Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S

Description

About

Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called “quinolone antibacterials” (fluoroquinolones). These are antibiotics that are used in the treatment of serious infections when other antibiotics fail to work.

It is used to fight against bacterial infections and infections of the urinary tract, tonsils, sinus, nose, throat, female genital organ, skin & soft tissues and lungs (pneumonia).

This medicine is available on prescription, as tablets, a liquid that you drink, eardrops, eye drops and an eye ointment. At times it is also given as an injection, but this is done in the hospital. 

Common side effects of this medication are nausea, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness and constipation.

Dosage of Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S depends on age, severity of condition, patient’s response to medicine and their comorbidities.

Indications

Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S is prescribed to adults and children above 1 year.

It is used in the treatment of:

• Infections caused by pathogens sensitive to levofloxacin
• Lower respiratory infection (infections in lungs or below the voicebox)
• Nosocomial pneumonia (hospital-acquired lung infection)
• Upper respiratory infection (infections above the voicebox)
• Sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses)
• Skin infection
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis (swollen and inflamed prostate gland)
• Anthrax (serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive bacteria)
• Plague (serious bacterial infection).

 

How does Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S work?

It is an antibiotic that prevents the bacterial cells from dividing and repairing. It works  by inhibiting the action of a bacterial enzyme called DNA-gyrase, thereby, killing the bacteria. 

 

How to use Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

• The way you take your medicine depends on the type of Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S and what you’re taking it for. Follow the instructions that come with the medicine. 
• Make sure to divide your doses evenly throughout the day.
• Make sure not to miss any dose and complete the full course of treatment
• Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S is available in the following forms

• Tablets: Swallow them whole with a glass of water.
• Oral solution: should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating
• Injection

Dosage 

Form and strength:

Premix, ready-to-use injection

• 250mg/50mL
• 500mg/100mL
• 750mg/150mL

Oral solution

• 25mg/mL

Tablet

• 250mg
• 500mg
• 750mg

 

Adults:

Lower respiratory infection: 

• 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 7-14 days or 
• 750 mg orally or IV once daily for 5 days.

Nosocomial pneumonia: 750 mg orally or IV once daily for 7-14 days.

Upper respiratory infection- sinusitis: 

• 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 10-14 days or

•  750 mg orally or IV once daily for 5 days. 

Skin infection: 

• Uncomplicated: 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 7-10 days
• Complicated: 750 mg orally or IV once daily for 7-14 days.

Urinary tract infection: 

• Complicated UTI/Acute pyelonephritis: 250 mg orally or IV once daily for 10 days. 
• Uncomplicated UTI: 250 mg orally or IV once daily for 3 days.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis: 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 28 days.

Anthrax (inhalational): 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 60 days, starting  as soon as possible after exposure. 

Plague (prophylaxis and treatment): 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 10-14 days, starting as soon as possible after exposure. Dose of 750 mg once daily may be considered if clinically warranted.

 

Children:

Anthrax (inhalational): 

• Infants = 6 months and children = 50 kg: 8 mg/kg orally or IV twice daily for 60 days (do not exceed 250 mg/dose), beginning as soon as possible after exposure
• Children >50 kg: 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 60 days, beginning as soon as possible after exposure.

Plague (prophylaxis and treatment): 

• Infants = 6 months and children = 50 kg: 8 mg/kg orally or IV twice daily for 10-14 days (do not exceed 250 mg/dose), beginning as soon as possible after exposure
• Children >50 kg: 500 mg orally or IV once daily for 10-14 days, beginning as soon as possible after exposure. 

Dosage is completely dependent on the age, severity of condition, patient’s response to medicine and their comorbidities. Your doctor may vary your dosage to regulate your blood sugar levels.

 

Pregnancy use and lactation

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor before using Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S as it is contraindicated.

If you are breastfeeding, please consult your doctor before taking Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S as it is contraindicated.

 

Contraindications

Please inform your doctor if you have a history of any before using Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S:

• Allergic reaction to Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S – indicated by skin rash, swelling around face area, wheezing, chest tightness and breathing difficulty
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Tendon disorders
• Epilepsy (recurrent fits)
• Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue)
• MRSA infection (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). 

 

Precautions

Please tell your doctor about any of the following conditions while using Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S:

• Renal impairment (kidney damage)
• G6PD deficiency (genetic disorder mostly affecting males)
• Porphyria (rare inherited disorders)
• Risk of pseudomembranous colitis (inflamed large intestine) – discontinue if patient has persistent diarrhoea 
• History of tendon disorder (tendinitis – inflamed tendons)
• Diabetes (Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S may affect blood sugar levels)
• Epilepsy (recurrent fits/seizures)
• History to CNS disorder – suffering from psychosis or a history of psychiatric disease
• Risk factors for QT prolongation (electrical disturbance in the heart)
• Avoid prolonged exposure to UV and refrain from driving or operating machinery. 

 

Interaction with other medications

Certain medications could interact with Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S, hence, in that case your doctor might alter your dosage and make sure to monitor blood sugar levels more closely.

Please inform your doctor about the use of the following before taking Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S:

• Iron
• Antacids
• Sucralfate
• NSAIDs
• Fenbufen
• Probenecid
• Cimetidine
• Corticosteroids
• Vit K antagonists
• Drugs that prolong QT interval or lower seizure threshold
• Cyclosporin
• Theophylline.

 

Adverse effects

Like most medicines, Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S has some side effects which include:

Common:

• Nausea 
• Indigestion (stomach ache)
• Diarrhoea after taking tablets or liquid 
• Headache
• Dizziness 

Serious:

• Hypersensitivity/allergic skin reactions; in this case discontinue 
• Raised liver enzymes
• Tendon disorders (discontinue use)
• Insomnia (inability to sleep)
• Anorexia (eating disorder characterized by weight loss)
• Dysgeusia (distorted sense of taste)
• Dyspnoea (difficulty breathing)
• Arthralgia (joint pain)
• Myalgia (muscle pain)
• Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
• Asthenia (physical weakness)
• Pyrexia (fever)
• Visual disturbances
• Hepatic (liver) injury
• Severe skin disorders
• Peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord) – discontinue use 

 

How to cope with some of the adverse effects

• Nausea (feeling sick) – Take Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S with or after meals and avoid having spicy food

• Diarrhoea – Keep yourself hydrated by having lots of fluids and if the problem persists, consult your doctor before taking any medication for vomiting and diarrhoea

• Stomach ache – Try to rest as much as possible and have smaller and more frequent meals. Using a heat pack or hot water bottle over the area in pain might help in giving some relief. If the pain still persists and is severe, speak to your doctor.

• Headache – Take a painkiller, rest and keep yourself hydrated at all times.

• Dizziness – Try and rest until you feel better and refrain from driving or using any tools or machinery

 

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any of the serious side effects.

 

Key facts about Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S

• Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called “quinolone antibacterials” (fluoroquinolones). These are antibiotics that are used in the treatment of serious infections when other antibiotics fail to work
• It is prescribed to adults and children above 1 year.
• It is an antibiotic that prevents the bacterial cells from dividing and repairing. It works  by inhibiting the action of a bacterial enzyme called DNA-gyrase, thereby, killing the bacteria.
• Common side effects of this medication are nausea, indigestion (stomach ache), diarrhoea, headache and dizziness.
• Take Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking other products that may interact with it.
• Avoid taking the tablets or liquid together with dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt.
• Keep yourself hydrated when taking Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S to prevent crystal formation in urine. 
• Matter of concern arises if you get a rash, itchy skin, swelling on the face,  difficulty breathing, pain in tendons, numbness or tingling sensation, in which case you need to inform your doctor immediately. 
• Use of Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

 

FAQs

 

1. WHAT EXACTLY DOES Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S DO?

Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S belongs to a class of drugs called “quinolone antibacterials” (fluoroquinolones) that prevent the bacterial cells from dividing and repairing. It works  by inhibiting the action of a bacterial enzyme called DNA-gyrase, thereby, killing the bacteria.

2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S TO START WORKING?

For most infections, you will start feeling better in 2-3 days depending on the type of infection. Inform your doctor if you do not feel better or your condition starts to get worse.

3. CAN Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S INCREASE THE RISK OF MUSCLE DAMAGE?

Yes, it is known to affect your muscles, commonly in the ankle (achilles tendon). It can happen in patients of all ages, significantly more in patients above 60 years of age; inform your doctor if you feel any sort of muscle pain.

4. HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO TAKE Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S FOR?

Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S should be taken for as long as it is prescribed by your doctor. It is usually given for 1-2 weeks but it varies depending on the type of infection and its severity.

5. IS THERE ANY FOOD OR DRINK I NEED TO AVOID?

Avoid taking the tablets or liquid together with dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt because they prevent the Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S from entering the body from the stomach.

6. CAN I STOP TAKING Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

Do not just stop taking the medicine, make sure to complete your treatment course even if you feel better

7. CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WITH Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

It is safe to drink alcohol as there are no interactions that are known to occur.

8. WHAT IF I TAKE TOO MUCH OF Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

If you have taken too much of the prescribed tablet or liquid form of dosage you may experience common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and an irregular heart beat.

9. WHAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

Incase you miss a dose, take your next dose on time and do not try making up for the missed dose by doubling it up. If it helps to remind you, set an alarm so you do not miss any dose. Make sure to complete your course of treatment even if you feel better and think you do not need to take it anymore.

10. CAN I TAKE Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING?

Use of Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Please inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding so that they can prescribe you a medicine accordingly without causing any complications for you or your baby.

11. IS IT SAFE TO TAKE Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S FOR A LONG TIME?

It is usually prescribed for a short term. It has the potential to cause some serious long term side effects like tendon rupture and hence should only be taken for the prescribed time duration and in cases where other antibacterials have failed to work.

12. CAN I DRIVE OR RIDE A BIKE AFTER TAKING Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S?

Make sure you know how your body reacts while using Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S as it is known to make you feel dizzy, tired and less alert. Do not drive or use any machinery until you feel normal again

13. HOW SHOULD Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S BE STORED?

Keep this medicine tightly closed in the container or the pack it came in. Store it according to the instructions mentioned and dispose of the unused medicine. Make sure it is not consumed by pets, children and other people. Leflox 250mg Tablet 10 ‘S is usually stored at temperatures between 15-30 degrees celsius in well closed containers. Do not store it in moist or damp areas, such as the bathroom.