Many common infections in humans are caused by single cell organisms called bacteria. Bacteria can grow and multiply infecting different parts of the body. Medicines that control and eradicate these bacteria are called antibiotics. Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that stops multiplication of bacteria by preventing the reproduction and repair of their genetic material DNA. It is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, a class that includes ciprofloxacin i.e. Cipro, norfloxacin i.e. Noroxin, ofloxacin i.e. Floxin, trovafloxacin i.e. Trovan and lomefloxacin i.e. Maxaquin.

Levofloxacin was approved by the FDA in 1996.

However, before taking Levofloxacin i.e. Levaquin medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Levaquin medication. However, Levaquin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Generic Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin usually is given once daily. It is important to take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after any antacid or mineral supplement with iron, calcium, zinc or magnesium, since these minerals bind levofloxacin and prevent its absorption.

If you wish to use the medication for your children, please contact your pediatrician for the dosage.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most frequently reported side events are nausea or vomiting 1 out of every 12 persons, diarrhea 1 out 20, headache 1 out 20 and constipation 1 out of 30. Less common side effects include dizziness, difficulty in sleeping, itching, abdominal pain, rashes, abdominal gas etc.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

Minerals with 2 or 3 positive charges called divalent or trivalent ions respectively can attach to levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones and prevent their absorption from the intestine into the blood. Therefore, such products containing iron, calcium, zinc or magnesium as well as antacids should be taken at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after levofloxacin. Other drugs which contain these ions and which can similarly interact with levofloxacin include sucralfate i.e. Carafate and didanosine, dDI.

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs with levofloxacin may increase the risk of CNS stimulation resulting in over-excitation. There have been reports of changes in blood sugar in patients treated with other fluoroquinolones and antidiabetic agents. Other fluoroquinolones have been reported to increase blood levels of theophylline i.e. Theodur, warfarin i.e. Coumadin and cyclosporine i.e. Sandimmune, Neoral. There have not yet been similar reports with levofloxacin.

Moreover, Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Levaquin medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Levaquin medication.
Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin medication is used to treat infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, airways, bones and joints, caused by susceptible bacteria. Levofloxacin also is frequently used to treat urinary infections including those resistant to other antibiotics as well as prostatitis. Levofloxacin is effective in treating infectious diarrheas caused by E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Shigella bacteria. Levofloxacin also can be used to treat various obstetric infections including mastitis.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin medication.

Store generic Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin, at room temperature below 86°F. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Levaquin medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, irregular/slow heartbeat or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Levaquin medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc. This includes any medicines containing ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen.

4. Do not use the Levaquin i.e. Levofloxacin medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Levaquin medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Levaquin medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. The Levaquin medicine may cause Hypoglycemia i.e. low blood sugar, especially if you have diabetes and take medicine to control your blood sugar levels. Signs of hypoglycemia include increased heartbeat, headache, chills, sweating, tremor, increased hunger, changes in vision, nervousness, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, or fainting. If you do not have a reliable source of glucose available, such as glucose tablets or gel, eat a quick source of sugar such as table sugar, honey, or candy, or drink a glass of orange juice or non-diet soda to quickly raise your blood sugar level.

11. If you have diabetes, this medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.

12. The Levaquin medicine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period.

13. However, caution is advised, when using this medicine in the elderly, because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine.

14. Use of this medicine for prolonged or repeated periods may result in a new fungal infection such as oral thrush or a vaginal yeast infection.

15. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Levaquin.