Type of medicine: fluoroquinolone antibiotic
Generic and brand names: levofloxacin, injection; levofloxacin, oral; Levaquin; Levaquin Injection
This medicine is an antibiotic used to treat various infections in the body. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
This medicine may be taken by mouth, or given by injection.
This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds or flu.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your healthcare provider if you have recently had a heart attack or stroke.
Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given during pregnancy. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
Treatment with this medicine may be started with an IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein), especially if you are having surgery. You may also take this medicine by mouth.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it regularly for as long as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. The infection may return if you stop taking the medicine too soon.
Take the medicine at the same time each day to help you remember to take it. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Drink plenty of fluids while you are taking this medicine.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole.
Take this medicine 4 hours before or 8 hours after medicines, vitamins, or supplements that contain calcium, iron, or zinc; antacids containing aluminum or magnesium; sucralfate (Carafate); or didanosine (Videx). Do not take antacids (for example, Maalox or Mylanta) within 2 hours of taking as this medicine.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: decreased urination, swelling, seizures.
This medicine may cause rupture of the Achilles tendon or other tendons. If you have pain or swelling in the back of your knee or ankle, in your shoulder or elbow, or in your hand or wrist, stop taking the medicine and contact your healthcare provider right away.
This medicine may cause worsening of myasthenia gravis symptoms. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any worsening muscle weakness or breathing problems.
This medicine may cause diarrhea. Severe bloody diarrhea may be a sign of a life-threatening condition called pseudomembranous colitis. If you develop diarrhea while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not take medicine to treat diarrhea without your provider's approval. Some diarrhea medicine will make your diarrhea worse.
Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects.
If you are a diabetic using insulin or taking diabetes medicine by mouth and you have symptoms of low blood sugar, contact your healthcare provider right away. Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, shaking, weakness, strong hunger, cold sweats, headache, nausea, vision problems, and feeling faint.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, and to indirect light through glass, even when you use sunscreen lotions. This may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine and for 5 days after you stop taking it, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.
This medicine may cause joint pain or damage if given to people under 18 years of age. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
This medicine may increase the effects of caffeine in coffee, black tea, and colas. You may have a fast heartbeat, feel shaky, and have trouble sleeping.
You may develop a different infection while you are taking this medicine. Report any signs of infection to your healthcare provider.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Continuous or severe bloody diarrhea; fast or pounding heartbeat; seizures; tremors; hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there); blurred vision or double vision; buzzing in the ears; depression or thoughts of suicide; fainting; severe pain or swelling in your ankle or tendons; chest pain; unexplained tiredness; light-colored bowel movements; dark urine; yellow skin or eyes; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting; stomach pain; burning, numbness, or tingling in your hands or feet.
Other: diarrhea, dry mouth, change in sense of taste, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, sensitivity to the sun, restlessness.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
