levaquin alternative

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 levaquin alternative. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infectionis completely treated levaquin alternative.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water (8 ounces) levaquin alternative. Drink several extraglasses of fluid each day to prevent the formation of Levaquin crystals in theurine levaquin alternative.
• 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 levaquin alternative. Taking antacids, sucralfate, or vitamin or mineral supplementstoo close to a dose of Levaquin can greatly decrease the effects of the antibiotic levaquin alternative.

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

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 levaquin alternative.
• 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 levaquin alternative.
• Levaquin is in the FDA pregnancy category C levaquin alternative. This means that it is notknown whether Levaquin will be harmful to an unborn baby levaquin alternative. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment levaquin alternative.
• It is not known whether Levaquin passes into breast milk levaquin alternative. Similar drugsare known to affect bone development levaquin alternative. Do not take Levaquin without first talkingto your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby levaquin alternative.
• Levaquin is not approved for use by children under 18 years of age levaquin alternative. Itmay interfere with bone development levaquin alternative.

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

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

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

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

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 levaquin alternative.
• 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 levaquin alternative.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur levaquin alternative. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome levaquin alternative.

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 levaquin alternative. Taking antacids, sucralfate, or vitamin or mineral supplementstoo close to a dose of Levaquin can greatly decrease the effects of the antibiotic levaquin alternative.
• 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 levaquin alternative.
• 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 levaquin alternative.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Levaquin levaquin alternative. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products levaquin alternative.

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

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