Levaquin

Brand Names

Levaquin, Levaquin Leva-Pak

What is Levaquin

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is a prescription antibiotic that effective for treating a variety of different infections. It can also be used to prevent infection after exposure to inhaled anthrax.

Side effects of Levaquin

Levaquin common side effects may include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• constipation
• heartburn
• headache
• vaginal itching and discharge

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects, you should stop using it and inform your doctor immediately:

• severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) that may occur with or without fever and stomach cramps (may occur up to 2 months or more after your treatment)
• skin rash or blisters
• itching
• hives
• tingling or swelling of the face, neck, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• hoarseness or throat tightness
• fainting
• rapid, irregular or pounding heartbeat
• chest pain
• joint or muscle pain
• fever
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• extreme tiredness
• lack of energy
• loss of appetite
• pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• pale stools
• flu-like symptoms
• seizures
• dizziness
• confusion
• nervousness
• restlessness
• anxiety
• not trusting others or feeling that others want to hurt you
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• nightmares or abnormal dreams
• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• depression
• thoughts about dying or killing yourself
• uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
• pain, burning, tingling, numbness or weakness in a part of the body

Indication

Levaquin is used to treat the following infections in adults:

• Sinus infections
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Skin infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Kidney infections
• Prostate infections

Levaquin is also helpful in prevention of infection after exposure to inhaled anthrax in adults and children.

Precautions

It is not recommended to use Levaquin if you have:

• Kidney disease such as kidney failure (renal failure)
• Seizures or epilepsy
• Had a heart, liver or lung transplant
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cerebral arteriosclerosis (hardening and thickening of the arteries of the brain)
• Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia)
• Any other allergies, including allergies to food, dyes or preservatives
• Myasthenia gravis
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Are taking any other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements

Dosage forms

Levaquin dose for adults, children and Infants

No standard Levaquin dose exists for all situations. Your doctor will calculate the appropriate dosage taking into account several factors, including your weight, the severity of the infection, the type of the infection and the type of bacteria causing the infection. You should follow your doctor's dosing instructions carefully.

It is very important to complete the treatment, even if you start to feel better, because it can be resulted in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The length of your treatment will depend on the type and severity of your infections. Some infections can be treated with as few as three days of Levaquin; others require much longer use. While Levaquin is usually taken once a day, people with kidney disease (who do not clear Levaquin from the body well) may need to take the drug every other day. A lower dosage may also be recommended for people with kidney disease.