Common uses
This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections (e.g., urinary tract infections, skin infections, or respiratory tract infections).

Before using
Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking theophylline, other antibiotics, iron, zinc, antacids, sucralfate, quinapril, didanosine (chewable/buffered tablets or oral solution), nsaid (e.g., ibuprofen, aspirin), live vaccines, medicines for diabetes (e.g., glyburide or insulin), or warfarin.

Other medicines besides levofloxacin which may affect the heart rhythm (qtc prolongation in the ekg) include dofetilide, pimozide, quinidine, sotalol, procainamide, and sparfloxacin among others. Qtc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal, irregular heartbeats. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Ask for instructions about whether you need to stop any other qtc-prolonging drugs you may be using in order to minimize the risk of this effect.

Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including kidney disease, seizures, tendon problems, nervous system disorders, blood vessel disease, brain disorders (e.g., cerebral arteriosclerosis, tumors or increased intracranial pressure), allergies (especially to other quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin), pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine.

Use of this medicine in children under 18 years old is not recommended. This medicine can cause joint or bone problems in young children. Please talk with your doctor about risks and benefits before giving this medicine to your child.

Directions
Use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. This medicine may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. Take this medicine with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Also, drink several additional glasses of water each day. Take this medicine 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking any medicines containing magnesium or aluminum. Some examples include quinapril, didanosine, vitamins/minerals, and antacids. Sucralfate, bismuth subsalicylate, iron, and zinc are also included. These medicines bind with levofloxacin preventing its full absorption.

Store this medicine at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees f (15 and 30 degrees c) in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light. Do not store in the bathroom. To clear up your infection completely, continue taking this medicine for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days. Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Cautions
Do not take this medicine if you have had a severe allergic reaction to this medicine or another fluoroquinolone antibiotic (such as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin). A severe reaction includes a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness. If you have a question about whether you are allergic to this medicine or if a certain medicine is a fluoroquinolone, contact your doctor or pharmacist. If this medicine causes a skin rash, hives, or difficulty breathing, check with your doctor before taking additional doses. If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Keep all doctor and laboratory appointments while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines cause dizziness. If moderate to severe diarrhea occurs during or after treatment with this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not treat it with non-prescription (over-the-counter) medicines. This medicine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period. Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

For women: if you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. Based on information from a related drug, this medicine may be excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. If you have diabetes, this medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Possible side effects
Side effects that may occur while taking this medicine include nausea, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, vomiting, change in taste, headache, or dizziness. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience tendon, joint, or muscle pain or swelling, "sunburn" (sun sensitivity), vaginal discomfort, abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience seizures, mental/mood changes, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, restlessness, confusion, change in amount of urine, or yellowing of eyes or skin. Use of this medicine for prolonged or repeated periods may result in oral thrush, or a new yeast infection (e.g., oral or vaginal fungal infection). Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge or other new symptoms. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

If you take too much
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Additional information
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions, or later for other infections. A different medicine may be needed in those cases. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

Drug interactions
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.