Levofloxacin (Systemic)
Brand Names : Levaquin
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For levofloxacin, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to levofloxacin, other fluoroquinolones, or chemically
related quinolone derivatives (e.g., nalidixic acid). Also tell your health
care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However,
this medicine has been shown to cause problems with bone development in young
animals. Discuss with your doctor whether or not this medicine should be taken
during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether levofloxacin passes into
human breast milk. However, this medicine has been shown to cause bone development
problems in young animals. Discuss with your doctor whether to breast-feed
during treatment with this medicine.
Children - Caution is recommended in using levofloxacin in
children up to 18 years of age because this medicine has been shown to cause
bone development problems in young animals. However, your doctor may choose
to use this medicine if other medicines cannot be used.
Older adults - There is no specific information comparing use
of levofloxacin in the elderly with use in other age groups. However, it has
been used in older people and has not been found to cause different side effects
or other problems than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
levofloxacin, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Antiarrhythmic agents (medicine for abnormal heart rhythm) - Levofloxacin
may cause changes in heart rhythm when taken with these drugs
-
Antidiabetic agents (medicine for sugar diabetes) - Levofloxacin
may change the effects of these drugs, which could cause problems in controlling
blood sugar
-
Antacids, aluminum-, calcium-, or magnesium-containing or
-
Iron supplements or
-
Sucralfate (e.g., Carafate) or
-
Zinc - Antacids, iron, sucralfate, or zinc may interfere with
absorption of levofloxacin into the body
-
Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics - Possible increased
risk of convulsions (seizures)
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of levofloxacin. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Brain or spinal cord disease, including hardening of the arteries
in the brain, or epilepsy or other seizures - Levofloxacin may increase
the chance of convulsions (seizures) occurring
-
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - Levofloxacin may cause changes
in blood sugar, which could lead to problems in controlling blood sugar
-
Kidney disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal
of levofloxacin from the body
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