LEVOFLOXACIN - levofloxacin tablet, film coated
Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited
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Medication Guide
Levofloxacin Tablets
(LEE-voe-FLOX-a-sin)
What is the most important information I should know about levofloxacin tablets?
Levofloxacin tablets, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, can cause serious side effects. Some of these serious side effects can happen at the same time and could result in death.
If you have any of the following serious side effects while you take levofloxacin tablets, you should stop taking levofloxacin tablets immediately and get medical help right away.
1. Tendon rupture or swelling of the tendon (tendinitis).
Some tendon problems include:
The tendon problems may be permanent.
2. Changes in sensation and possible nerve damage (Peripheral Neuropathy). Damage to the nerves in arms, hands, legs, or feet can happen in people who take fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin tablets. Stop taking levofloxacin tablets immediately and talk to your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in your arms, hands, legs, or feet:
The nerve damage may be permanent
3. Central Nervous System (CNS) effects. Mental health problems and seizures have been reported in people who take fluoroquinolone antibacterial medicines, including levofloxacin tablets. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of mental health problems, including depression, or have a history of seizures before you start taking levofloxacin tablets. CNS side effects may happen as soon as after taking the first dose of levofloxacin tablets. Stop taking levofloxacin tablets immediately and talk to your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these side effects, or other changes in mood or behavior:
The CNS changes may be permanent.
4. Worsening of myasthenia gravis (a problem that causes muscle weakness). Fluoroquinolones like levofloxacin tablets may cause worsening of myasthenia gravis symptoms, including muscle weakness and breathing problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of myasthenia gravis before you start taking levofloxacin tablets. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any worsening muscle weakness or breathing problems.
What are levofloxacin tablets?
Levofloxacin tablets are a fluoroquinolone antibiotic medicine used in adults age 18 years or older to treat certain infections caused by certain germs called bacteria. These bacterial infections include:
Studies of levofloxacin tablets for use in the treatment of plague and anthrax were done in animals only, because plague and anthrax could not be studied in people.
Levofloxacin tablets should not be used in people with uncomplicated urinary tract infections, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, or acute bacterial sinusitis if there are other treatment options available.
Levofloxacin is also used to treat children who weigh at least 66 pounds (or at least 30 kilograms) and may have breathed in anthrax germs, have plague, or been exposed to plague germs.
It is not known if levofloxacin tablets are safe and effective in children under 6 months of age.
The safety and effectiveness in children treated with levofloxacin tablets for more than 14 days is not known.
Who should not take levofloxacin tablets?
Do not take levofloxacin tablets if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic known as a fluoroquinolone, or if you are allergic to levofloxacin or any of the ingredients in levofloxacin tablets. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in levofloxacin tablets.
Before you take levofloxacin tablets, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Levofloxacin tablets and other medicines can affect each other causing side effects.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:
• a steroid medicine.
• an anti-psychotic medicine
• a tricyclic antidepressant
• a water pill (diuretic)
• certain medicines may keep levofloxacin tablets from working correctly. Take levofloxacin tablets either 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking these medicines or supplements:
o an antacid, multivitamin, or other medicines or supplements that have magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc
o sucralfate (Carafate®)
o didanosine (Videx®,Videx® EC)
• a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).
• an oral anti-diabetes medicine or insulin.
• an NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug).
Many common medicines for pain relief are NSAIDs. Taking an NSAID while you take levofloxacin tablets or other fluoroquinolones may increase your risk of central nervous system effects and seizures.
• theophylline (Theo-24®, Elixophyllin®, Theochron®, Uniphyl®, Theolair®).
• a medicine to control your heart rate or rhythm (antiarrhythmics).
Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if any of your medicines are listed above.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take levofloxacin tablets?
If you miss a dose of levofloxacin tablets and it is:
o 8 hours or more until your next scheduled dose, take your missed dose right away. Then take the next dose at your regular time.
o less than 8 hours until your next scheduled dose, do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time.
• Do not skip any doses of levofloxacin or stop taking it, even if you begin to feel better, until you finish your prescribed treatment unless:
o you have tendon problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about levofloxacin ?”.
o you have a nerve problem. See “What is the most important information I should know about levofloxacin ?”.
o you have a central nervous system problem. See “What is the most important information I should know about levofloxacin ?”.
o you have a serious allergic reaction. See “What are the possible side effects of levofloxacin ?”.
o your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking levofloxacin
Taking all of your levofloxacin tablets doses will help make sure that all of the bacteria are killed. Taking all of your levofloxacin tablets doses will help you lower the chance that the bacteria will become resistant to levofloxacin tablets. If your infection does not get better while you take levofloxacin tablets, it may mean that the bacteria causing your infection may be resistant to levofloxacin tablets. If your infection does not get better, call your healthcare provider. If your infection does not get better, levofloxacin tablets and other similar antibiotic medicines may not work for you in the future.
• If you take too much levofloxacin tablets, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
What should I avoid while taking levofloxacin tablets?
What are the possible side effects of levofloxacin tablets?
Levofloxacin tablets may cause serious side effects, including:
• See “What is the most important information I should know about levofloxacin tablets?”
• Serious allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen in people taking fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin tablets, even after only 1 dose. Stop taking levofloxacin tablets and get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a severe allergic reaction:
o hives o rapid heartbeat
o trouble breathing or swallowing o faint
o swelling of the lips, tongue, face o skin rash
o throat tightness, hoarseness
Skin rash may happen in people taking levofloxacin tablets, even after only 1 dose. Stop taking levofloxacin tablets at the first sign of a skin rash and immediately call your healthcare provider. Skin rash may be a sign of a more serious reaction to levofloxacin tablets.
• Liver damage (hepatotoxicity): Hepatotoxicity can happen in people who take levofloxacin tablets. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have unexplained symptoms such as:
o nausea or vomiting o unusual tiredness
o stomach pain o loss of appetite
o fever o light colored bowel movements
o weakness o dark colored urine
o pain or tenderness in the upper right side of your stomach-area o yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
o itching
Stop taking levofloxacin tablets and tell your healthcare provider right away if you have yellowing of your skin or white part of your eyes, or if you have dark urine. These can be signs of a serious reaction to levofloxacin tablets (a liver problem).
• Aortic aneurysm and dissection
Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever been told that you have an aortic aneurysm, a swelling of the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body. Get emergency medical help right away if you have sudden chest, stomach, or back pain.
• Intestine infection (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea). Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) can happen with many antibiotics, including levofloxacin. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get watery diarrhea, diarrhea that does not go away, or bloody stools. You may have stomach cramps and a fever. CDAD can happen 2 or more months after you have finished your antibiotic.
• Serious heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation and torsades de pointes)
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a change in your heart beat (a fast or irregular heartbeat), or if you faint. Levofloxacin tablets may cause a rare heart problem known as prolongation of the QT interval. This condition can cause an abnormal heartbeat and can be very dangerous. The chances of this happening are higher in people:
o who are elderly
o with a family history of prolonged QT interval
o with low blood potassium (hypokalemia)
o who take certain medicines to control heart rhythm (antiarrhythmics)
• Joint Problems
Increased chance of problems with joints and tissues around joints in children can happen. Tell your child’s healthcare provider if your child has any joint problems during or after treatment with levofloxacin tablets.
• Changes in blood sugar
People who take levofloxacin tablets and other fluoroquinolone medicines with oral anti-diabetes medicines or with insulin can get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for how often to check your blood sugar. If you have diabetes and you get low blood sugar while taking levofloxacin tablets, stop taking levofloxacin tablets and call your healthcare provider right away. Your antibiotic medicine may need to be changed.
• Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity)
See “What should I avoid while taking levofloxacin tablets?”
The most common side effects of levofloxacin tablets include:
o nausea o insomnia
o headache o constipation
o diarrhea o dizziness
In children 6 months and older who take levofloxacin to treat anthrax disease or plague, vomiting is also common.
Levofloxacin tablets may cause false-positive urine screening results for opiates when testing is done with some commercially available kits. A positive result should be confirmed using a more specific test.
These are not all the possible side effects of levofloxacin tablets.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
How should I store levofloxacin tablets?
• Store levofloxacin tablets at room temperature between 59°F to 86° F (15°C to 30°C).
• Keep levofloxacin tablets in a tightly closed container.
General information about the safe and effective use of levofloxacin tablets
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use levofloxacin tablets for a condition for which it is not prescribed. Do not give levofloxacin tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about levofloxacin tablets. If you would like more information about levofloxacin tablets, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about levofloxacin tablets that is written for health professionals.
For more information, call 1-888-943-3210 or 1-855-926-3384
What are the ingredients in levofloxacin tablets?
Active ingredient: levofloxacin.
All Levofloxacin tablets:
Inactive ingredients: hypromellose, crospovidone, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80.
Levofloxacin tablets 250 mg also contain synthetic red iron oxide, levofloxacin tablets 500 mg also contain synthetic red and yellow iron oxides.
The brands listed are trademarks of their respective owners.
Manufactured for:
Macleods Pharma USA, Inc.,
Princeton, NJ 08540
Manufactured by:
Macleods Pharmaceutical Ltd.
Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India.
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Medication Guide available at:www.macleodspharma.com/usa
Revised: January 2023