| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved; investigational |
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Description
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A synthetic fluoroquinolone (fluoroquinolones) antibacterial agent that inhibits the supercoiling activity of bacterial DNA gyrase, halting DNA replication. [PubChem] |
| Indication |
For the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible strains of the following organisms: Corynebacterium species, Staphylococus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus (Groups C/F/G), Viridans group streptococci, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Haemophilus influenzae, Serratia marcescens. |
| Pharmacology |
Levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antiinfective, is the optically active L-isomer of ofloxacin. Levofloxacin is used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia and pneumonia caused by penicillin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, skin and skin structure infections, complicated urinary tract infections and acute pyelonephritis. |
| Toxicity |
Side effects include disorientation, dizziness, drowsiness, hot and cold flashes, nausea, slurring of speech, swelling and numbness in the face |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Enteric bacteria and other eubacteria |
|
| Biotransformation |
Mainly excreted as unchanged drug (87%); undergoes limited metabolism in humans. |
| Absorption |
Absorption of ofloxacin after single or multiple doses of 200 to 400 mg is predictable, and the amount of drug absorbed increases proportionately with the dose. |
| Half Life |
6-8 hours |
| Protein Binding |
24-38% (to plasma proteins) |
| Elimination |
Mainly excreted as unchanged drug in the urine. |
| External Links |
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