Is Levaquin safe for children?

Background: Levofloxacin (Levaquin) is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children, but historical data on fluoroquinolones in children suggest an adverse event rate similar to that found in adults. Children in outpatient and inpatient settings were included.

Also asked, is levofloxacin contraindicated in children?

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are widely used in adults due to their broad spectrum of activity and long half-life. However, because preclinical animal studies suggested cartilage toxicity, use of these agents has not been encouraged in children.

Additionally, can Cipro be given to children? Ciprofloxacin may be given with or without food, however if this medicine causes an upset stomach, give it with food. If your child is prescribed the long-acting tablets they must swallow these tablets whole. Your child may take ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking these products.

Keeping this in consideration, are fluoroquinolones safe for children?

Concerns for safety have limited fluoroquinolone use in children. They remain a drug of choice for specific indications and should not be used if an alternative agent is available. Fluoroquinolones also have been associated with the development of bacterial resistance and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

What happens if you take Levaquin with dairy products?

Take Levaquin (levofloxacin tablets) at the same time of day. Do not take dairy products, antacids, didanosine, sucralfate, multivitamins, or other products that contain calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc within 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Levaquin (levofloxacin tablets).

34 Related Question Answers Found

What are the side effects of levofloxacin?

Common side effects of Levaquin include:

nausea,
vomiting,
diarrhea,
headache,
constipation,
difficulty sleeping (insomnia),
dizziness,
abdominal pain,

Is Levaquin a strong antibiotic?

Levaquin is used to treat infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, airways, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria. Levaquin also is frequently used to treat urinary infections, including those resistant to other antibiotics, as well as prostatitis (infection of the prostate).

What does levofloxacin treat?

Levofloxacin is used to treat infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, airways, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria. Levofloxacin is frequently used to treat urinary infections, including those resistant to other antibiotics, as well as prostatitis (infection of the prostate).

What drugs interact with levofloxacin?

Levaquin may interact with:

Antacids, multivitamins, and supplements containing magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc.
Sucralfate (Carafate)
Didanosine (Videx)
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Antidiabetic medicine.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin and ibuprofen.
Theophylline (Theo-24, Theolair)

How long does it take for levofloxacin to work?

Peak levels are reached within one to two hours but it may take up to three days before symptoms of the infection begin to resolve.

What are the side effects of fluoroquinolones?

Fluoroquinolones are generally very safe antibiotics which do not cause serious or life-threatening adverse reactions. The most frequent side-effects are gastrointestinal reactions (nausea, dyspepsia, vomiting) and CNS reactions such as dizziness, insomnia and headache.

What is fluoroquinolone toxicity?

Floxed by Fluoroquinolone Toxicity. Floxed refers to the devastating effects of a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (FQs) and may include symptoms of extreme fatigue, tendon rupture, joint and muscle pains, nerve pains, and nervous system disturbances.

Can doxycycline be used in children?

Doxycycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth in children younger than 8 years old. Children should use doxycycline only in cases of severe or life-threatening conditions such as anthrax or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

What organisms do fluoroquinolones cover?

Fluoroquinolones are active against the following: Haemophilus influenzae. Moraxella catarrhalis.

Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA, as well as atypical respiratory tract pathogens.
Anaerobes.

Are quinolones safe?

Quinolones are broad spectrum antibiotics, which means they are effective against a wide range of diseases caused by bacteria. They were approved by the FDA to treat conditions including lower respiratory tract infections, skin infections and urinary tract infections.

Why is Cipro not a respiratory fluoroquinolone?

Ciprofloxacin cannot be considered as a single-fluoroquinolone formulary option because it lacks activity against S pneumoniae. Moxifloxacin cannot be considered either because it lacks important clinical indications as well as CLSI susceptibility breakpoints for gram-negative bacteria.

Is ciprofloxacin safe for infants?

Ciprofloxacin should not be taken with some medicines that you get on prescription. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any other medicines your child is taking before giving ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin should be given 1-2 hours before or 4 hours after giving your child these other medicines.

Is 2 year old Cipro still good?

According to this site, cipro has a very long shelf-life - 13 years. As for flagyl (metronidazole), it's supposedly good for 2-5 years after its date of manufacture, which should appear on the packaging somewhere - the answers I found varied.

Can children under 18 take Cipro?

Approved indications of FQs in children

Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin are available as oral suspensions in many countries. An oral suspension of ciprofloxacin is available in the US, Canada, and 15 European countries34), but systemic FQ use is not approved in Korea for any indication in children younger than 18 years.

Why can't I have milk with ciprofloxacin?

What should I avoid while taking ciprofloxacin? Do not take ciprofloxacin with dairy products such as milk or yogurt, or with calcium- fortified juice. You may eat or drink these products with your meals, but do not use them alone when taking ciprofloxacin. They could make the medication less effective.

What age can you use fluoroquinolones?

Currently, fluoroquinolones are only FDA approved for individuals less than 18 years of age for complicated UTI including pyelonephritis and for postexposure prophylaxis and treatment of inhalation anthrax.

What happens if you take too much ciprofloxacin?

A large overdose of ciprofloxacin could cause kidney damage. In animal studies, very large doses of ciprofloxacin have caused reduced breathing, vomiting, and seizures. If an overdose occurs, call a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If you or someone else has any severe symptoms after an overdose, call 9-1-1.