Levofloxacin 500 mg Tablets
What is Levofloxacin and what is it used for
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic belonging to a class of drugs called 'fluoroquinolones'. It is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with bacterial infections in the following parts of the body:
• Lungs and bronchial tubes.
• Urinary tract (bladder and kidneys)
• Sinuses
• Prostate
• Skin
Do not take Levofloxacin
If you are allergic to levofloxacin, other quinolones, or any of the ingredients of this medicine. Inform your doctor about any allergies and the signs you experience.
Warnings and Precautions
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you develop allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, skin rash, swelling of the face or neck, low blood pressure, and dizziness.
• This medicine may increase the risk of tendonitis (inflammation of the cords that connect muscles to bones). Contact your doctor in case of muscle or joint pain and stiffness. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are 60 years of age or older, taking steroids, or have had kidney, heart, or lung transplants.
• This medicine may cause blood problems such as thrombocytopenia (low platelet count; platelets are responsible for wound healing and stopping bleeding) and other blood issues. Monitor for bleeding, delayed wound healing, easy bruising, feeling tired or dizzy, fever, and paleness.
• This medicine may cause liver problems. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience side effects of a liver problem such as pale skin, yellowing of the eyes, white stools, dark urine, fatigue, and abdominal swelling.
• This medicine may cause confusion, anxiety, convulsions, depression, and difficulty sleeping after the first dose.
• Use of this medicine may be associated with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (a bacterial infection in the intestines that causes diarrhea). Be sure to tell your doctor if you suffer from diarrhea.
• This medicine may cause tingling and numbness in your extremities. If this occurs, be sure to tell your doctor to prevent irreversible nerve damage.
• Be sure to tell your doctor about other medications you are taking to prevent QT prolongation (a heart problem that causes a type of irregular heartbeat).
• Be sure to tell your doctor if you have low levels of potassium in your blood, QT prolongation, or other heart problems.
Possible Side Effects of Levofloxacin
Possible side effects of levofloxacin include: allergic reactions, liver problems, tendonitis (inflammation of the cords that connect muscles to bones) such as muscle or joint pain and stiffness, confusion, dizziness, diarrhea, tingling and numbness in the extremities, signs of QT prolongation (such as dizziness, heart palpitations, weakness, and blurred vision), photosensitivity (skin reactions after exposure to sunlight or UV rays), headache, nausea, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), constipation, and vertigo.
Other Medicines and Levofloxacin
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any of the following medicines:
• If you are taking sucralfate or antacids containing aluminum or magnesium (used for heartburn).
• If you are taking warfarin (a blood thinner).
• If you are taking anti-diabetic medications (used to lower blood sugar levels).
• If you are taking didanosine (used to treat HIV).
• If you are taking iron supplements.
• If you are taking multivitamin preparations containing zinc.
How to take Levofloxacin
Adults:
Hospital-acquired pneumonia:
750 mg (one 750 mg tablet) orally once daily for 7 - 14 days.
Community-acquired pneumonia:
500 mg (one 500 mg tablet) orally once daily for 7 - 14 days or 750 mg (one 750 mg tablet) orally once daily for 5 days.
Acute bacterial sinusitis (sinus infection):
750 mg (one 750 mg tablet) orally once daily for 5 days or 500 mg (one 500 mg tablet) orally once daily for 10 - 14 days.
Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs):
500 mg (one 500 mg tablet) orally once daily for 7 days.
Acute skin and skin structure infections:
750 mg (one 750 mg tablet) orally once daily for 7 - 14 days.
Non-acute skin and skin structure infections (mild skin and mucous membrane infections):
500 mg (one 500 mg tablet) orally once daily for 7 - 10 days.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis:
500 mg (one 500 mg tablet) orally once daily for 28 days.
Acute urinary tract infection or acute pyelonephritis:
750 mg (one 750 mg tablet) orally once daily for 5 days or 250 mg (one 250 mg tablet) orally once daily for 10 days.
Non-acute urinary tract infection (not involving the kidneys):
250 mg (one 250 mg tablet) orally once daily for 3 days.
Post-exposure to inhaled anthrax (a serious type of infection caused by inhaling anthrax spores):
500 mg (one 500 mg tablet) orally once daily for 60 days.
Children:
This medicine is not recommended for use in children and its use is limited only to inhaled anthrax; the recommended dose for this purpose is: 8 mg/kg (maximum dose: 250 mg) orally twice daily for 60 days for children aged 6 months or older weighing less than 50 kg. For children aged 6 months or older weighing more than 50 kg: follow adult dosages for this type of infection. The medicine is not used in children under 6 months of age.
• Take the tablets with or without food.
• Take the tablet with a full glass of water.
• Take the oral solution one hour before or two hours after food.
• Take the solution or tablet at least two hours before or after taking the following medicines: didanosine (used for HIV), antacids (containing aluminum or magnesium), sucralfate, iron supplements, and vitamin preparations containing zinc.
• Take the medicine at the same time every day.
• Do not take more or less than what your doctor prescribed.
• Do not stop taking the medicine before the end of the specified duration even if you start to feel better.
• Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine.
How to store Levofloxacin
• Store tablets and oral solution at a temperature of 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.
• Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets.
• Do not use the medicine after the expiration date stated on the box.
• Keep the medicine in its original packaging to protect it from moisture and light.
• Do not use damaged pills.
• Do not dispose of medicines in wastewater or household waste.
Product Details:
Brand: Levox
Concentration: 500 mg
Quantity: 5 Tablets
Product Type: Tablets
