numbness, burning pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;
- at the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or
- fevers, sore throats, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Precautions
Before taking Generic Levaquin, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, muscle weakness or trouble breathing, joint problems, seizures, diabetes, myasthenia gravis, a history of head injury or brain tumor, a condition called pseudotumor cerebri, low levels of potassium in your blood, a personal 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 before or after you take Levaquin.
Interactions
Before taking Generic Levaquin, tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
- insulin or oral diabetes medication;
- theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);
- 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);
- such as dolasetron (Anzemet), droperidol (Inapsine), or ondansetron (Zofran);
- medicine to treat psychiatric disorders, such as clozapine (FazaClo, Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), ziprasidone (Geodon), and others;
- migraine headache medicine such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet);
- narcotic medications such as methadone (Methadose, Diskets, Dolophine);
- Tadagra (Tadalafil, Cialis)
- NSAID (non-steroidal 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
- steroid medicine (prednisone and others).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Generic Levaquin.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
Storage
Keep it out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Keep it at room temperature between 25 and 30 degrees C (59 to 85 degrees F) and keep it in a tightly closed container. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.