Lebact 500

Description

Lebact 500 Tablet (Levofloxacin 500mg)

Manufactured by: S.R. Drug Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. Retail Price (in Damak, Koshi Province, Nepal): Please check with your local pharmacy as the price was not provided in the original text.

What is Lebact 500 Tablet Used For?

Lebact 500 Tablet contains Levofloxacin, a powerful antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone class. It’s used to treat various bacterial infections, including:

• Respiratory Infections: Community-acquired pneumonia, nosocomial (hospital-acquired) pneumonia, acute bacterial sinusitis, and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.
  • Note: Fluoroquinolones like Lebact should be reserved for sinusitis and chronic bronchitis when other treatment options are not suitable.
• Skin & Skin Structure Infections: Both uncomplicated and complicated skin and soft tissue infections.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Uncomplicated UTIs, complicated UTIs, and acute pyelonephritis (kidney infection).
  • Note: Fluoroquinolones should be reserved for uncomplicated UTIs when other treatment options are not suitable.
• Prostate Infections: Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
• Anthrax: For post-exposure therapy (after potential exposure).
• Plague: For treatment and prevention of plague caused by Yersinia pestis (in adults and children aged 6 months or older).

Also Available As: 250mg Tablet.

How to Take Lebact 500 Tablet

Adult Dosing:

• Community-Acquired Pneumonia: 500 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 7-14 days, OR 750 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 5 days.
• Nosocomial Pneumonia: 750 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 7-14 days.
• Acute Bacterial Sinusitis: 500 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 10-14 days, OR 750 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 5 days.
• Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis: 500 mg by mouth or IV once daily for at least 7 days.
• Inhalational Anthrax (Post-exposure): 500 mg by mouth once daily for 60 days, starting as soon as possible after exposure.
• Skin/Skin Structure Infections:
  • Uncomplicated: 500 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 7-10 days.
  • Complicated: 750 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 7-14 days.
• Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis: 500 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 28 days.
• Complicated UTIs & Acute Pyelonephritis: 250 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 10 days, OR 750 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 5 days.
• Uncomplicated UTIs: 250 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 3 days.
• Plague: 500 mg by mouth or IV once daily for 10-14 days.

Child Dosing (for specific indications like anthrax/plague):

• Oral, IV: 16 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours (up to 50 kg body weight), then 500 mg once daily for post-exposure anthrax prophylaxis (every 12 hours).
• For respiratory infections:
  • Under 5 years: 20 mg/kg/day every 12 hours.
  • Over 5 years: 10 mg/kg/day every 24 hours.

Special Dosing (Kidney Impairment):

• Your doctor will adjust the dose based on your kidney function (CrCl). For example, with CrCl 20-49 mL/min, it’s typically an initial 500 mg daily, then 250 mg every 24 hours; or initial 750 mg daily, then 750 mg every 48 hours. For CrCl 10-19 mL/min or on dialysis, dose adjustments are also necessary, usually 250 mg or 500 mg every 48 hours after an initial dose.

Important Administration Notes:

• Oral Solution: Take on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
• Tablets: Can be taken with or without food.
• Adequate Fluid Intake: Ensure you drink enough fluids while on this medication.
• IV Administration: Must be given by slow intravenous infusion only, not as a rapid injection (bolus), to avoid a drop in blood pressure.
  • Infuse 250-500 mg over 60 minutes.
  • Infuse 750 mg over 90 minutes.

Important Considerations & Warnings

Do Not Use If:

• You have a known hypersensitivity (allergy) to levofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics.
• You are under 18 years old, unless specifically prescribed for certain severe infections like anthrax or plague.

Special Precautions:

• Neurological Issues: Use with caution if you have known or suspected CNS disorders (e.g., severe cerebral arteriosclerosis, epilepsy) or other factors that increase the risk of seizures.
• Sunlight Exposure: Avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light as it can increase photosensitivity.
• Heart Conditions: Use with caution if you have a history of prolonged QT interval (a type of heart rhythm problem) or uncorrected electrolyte disturbances.
• Diabetes: Carefully monitor blood glucose levels if you have diabetes.
• Monitoring: Your doctor may periodically monitor your kidney, liver, and blood functions during treatment.
• Pregnancy & Lactation: Not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding (excreted in breast milk).
• Elderly Patients: Use with caution.
• Impaired Ability: This medication may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery.
• Tendon Problems: Fluoroquinolones carry a risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture, which can occur even months after treatment. Stop taking and contact your doctor immediately if you experience tendon pain or swelling.

Drug Interactions:

• Heart Rhythm Drugs: Additive effects on QT interval prolongation with certain antiarrhythmics (e.g., quinidine, amiodarone) and some antidepressants (fluoxetine, imipramine).
• Reduced Absorption: Absorption is reduced by sucralfate, didanosine, antacids containing magnesium or aluminum, and dietary supplements containing zinc, calcium, magnesium, or iron. Take Lebact at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after these products.
• Diabetes Medications: Can alter glucose levels when taken with antidiabetic agents (e.g., insulin, glibenclamide).
• Corticosteroids: Increased risk of severe tendon disorders when used with corticosteroids.
• NSAIDs: Increased risk of CNS stimulation and seizures with NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
• Warfarin: May increase prothrombin time (a measure of blood clotting) with warfarin.

Possible Side Effects

Side effects of Levofloxacin can range from common to potentially fatal:

Common (1-10%):

• Nausea, headache, diarrhea, insomnia, constipation, dizziness, indigestion, rash, vomiting.
• Less common (around 1%): Chest pain, difficulty breathing, edema, fatigue, injection-site reaction (for IV), moniliasis (yeast infection), pain, itching, vaginitis.

Less Common (<1%) but Serious:

• Cardiac: Cardiac arrest, palpitations, ventricular tachycardia, arrhythmia.
• Nervous System: Tremor, convulsions, tingling/numbness (paresthesia), vertigo, hypertonia, hyperkinesias, abnormal gait, somnolence, fainting (syncope).
• Metabolic: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hyperkalemia (high potassium).
• Blood/Lymphatic System: Anemia, low platelets (thrombocytopenia), low white blood cells (granulocytopenia).
• Musculoskeletal: Joint pain (arthralgia), tendonitis, muscle pain (myalgia), skeletal pain.
• Gastrointestinal (GI): Gastritis, stomatitis, pancreatitis, esophagitis, gastroenteritis, glossitis, pseudomembranous/ C. difficile colitis (severe bowel inflammation).
• Liver/Biliary: Abnormal liver function, increased liver enzymes, increased alkaline phosphatase.
• Psychiatric: Anxiety, agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations, nightmares, sleep disorders, anorexia, abnormal dreaming.
• Other: Immune hypersensitivity reaction, acute renal failure, hives (urticaria), phlebitis (vein inflammation), nosebleeds (epistaxis).

Potentially Fatal:

• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).

How Lebact Works (Mechanism of Action)

Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase. These are crucial enzymes that bacteria need for essential processes like DNA replication, transcription (copying DNA to RNA), repair, and recombination. By blocking these enzymes, Levofloxacin effectively prevents bacteria from growing and multiplying. It shows activity against a wide range of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms.

Disclaimer: This information about Lebact 500 Tblet is for general knowledge and informational purposes only. It is not intended for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment, nor is it a substitute for the exercise of professional judgment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.