LQuin general information
What is LQuin used for?
Our body is home to millions of bacteria that are harmless and, in fact, are helpful, such as bacteria in our gut that help with our digestion. A bacterial infection is caused by harmful or pathogenic bacteria that invade the body and go on to divide and grow. If caught in time, the infection may be taken care of by our body’s immune system, preventing a more severe infection from developing. If the harmful bacteria multiply rapidly and spread, the immune system may be overwhelmed, and the bacterial infection can cause a severe disease, which is when antibiotics are needed. LQuin tablets 500mg are an antibiotic medication used to treat mild, moderate and severe bacterial infections caused by a wide range of susceptible bacteria in various parts of the body. LQuin is not suitable for children or growing adolescents.
Many symptoms of a bacterial infection are caused by the immune system attacking the invading pathogen. These include fever, feeling unwell and tired, headache, nausea, inflammation (redness, swelling and pain). Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin are further signs that the immune system is actively fighting the infection.
Respiratory infections
LQuin tablets 500mg are used to treat serious respiratory conditions. These include acute bacterial sinusitis, which is an infection of the mucosal lining of sinuses (air-filled spaces) and the nasal cavity, resulting in painful inflammation.
Bronchitis is an infection of the lower respiratory tract, where the large and medium bronchi or airways become infected. The bronchi become inflamed and produce thick mucus. Pneumonia is an infection of alveoli or air sacs of the lungs, which fill with fluid. Bronchitis and pneumonia are more common if you have a chronic lung condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and both cause breathing difficulties. LQuin is used to treat acute exacerbation (worsening) of bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia, which is pneumonia that is contracted from the community and not within a healthcare system like a hospital.
Bacteria causing respiratory infections include methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (not resistant to certain antibiotics like methicillin), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
Skin and soft tissue infections
Cellulitis is an infection that begins when the skin is broken allowing bacteria to invade deeper layers of the skin and underlying soft tissue. This causes inflammation and swelling, which makes you feel generally unwell, but can spread rapidly and become life-threatening if not treated.
Impetigo is a superficial skin infection causing sores that usually begin with small blisters that break and weep, which are very contagious so that the infection is easily spread. A boil (furunculus) is an infection around a hair follicle that causes a pus-filled swelling; a large boil is called an abscess. Lesions of the deeper layers of the skin include ulcers, burns, and major abscesses, which can quickly become infected.
LQuin tablets 500mg are used to treat mild to moderate uncomplicated skin infections, as well as more complicated severe skin infections in the deeper layers. LQuin is effective against bacteria that are known to cause skin infections including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes; also Enterococcus faecalis, and Proteus mirabilis.
Urinary tract infections
Mild to moderate lower urinary tract infections include cystitis (infection of the bladder) and urethritis (infection of the urethra, the tube leading out from the bladder). Also, chronic bacterial prostatitis (infection and inflammation of the prostate). LQuin tablets 500mg are used to treat complicated urinary tract infections in those at risk of developing a serious disease. These infections are usually associated with another condition, a structural abnormality, or a functional defect of the genitourinary tract. Complicated urinary tract infections can also occur during pregnancy.
Pyelonephritis is an acute complicated lower urinary tract infection that usually begins in the urethra or bladder and then spreads into the kidneys, causing inflammation and pain.
Susceptible bacteria that cause urinary tract infections include Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Other infections
Anthrax is a rare but severe disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is spread through its spores that can enter the body by inhalation or through an open wound. LQuin tablets 500mg are used to treat anthrax following known exposure to its spores, to reduce the risk of developing a serious lung disease.
How does LQuin work?
LQuin tablets 500mg contain levofloxacin, a synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic belonging to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. LQuin is used to treat various infections throughout the body that are caused by a wide range of bacteria, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus Enterococcus, Proteus and Haemophilus.
Levofloxacin in LQuin tablets 500mg works by inhibiting several bacterial enzymes, including bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase. These enzymes are essential for the bacteria to be able to replicate and repair its DNA. This action of levofloxacin in LQuin tablets 500mg kills the bacteria by blocking its growth, which prevents the spread of infection. LQuin tablets 500mg do not work against viruses because they use a different mechanism to grow and replicate.
What does LQuin contain?
LQuin tablets 500mg contain the active ingredient levofloxacin, a synthetic broad spectrum antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class that is used to treat a wide range of infections caused by many susceptible bacteria in various parts of the body.
What are the side effects of LQuin?
Most medications have some side effects, but they are not experienced by everyone. Some side effects are commonly experienced when taking LQuin, but others are not so common, and you should discuss any problems or concerns with your primary care physician.
Common side effects when taking LQuin include include insomnia, headache, dizziness, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, headache, rash, altered taste.
Very rarely taking LQuin tablets 500mg is associated with an increased risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture with increased risk if you are over the age of 60 years, taking systemic steroids or have received a kidney, heart or lung transplant.
When should LQuin not be used?
Have a talk with your primary healthcare physician before taking LQuin tablets 500mg so that you have a full understanding of what this medicine is for and how to use it. There are some reasons for not taking a medication; these are called contraindications, and for LQuin you should consider the following before taking LQuin:
- Have you ever had an unusual reaction or an allergy when taking LQuin or any other fluoroquinolone antibiotic?
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Do you have any problems with your kidneys or your liver?
- Do you spend a lot of time exposed to the sun, as LQuin can cause a photosensitivity reaction, which is an extreme allergic reaction to sunlight on the skin?
- Do you have epilepsy or myasthenia gravis (a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness)?
- Have you had any tendon problems related to taking LQuin or any other fluoroquinolone antibiotic?
- Do you have diabetes as LQuin can affect blood glucose levels?
- Do you have a heart condition like heart failure?
What medications interact with LQuin?
Some medicines interact with LQuin tablets 500mg and may affect the way it works, or are affected by LQuin or increase side effects; you should discuss possible interactions with your primary care physician. These may include sucralfate for reflux and ulcers, antacids containing magnesium and aluminium, multivitamins preparations with zinc, the antiviral didanosine, some NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen, theophylline for asthma, probenecid for gout, cimetidine for heartburn and ulcers, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the anticoagulant warfarin.
If other medications may interact with LQuin, your doctor will discuss these with you.
How should LQuin be taken and for how long?
You should take your LQuin tablets 500mg swallowed whole with a glass of water with or without food, once or twice daily. The dose you take and how often depends on what you are being treated for and your doctor’s recommendations. You should continue to take your LQuin tablets 750mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which is usually for 7 to 14 days. The dose or length of time you need to take your tablets may be increased depending on the severity of your infection and your response to treatment.
Missed dose of LQuin
If you miss a dose of LQuin tablets 500mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.
How should LQuin be stored?
You should store your LQuin tablets 500mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.