drug information levaquin

What is the most important information I should know about Levaquin?
• Take all of the Levaquin that has been prescribed for you even if youbegin to feel better drug information levaquin. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infectionis completely treated drug information levaquin.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water (8 ounces) drug information levaquin. Drink several extraglasses of fluid each day to prevent the formation of Levaquin crystals in theurine drug information levaquin.
• Do not take antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (e.g., Tums orRolaids), the ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate), or vitamin or mineral supplementsthat contain iron or zinc for a minimum of 2 hours before or 2 hours after adose of Levaquin drug information levaquin. Taking antacids, sucralfate, or vitamin or mineral supplementstoo close to a dose of Levaquin can greatly decrease the effects of the antibiotic drug information levaquin.

What is Levaquin?
• Levaquin is an antibiotic in a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones drug information levaquin. It fights bacteria in the body drug information levaquin.
• Levaquin is used to treat various types of bacterial infections drug information levaquin.
• Levaquin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide drug information levaquin.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Levaquin?
• Before taking Levaquin, tell your doctor if you
· have kidney disease;
· have a seizure disorder;
· have a heart condition known as prolongation of the QT interval;
· have a slow heart rate that is considered a medical condition;
· have low levels of potassium in your blood; or
· are being treated for heart rhythm disturbances (irregular heartbeats)with drugs such as quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute, others), procainamide(Pronestyl, Procan SR, others), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone, others), sotalol(Betapace), and others drug information levaquin.
• You may not be able to take Levaquin, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove drug information levaquin.
• Levaquin is in the FDA pregnancy category C drug information levaquin. This means that it is notknown whether Levaquin will be harmful to an unborn baby drug information levaquin. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment drug information levaquin.
• It is not known whether Levaquin passes into breast milk drug information levaquin. Similar drugsare known to affect bone development drug information levaquin. Do not take Levaquin without first talkingto your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby drug information levaquin.
• Levaquin is not approved for use by children under 18 years of age drug information levaquin. Itmay interfere with bone development drug information levaquin.

How should I take Levaquin?
• Take Levaquin exactly as directed by your doctor drug information levaquin. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou drug information levaquin.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water (8 ounces) drug information levaquin. Drink several extraglasses of fluid each day to prevent the formation of Levaquin crystals in theurine drug information levaquin.
• Levaquin may be taken with or without food drug information levaquin.
• Take Levaquin at evenly spaced intervals drug information levaquin.
• Do not take antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (e.g., Tums orRolaids), the ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate), or vitamin or mineral supplementsthat contain iron or zinc for a minimum of 2 hours before or 2 hours after adose of Levaquin drug information levaquin. Taking antacids, sucralfate, or vitamin or mineral supplementstoo close to a dose of Levaquin can greatly decrease the effects of the antibiotic drug information levaquin.
• Take all of the Levaquin that has been prescribed for you even if youbegin to feel better drug information levaquin. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infectionis completely treated drug information levaquin.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat drug information levaquin.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember drug information levaquin. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose drug information levaquin. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwisedirected by your doctor drug information levaquin.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention drug information levaquin.
• The most common symptom of a Levaquin overdose is seizures drug information levaquin.

What should I avoid while taking Levaquin?
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight drug information levaquin. Levaquin may increase the sensitivityof the skin to sunlight, and a severe sunburn may result drug information levaquin. If sun exposure isunavoidable, wear protective clothing and sunscreen drug information levaquin. Call your doctor if youexperience severe burning, redness, itching, rash, or swelling after exposureto the sun drug information levaquin.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug information levaquin. Levaquin may cause dizziness drug information levaquin. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities drug information levaquin.

What are the possible side effects of Levaquin?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingLevaquin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· seizures;
· confusion or hallucinations;
· irregular heartbeats, chest pain, or fainting;
· liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal painor discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue); or
· muscle or joint pain drug information levaquin.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continuetaking Levaquin and talk to your doctor:
· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation;
· headache or lightheadedness;
· drowsiness;
· insomnia;
· ringing in the ears; or
· increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight drug information levaquin.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur drug information levaquin. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome drug information levaquin.

What other drugs will affect Levaquin?
• Do not take antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (e.g., Tums orRolaids), the ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate), or vitamin or mineral supplementsthat contain iron or zinc for a minimum of 2 hours before or 2 hours after adose of Levaquin drug information levaquin. Taking antacids, sucralfate, or vitamin or mineral supplementstoo close to a dose of Levaquin can greatly decrease the effects of the antibiotic drug information levaquin.
• Before taking Levaquin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing drugs:
· theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair, Slo-Phyllin, Slo-Bid, Elixophyllin);
· warfarin (Coumadin);
· insulin or an oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol),glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), and others; or
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), ketoprofen (OrudisKT, Orudis, Oruvail), and others drug information levaquin.
• You may not be able to take Levaquin, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicineslisted above drug information levaquin.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Levaquin drug information levaquin. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products drug information levaquin.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Levaquin written forhealth professionals that you may read drug information levaquin.

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