The Food and Drug Administration has approved levofloxacin as a generic drug. It has four modes of administration; oral tablet, oral solution, ophthalmic solution, and intravenous form. It has no reaction to viral infections. (1)
Chemical Formulae – C18H20FN3O4.1/2 H20
Molecular Weight – 370.38g
Levofloxacin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient, which is combined with other chemical components to make the drug or the finished product. The finished product is marketed under different brand names.
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Mechanism of Action
The major action of levofloxacin is to inhibit the DNA synthesis process of bacteria. It augments the breakage of DNA strands by restricting DNA-gyrase, which is an essential bacterial enzyme. DNA-gyrase helps in catalysing the negative supercoiling feature of closed circular double-stranded DNA, which is dependent on ATP.
Levofloxacin is reactive against gram-positive bacteria, which are penicillin-sensitive and resistant as well. It has a reduced effect on gram-negative bacilli.
It is one of the most effective antibiotics in its class and is used for a second line anti-tubercular therapy. It has high in-vitro activity. (2)
Also Read – World Antibiotic Awareness Week – 18th to 24th Nov 2020
Bioavailability
This medicine gets rapidly absorbed and evenly distributed in the body. Its bioavailability is 99% on applying either intravenously or orally. It is eliminated out through the renal route.
On which Bacteria Levofloxacin is Active?
- Streptococcus pneumonia
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Legionella spp.
- Mycoplasma spp.
- Chlamydia pneumonia
Which Health Conditions are Treatable by Levofloxacin?
- Community acquired pneumonia
- Acute bacterial rhino sinusitis
- Acute bacterial exacerbation causing chronic bronchitis
- Acute bacterial prostatitis
- Acute pyelonephritis
- Urinary tract infection
- Skin structure infection
- Prophylaxis
- Plaque caused by Yersinia pestis
- Yeast infection causing excessive vaginal discharge
Dosage Details
| Disease | Dose | Duration |
| Nosocomial Pneumonia | 750 mg | 7-14 days |
| Skin Infection | 750 mg | 7-14 days |
| Acute Bacterial Sinusitis | 500mg | 10-14 days |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 750 mg | 5 days |
| Acute Pyelonephritis | 500 mg | 5 days |
| Chronic Bronchitis | 500mg | 7 days |
| Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis | 500mg | 28 days |
| Anthrax | 250 mg | 60 days |
It is advisable to take medicines as per the doctor’s advice. (3)
Side Effects
Serious side effects of levofloxacin are dizziness, nausea, increased heart rate, weakness, agitation, paranoia, seizures, skin rash, diarrhoea, and pain in the eye and stomach. Some others are shortness of breath, dark urine, paleness of eyes and skin, swelling and tearing of tendons, and mental/mood disorders.
Common side effects are lightheadedness, stomach pain/cramping, trouble in sleeping, and headache. (4)
Contraindication
- Theophylline
- Water pill or diuretic
- Medicines related to arrhythmia
- Insulin
- Steroid
- Blood thinner
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- Opioid medications
- Medicine related to Marfan syndrome (5)
Supply of Levofloxacin
Anzen Exports is an exporter of active pharmaceutical ingredients across the world. We procure these medicinal components from some top notch manufacturers and supply those to companies making drugs.
Levofloxacin is one of our top selling products. We have more than 200 active pharmaceutical ingredients to prepare drugs related to various disciplines of medical treatment. Some of them are antibiotics, antidiabetic, anti-allergic, immunology, cardiovascular system, central nervous, genitourinary system, musculoskeletal disorders, dermatology, etc. Check our product page for a complete product list and send us an enquiry through the form available on our website or connect with our sales team. Read our upcoming blogs to get more insight on different diseases, precautionary measures, and medicines to use.
Sources:
- Healthline
Website – https://www.healthline.com/health/levofloxacin-oral-tablet#highlights - NCBI
Website – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545180/#:~:text=Levofloxacin%20is%20FDA%2Dapproved%20for,skin%20structure%20infections%2C%20prophylaxis%20and - Medicine.org
Website – https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6129/smpc#gref - Michigan Medicine
Website – https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d04109a1 - Drugs.com
Website – https://www.drugs.com/mtm/levofloxacin.html