Antimicrobials can be prescribed for various diseases. However, before using such drugs, you should definitely consult a doctor. After all, for the purpose of prescribing a particular drug, it is first necessary to identify the causative agent of the infection, and only then choose the appropriate medicine.
One of the most effective and effective antibacterial drugs today is Levofloxacin. You can find consumer reviews about this medication at the end of the article. It will also provide information on the form in which the medicine is produced, how much it costs, what are its properties and so on.
Form, description, packaging and composition of the antibiotic
You can buy this drug in the following forms:
- Oral agent "Levofloxacin" (tablets). They have a film shell, yellow, round biconvex shape. On a cross section of this medicine, two layers are visible. The active component of the drug is levofloxacin hemihydrate, and excipients - hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, calcium stearate and primellose. The tablets are on sale in packs and packs of cardboard.
- The local remedy for the eyes is Levofloxacin. Drops, homogeneous, transparent and practically not colored, are available in bottles equipped with a cap in the form of a dropper. The active substance of this medication is levofloxacin. Sodium chlorine, deionized water and disodium edetate dihydrate are used as additional components.
- Solution "Levofloxacin". Customer reviews say that this form of the drug goes on sale in bottles of 100 milliliters. The active ingredient of this tool is levofloxacin. Also it includes auxiliary components.
Pharmacodynamics of the drug
What is Levofloxacin? According to the instructions, this is an antibiotic that belongs to the group of fluoroquinolones. Its active ingredient has a bactericidal effect. After using the medication, inhibition of enzymes responsible for DNA replication in bacterial cells occurs almost immediately.
The drug in question is active against respiratory infections. It effectively treats diseases provoked by penicillin-resistant strains of pneumococcus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Citobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. In addition, this medication is effective for tuberculosis and sinusitis.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
When taken on an empty stomach, the bioavailability of the drug is 100 percent. If the medicine “Levofloxacin” (500 mg) is used in the process of eating, then its maximum concentration in the blood is reached 60 minutes later.
According to the instructions, this product is distributed in plasma and interstitial fluid, and also accumulates in various tissues. The splitting of the drug occurs in an amount of 5 percent. It is excreted by the kidneys up to 85 percent.
The half-life of the drug is 6 hours. Moreover, its postantibiotic effect lasts 3 times longer.
Indications for antibiotic use
The antibiotic Levofloxacin, which costs about 250-300 rubles, is prescribed for infectious and inflammatory diseases provoked by microorganisms sensitive to it. Thus, the tablets in question use:
- with prostatitis;
- intra-abdominal infection;
- chronic bronchitis (exacerbation);
- acute sinusitis;
- complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections;
- soft tissue and skin infections;
- community-acquired pneumonia;
- septicemia or bacteremia.
The infusion solution is used for infections of the urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, kidneys, soft tissues, skin, ENT organs and genitals.
As for eye drops, they are used for superficial infections of bacterial origin.
Contraindications
This medication has the following restrictions for use:
- epilepsy;
- minor age;
- pregnancy;
- renal failure;
- negative reactions to the substance of the drug;
- tendon lesions in the treatment of quinolones;
- lactation.
With extreme caution, the antibiotic is recommended for the elderly and those who have been identified as deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
How to use Levofloxacin?
Consumer reviews about this medicine are positive. We will present them at the very end of the article.
Features of the use of drops, tablets and solution for infusion are different. Therefore, before using them, we recommend that you consult a doctor.
Levofloxacin tablets are taken twice a day, before meals. They are swallowed whole or halved. The duration of treatment with such a drug, as well as its dosage, depends on the severity of the infection and its nature.
The infusion solution is also administered twice a day. Moreover, it must be administered drip (not faster than one hour).
The drug for the treatment of eye diseases is used only locally. During the first two days, it is necessary to use 1-2 drops every two hours. It is possible to instill a medicine in the eyes up to eight times a day.
From the 3rd to the 5th day, it is advisable to make this medication 1-2 drops, four times a day. Thus, the course of treatment with this drug is 5 days.
Side effects
According to experts, the drug in question quite often causes side effects. They can develop from the side of different organs and systems. The most common adverse reactions include the following: increased activity of liver enzymes, nausea, redness of the skin, itching, dizziness, loss of appetite, general feeling of weakness, vomiting, numbness, headache, exacerbation of porphyria, insomnia, palpitations, muscle weakness, and others.
Consumer Reviews About Antibiotic
What do consumers say about Levofloxacin? Everyone can leave reviews about this medication. According to patients, this remedy has established itself as a very effective and effective medicine that copes well with infectious diseases of the genitourinary, respiratory system, as well as diseases of the visual organs.
A huge disadvantage of this drug is the presence of a large number of adverse reactions. They can arise not only from taking pills, but also from the use of a solution for infusion, as well as drops for the eyes. In this regard, the medication in question should be used only as prescribed by the doctor and according to strict indications.