However, if an upset stomach occurs, levofloxacin may be taken with food.
Avoid dairy products such as milk and yogurt
for at least 2 hours before and after taking the medicine. If you take vitamins or antacids such as Tums or Maalox, take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking levofloxacin.
Can you drink coffee while taking levofloxacin?
Caffeine coffee, cola drinks,
tea Levofloxacin can increase the effect of caffeine
. You may need to limit drinks with caffeine. Corticosteroids cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone Levofloxacin may increase muscle or calf pain. Watch for any muscle or calf pain.
What can I eat while taking levofloxacin?
You may take levofloxacin tablets
with meals or on an empty stomach
. This medicine is best taken with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Several additional glasses of water should be taken every day, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Drinking extra water will help prevent some unwanted effects of levofloxacin.
What happens if I eat dairy with levofloxacin?
Dairy and antibiotics.
Although it’s a vital micronutrient, the calcium in dairy products as well as antacids may bind to certain antibiotics such as levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and tetracycline, consequently
decreasing their absorption
.
What can you not take with levofloxacin?
- antacids containing magnesium or aluminum.
- blood-glucose-lowering agents, such as insulin or glimepiride.
- corticosteroids, such as prednisone. …
- bowel cleansing agents such as sodium picosulfate.
- lactobacillus.
- NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, or naproxen.
What is the best time of day to take levofloxacin?
You can take levofloxacin before or after meals. If you are taking one dose a day, it is preferable to take it
in the morning
. If you are taking more than one dose a day, try to space out your doses – so ideally, take a tablet every 12 hours. Many people find it helps to swallow the tablets with a drink of water.
How long does it take levofloxacin to start working?
Levaquin dosages
As a reasonably strong antibiotic, levofloxacin will begin working within a matter of hours, but it can be
two to three days
before symptoms begin to improve. Take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by a healthcare provider, even if you feel better after a few days.
Is it OK to take levofloxacin at night?
This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is
best to take the doses at evenly spaced times, day and night
. For example, if you are to take one dose a day, try to take it at the same time each day.
How long can you take levofloxacin?
Adults and children 6 months of age and older, weighing 50 kilograms (kg) or more—500 milligrams (mg) once a day for
10 to 14 days
. Children 6 months of age and older, weighing 30 kg to less than 50 kg—250 mg taken every 12 hours for 10 to 14 days.
How can I reduce the side effects of levofloxacin?
Sucralfate
, didanosine, multivitamins, antacids, or other drugs or supplements that contain magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc may reduce levels of levofloxacin and stop it from working correctly. Take levofloxacin either two hours before or two hours after taking these drugs or supplements.
How long does levofloxacin stay in your system?
If the patient generally has good health, the body can eliminate Levaquin (levofloxacin) in
about 30 to 40 hours
, or about a day and a half to two days, but some side effects of the drug can show up as long as two months or longer after taking the medicine.
What kind of bacteria does levofloxacin treat?
Levofloxacin (Levaquin) is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent with a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and atypical respiratory pathogens. It is active against both penicillin-susceptible and penicillin-resistant
Streptococcus pneumoniae
.
How good is levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin has an
average rating of 5.2 out of 10
from a total of 676 ratings on Drugs.com. 39% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 44% reported a negative effect.
Why would a doctor prescribe levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone (flor-o-KWIN-o-lone) antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body. Levofloxacin is
used to treat different types of bacterial infections
. Levofloxacin is also used to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or certain types of plague.
Is levofloxacin bad for kidneys?
Fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, are common broad-spectrum antibiotics most often used to treat respiratory and urogenital infections. Case reports have indicated acute kidney injury with use, and prescription labels carry
a warning of kidney failure
.
What are the most common drug interactions with levofloxacin?
Drug interactions of Levaquin include products that contain iron, calcium, zinc, or magnesium; sucralfate, didanosine,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
, and warfarin.
