Levofloxacin: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage

• Levofloxacin is a broad spectrum fluoroquinolones antibiotic.
• It is used to treat bacterial infections of the skin,kidneys,sinuses (Sinusitis), bladder, or prostate (Urine Infections).
• It is also used to treat bacterial infections that cause bronchitis or pneumonia, and to treat people who have been exposed to anthrax or plague.
• Levofloxacin is effective in treating infectious diarrhea caused by E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Shigella bacteria.
• Levofloxacin tablets may be taken with meals or on an empty stomach.
• It  is not recommended for use in pregnant women since Levaquin causes joint and bone deformities in juvenile animals of several species.

Indications and Doses

For oral dosage forms (oral solution or tablets)

• Usual Adult dose for infection are 250 to 750 milligrams (mg) once a day For 3-14 days.
• Usual Adults Dose For preventing anthrax infection  is 500 milligrams (mg) per day in a single dose for 60 days.
• Usual Adults Dose For treatment and prevention of plague  is 500 milligrams (mg) once a day.
• In childrens  dose of levofloxacin   must be determined by your doctor.

Mechanism of action :

All Fluoroquinolnes antibiotics Work On an enzyme which is called topoisomerase or DNA Gyrase.

Levofloxacin work on topoisomerase type 4 which is little different from the type 2 enzyme they also have two domains Just Like type 2  but the nulcease domain has two sub domain which is responsible for cutting of untangled DNA into fragments the mechanism of levofloxacin is same like Topoisomerase 2 they inhibit the function of Ligase and make it dysfunctional.Nuclease domain keep on cutting the DNA into fragments but the ligase is not able to reseal it and the DNA Convert into small fragments and bacteria die.

Levofloxacin Side effects:

Common side-effects

• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Diarrhoea
• Severe Headache
• Feeling dizzy
• Constipation
• Problems sleeping
• Temporary changes to liver enzymes
• Pale Skin,Fever And Easy Bruising  or Bleeding.
• Skin Reactions.