What is levofloxacin?

Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that that may be used to treat different types of bacterial infections. Levofloxacin may also be used to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or certain types of plague.

Levofloxacin is usually only used for bacterial infections that cannot be treated with safer antibiotics. This is because levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone (flor-o-KWIN-o-lone) antibiotic and fluoroquinolone antibiotics can cause serious or disabling side effects.

Warnings

Levofloxacin can cause serious side effects, including tendon problems, nerve damage, serious mood or behavior changes, or low blood sugar.

Stop using levofloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms such as: headache, hunger, irritability, numbness, tingling, burning pain, confusion, agitation, paranoia, problems with memory or concentration, thoughts of suicide, or sudden pain or movement problems in any of your joints.

In rare cases, levofloxacin may cause damage to your aorta, which could lead to dangerous bleeding or death. Get emergency medical help if you have severe and constant pain in your chest, stomach, or back.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use levofloxacin if you are allergic to it or other fluoroquinolones (such as ciprofloxacin, gemifloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, and others).

Levofloxacin may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles’ tendon of the heel. This can happen during treatment or up to several months after you stop taking levofloxacin. Tendon problems may be more likely in certain people (children and older adults, or people who use steroid medicine or have had an organ transplant).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• tendon problems, bone problems, arthritis or other joint problems (especially in children);

• blood circulation problems, aneurysm, narrowing or hardening of the arteries;

• heart problems, high blood pressure;

• a genetic disease such as Marfan syndrome or Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome;

• diabetes;

• a muscle or nerve disorder, such as myasthenia gravis;

• kidney disease;

• seizures or epilepsy;

• a head injury or brain tumor;

• long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); or

• low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia).

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.

It is not known whether levofloxacin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intending to become pregnant.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take levofloxacin as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What should I avoid while taking levofloxacin?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how levofloxacin will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine.

Levofloxacin could make you sunburn more easily. Avoid sunlight or tanning beds. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors. Tell your doctor if you have severe burning, redness, itching, rash, or swelling after being in the sun.

Levofloxacin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to levofloxacin (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Levofloxacin can cause serious side effects, including tendon problems, side effects on your nerves (which may cause permanent nerve damage), serious mood or behavior changes (after just one dose), or low blood sugar (which can lead to coma).

Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• low blood sugar – headache, hunger, sweating, irritability, dizziness, nausea, fast heart rate, or feeling anxious or shaky;

• nerve symptoms in your hands, arms, legs, or feet – numbness, weakness, tingling, burning pain;

• serious mood or behavior changes – nervousness, confusion, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, memory problems, trouble concentrating, thoughts of suicide; or

• signs of tendon rupture – sudden pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, stiffness, movement problems, or a snapping or popping sound in any of your joints (rest the joint until you receive medical care or instructions).

In rare cases, levofloxacin may cause damage to your aorta, the main blood artery of the body. This could lead to dangerous bleeding or death. Get emergency medical help if you have severe and constant pain in your chest, stomach, or back.

Stop taking levofloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);

• the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;

• muscle weakness, breathing problems;

• seizure (convulsions);

• increased pressure inside the skull – severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes; or

• liver problems – upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of levofloxacin may include:

• nausea, constipation, diarrhea;

• headache, dizziness; or

• trouble sleeping.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.