About Levofloxacin 500 mg Tablet
Levofloxacin 500 mg Tablet contains Levofloxacin 500 mg. Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It is used to treat certain bacterial infections of the chest, sinuses, urinary tract, prostate and skin, usually when other antibiotics are not suitable. Because it can rarely cause serious, long-lasting side effects in tendons, nerves and other parts of the body, it is used only when the doctor decides it is needed. It does not work for viral infections.
Uses of Levofloxacin 500 mg Tablet
- Pneumonia and other chest infections
- Sinus infections (when other antibiotics are not suitable)
- Urinary tract and kidney infections
- Prostate infection
- Skin and soft tissue infections
Benefits
In bacterial infections
It kills the bacteria causing the infection, helping symptoms such as fever, cough and pain get better. Completing the full course helps clear the infection and lowers the risk of resistance.
Side effects
Most side effects are mild and settle on their own. Talk to your doctor if any of them bother you or do not go away. Do not stop the medicine early without asking your doctor.
Common
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Trouble sleeping
Get medical help if you notice
- Pain, swelling or tearing of a tendon (often at the back of the ankle) — stop the medicine, rest the area and contact your doctor straight away
- Tingling, numbness, burning pain or weakness in the hands or feet — stop and contact your doctor
- Severe or watery diarrhoea, sometimes with blood, even weeks after the course — contact your doctor
- Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden severe pain in the chest, stomach or back — seek emergency care
- Mood changes, confusion, fits (seizures) or thoughts of self-harm — stop and contact your doctor
- Allergic reaction or severe skin reaction: rash, blistering, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing — stop and seek emergency care
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed, with or without food, with a full glass of water. Take it at least 2 hours before or after antacids, iron, zinc, calcium or multivitamin products. Finish the full course.
How it works
Levofloxacin blocks enzymes (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) that bacteria need to copy their DNA, so the bacteria cannot multiply and die.
Safety advice
Alcohol Caution
No direct interaction is known, but alcohol can add to dizziness and is best avoided during infection.
Pregnancy Unsafe
It should not be used during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Unsafe
It should not be used while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor about other options.
Driving Caution
It can cause dizziness, sleepiness or eyesight changes. Do not drive until you know how it affects you.
Kidney Caution
Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease; the dose may need to be changed.
Liver Consult your doctor
Tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Serious liver problems are rare.
If you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Complete the full course, even if you feel better.
- Stop and call your doctor if you get tendon pain, tingling in the hands or feet, or mood changes.
- Avoid strong sunlight and sunlamps, as your skin may burn more easily.
- If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar more often, as it can go too high or too low.
- Tell your doctor if you are over 60, take steroid tablets, or have heart rhythm problems, myasthenia gravis or epilepsy.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Fluoroquinolone
- Therapeutic class
- Anti-infective / antibiotic
- Action class
- Bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibitor
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Antacids, iron, zinc, calcium and multivitamins | Reduce absorption of levofloxacin; keep at least 2 hours apart |
| Steroid tablets such as prednisolone | Higher risk of tendon damage |
| Medicines that affect heart rhythm (some antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, antidepressants, macrolide antibiotics) | Higher risk of an irregular heartbeat |
| Warfarin | May increase the blood-thinning effect |
| Diabetes medicines, including insulin | Blood sugar may go too high or too low |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Levofloxacin prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); US FDA boxed warning for fluoroquinolones; NICE BNF: levofloxacin). Pharmacist review pending.