Tavanic

Description

Do NOT take Tavanic if you have:

• Hypersensitivity (allergy) to levofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics.
• Are a child under 18 years (unless specifically indicated for plague or anthrax prophylaxis/treatment).

Precautions:

• CNS Disorders: Use with caution in patients with known or suspected Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders (e.g., severe cerebral arteriosclerosis, epilepsy) or other risk factors for seizures.
• Sunlight Exposure: Avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light due to increased photosensitivity.
• Cardiac Issues: Use with caution if you have a history of prolonged QT interval or uncorrected electrolyte disturbances.
• Diabetes Mellitus (DM): Carefully monitor blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.
• Monitoring: Periodically monitor renal (kidney), hepatic (liver), and haematopoietic (blood-forming) functions during treatment.
• Pregnancy and Lactation: Not recommended during pregnancy. The drug is excreted in breast milk, so it’s not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.
• Elderly: Use with caution in elderly patients.
• Driving/Operating Machinery: May impair ability to drive or operate machinery.

Drug Interactions:

Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking, especially:

• Class IA (e.g., quinidine, procainamide) or Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) Antiarrhythmics, Fluoxetine, or Imipramine: Additive effects on QT interval prolongation.
• Sucralfate, Didanosine, Antacids (containing Mg or Al), Dietary supplements (containing Zn, Ca, Mg, or Fe): Can reduce the absorption of levofloxacin. Take levofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after these products.
• Antidiabetic Agents (e.g., insulin, glibenclamide): Can alter blood glucose levels.
• Corticosteroids: Increased risk of severe tendon disorders.
• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs): Increased risk of CNS stimulation and seizures.
• Warfarin: Increased prothrombin time (risk of bleeding).

Possible Side Effects

Levofloxacin can cause various side effects. While not everyone experiences them, some possible effects include:

• Common (1-10%): Nausea (7%), Headache (6%), Diarrhea (5%), Insomnia (4%), Constipation (3%), Dizziness (3%), Dyspepsia (2%), Rash (2%), Vomiting (2%), Chest pain (1%), Dyspnea (1%), Edema (1%), Fatigue (1%), Injection-site reaction (1%), Moniliasis (1%), Pain (1%), Pruritus (1%), Vaginitis (1%).
• Less Common (<1%):
  • Cardiac: Cardiac arrest, palpitation, ventricular tachycardia, arrhythmia.
  • Nervous System: Tremor, convulsions, paresthesia, vertigo, hypertonia, hyperkinesias, abnormal gait, somnolence, syncope.
  • Metabolic: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hyperkalemia.
  • Blood/Lymphatic System: Anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets), granulocytopenia.
  • Musculoskeletal/Connective Tissue: Arthralgia (joint pain), tendonitis (inflammation of tendons), myalgia (muscle pain), skeletal pain.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI): Gastritis, stomatitis, pancreatitis, esophagitis, gastroenteritis, glossitis, pseudomembranous/C difficile colitis.
  • Hepatobiliary (Liver/Gallbladder): Abnormal hepatic function, increased hepatic enzymes, increased alkaline phosphatase.
  • Psychiatric: Anxiety, agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations, nightmares, sleep disorder, anorexia, abnormal dreaming.
  • Other: Immune hypersensitivity reaction, acute renal failure, urticaria (hives), phlebitis (vein inflammation), epistaxis (nosebleed).
• Potentially Fatal: Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).

How does Tavanic work?

Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that belongs to the fluoroquinolone class. It works by inhibiting bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase, which are essential enzymes required for DNA replication, transcription, repair, and recombination in bacteria. This action prevents bacteria from growing and multiplying. It has in vitro activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms.