Apo-Levofloxacin®; CO Levofloxacin; Levaquin®; Mylan-Levofloxacin; Novo-Levofloxacin; PMS-Levofloxacin; Sandoz-Levofloxacin
• This medicine may increase the risk of tendons getting irritated and tearing. The risk is greater in people over the age of 60, heart, kidney or lung transplant patients, or people taking steroid medications. Call healthcare provider right away if you develop pain in the back of the ankle or joint pain or swelling.
• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.
• If you have an allergy to levofloxacin or any other part of this medicine.
• If you have had tendons get irritated or torn when taking this medicine or a similar medicine in the past.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you are breast-feeding.
All forms:
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
• Take this medicine at a similar time of day.
Oral:
• Take tablets with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Take liquid (solution) on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
• Those who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
Eye:
• Make sure you have the right liquid; there are different strengths.
• For the eye only.
• Wash hands before and after use.
• Take out contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given. Do not put contacts back in if eyes are irritated or infected.
• Do not touch the container tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
• Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.
• After using medicine, keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps the medicine in your eye.
• Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes.
Injection:
• This medicine is given as a shot into a vein over a period of time.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• If you are taking a blood thinner, check blood work (prothrombin time/INR). Talk with healthcare provider.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Follow directions for storage of injection. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Created: 2006-10-13 13:34:27.0
Modified: 2010-03-15 13:11:18.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Use caution in children younger than 18 years old. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have low potassium levels, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Do not take dairy products, antacids, didanosine, multivitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, or sucralfate within 2 hours of this medicine.
• Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake. Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, and fast heartbeat.
• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
Oral:
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum, or Lactobacillus acidophilusmay help. These products are available at health food stores or in some pharmacies.
• Tendons can rarely get irritated and tear.
• Severe allergic reactions can rarely occur.
• Liver damage can rarely occur.
Eye:
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Short-term discomfort after use.
• Bright lights may be irritating. Use sunglasses.
• Blurred vision. Use caution when driving or doing other tasks that require you to have clear vision.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe diarrhea, even after medicine is stopped.
• Pain in back of the ankle.
• Joint pain or swelling.
• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Not able to eat.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
