What is the mechanism of action for levofloxacin?
The mechanism of action of levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolone antimicrobials involves inhibition of bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase (both of which are type II topoisomerases), enzymes required for DNA replication, transcription, repair and recombination.
What is levofloxacin 750 mg used to treat?
A high-dose (750 mg) short-course (5 days) of once-daily levofloxacin is approved for use in the US in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) and acute pyelonephritis (AP).
What is levofloxacin best used for?
Levofloxacin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections.
How long does levofloxacin 750 mg stay in your system?
If the patient generally has good health, the body can eliminate Levaquin (levofloxacin) in about 30 to 40 hours, or about a day and a half to two days, but some side effects of the drug can show up as long as two months or longer after taking the medicine.
What is the target of levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin, like other fluoroquinolone antibiotics, exerts its antimicrobial activity via the inhibition of two key bacterial enzymes: DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Both targets are type II topoisomerases, but have unique functions within the bacterial cell.
What is the most common route of administration for levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin injection should be administered to both adult or pediatric patients by slow intravenous infusion over 60 minutes (for 250 to 500 mg) and over 90 minutes (for 750 mg). Due to an increased risk of hypotension, bolus or rapid intravenous administration should be avoided.
Which is better levofloxacin or azithromycin?
Azithromycin and levofloxacin also had similar bacterial eradication rates. The authors conclude that in the treatment of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis the standard five-day regimen of azithromycin results in outcomes similar to those resulting from a seven-day course of levofloxacin.
Can I take levofloxacin at night?
This medicine 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. For example, if you are to take one dose a day, try to take it at the same time each day.
What is the main advantage of levofloxacin Levaquin over other quinolones?
Levofloxacin is well tolerated, and is associated with few of the phototoxic, cardiac or hepatic adverse events seen with some other quinolones. It also has a pharmacokinetic profile that is compatible with once-daily administration and allows for sequential intravenous to oral therapy.
How is levofloxacin absorbed?
Conclusions: Approximately 90% levofloxacin was absorbed as the intact form from the intestinal tract into the portal system. By considering the bioavailability of levofloxacin in rat, the hepatic extraction ratio in vivo of levofloxacin was estimated to be 30%.
Are there any precautions regarding levofloxacin for this patient?
Levofloxacin may cause serious liver problems, including hepatitis. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child start having nausea or vomiting, dark urine, light-colored stools, stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin while using this medicine.
What is the mechanism of action of levofloxacin?
Mechanism of Action Levofloxacin is a bactericidal antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone drug class that directly inhibits bacterial DNA synthesis. Levofloxacin promotes the breakage of DNA strands by inhibiting DNA-gyrasein susceptible organisms, which in turn inhibits the relaxation of supercoiled DNA.
How long does it take for levofloxacin to be absorbed?
Levofloxacin is rapidly and essentially completely absorbed after oral administration. Peak plasma concentrations are usually attained one to two hours after oral dosing. The absolute bioavailability of a 500 mg tablet and a 750 mg tablet of levofloxacin are both approximately 99%, demonstrating complete oral absorption of levofloxacin.
How many mg of levofloxacin is in a tablet?
Levofloxacin is available both for oral tablets and solution, and intravenous administration. Levofloxacin is not available for administration through intramuscular, intrathecal, or subcutaneous routes. The available oral dosage strengths for levofloxacin are 250 mg, 500 mg, and 750 mg.
How does levofloxacin work against Gram positive bacteria?
Levofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Like all quinolones, it functions by inhibiting the DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Topoisomerase IV is necessary to separate DNA that has been replicated (doubled) prior to bacterial cell division.