levaquin and side effects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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