Levofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection FAQs
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Levofloxacin is used to treat certain infections, including urinary tract infections. Levofloxacin belongs to the class of medicines known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth.1
However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
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Levofloxacin comes as a tablet or a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection you have. Your doctor will tell you how long to take levofloxacin. The tablet may be taken with or without food. The solution should be taken one hour before or two hours after eating.
This medicine is best taken with a full glass 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.
Levofloxacin 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. Take levofloxacin at around the same time every day.2
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take levofloxacin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Take levofloxacin until you finish the prescription even if you feel better. Do not stop taking levofloxacin without talking to your doctor unless you experience certain serious side effects listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SIDE EFFECTS sections. If you stop taking levofloxacin too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated, and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.
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The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment.3
You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with levofloxacin. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.
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Levofloxacin is only available by prescription4 and can be purchased online. Start a low-cost ($39) online consultation with RedBox Rx for a urinary tract infection to see if levofloxacin could be right for you.
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Levofloxacin at RedBox Rx is just $20, one of the lowest prices available online. No insurance required.
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Before taking levofloxacin:
Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to levofloxacin; any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), delafloxacin (Baxdela), gemifloxacin (Factive), moxifloxacin (Avelox) or ofloxacin; or any other medications or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in levofloxacin preparations. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain antidepressants; antipsychotics (medications to treat mental illness); diuretics (water pills); insulin or other medications to treat diabetes such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl, in Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), tolazamide or tolbutamide; certain medications for irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), procainamide, quinidine (in Nuedexta) or sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine, Sotylize); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
If you are taking antacids containing aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide (Maalox, Mylanta, others);certain medications such as didanosine (Videx) solution, sucralfate (Carafate); or vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron or zinc, take these medications at least two hours before or after you take levofloxacin.
Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting or sudden death). Tell your doctor if you have or ever have had a slow or irregular heartbeat, a recent heart attack, an aortic aneurysm (swelling of the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body), high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the blood vessels), Marfan syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect the heart, eyes, blood vessels and bones), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect skin, joints or blood vessels), or if you have a low level of potassium or magnesium in your blood. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, or problems with low blood sugar or liver disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking levofloxacin, call your doctor.
Do not drive a car, operate machinery or participate in activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how this medication affects you.
Plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (tanning beds and sunlamps), and wear protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen. Levofloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet light. If your skin becomes reddened, swollen or blistered, like a bad sunburn, call your doctor.
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
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Levofloxacin may cause side effects, including:
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Stomach pain.
Constipation.
Heartburn.
Vaginal itching and/or discharge.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.
Levofloxacin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
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Keep this medication in the container it comes in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children, as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up, and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community.
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In case of overdose, call the Poison Control Control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
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Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to levofloxacin. If you have diabetes, your doctor may ask you to check your blood sugar more often while taking levofloxacin.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking levofloxacin.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish taking levofloxacin, call your doctor.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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