Levaquin Oral Solution Dosage

Generic name: levofloxacin 25mg in 1mL
Dosage form: oral solution
Drug class: Quinolones and fluoroquinolones

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 29, 2024.

Dosage in Adult Patients with Normal Renal Function

The usual dose of Levofloxacin Oral Solution is 250 mg, 500 mg, or 750 mg administered orally every 24 hours, as indicated by infection and described in Table 1.

These recommendations apply to patients with creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min. For patients with creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, adjustments to the dosing regimen are required.

Table 1: Dosage in Adult Patients with Normal Renal Function (creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min)
Type of Infection*	Dosed Every 24 hours	Duration (days)†
* Due to the designated pathogens. † Sequential therapy (intravenous to oral) may be instituted at the discretion of the physician. ‡ Due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae (including multi-drug-resistant isolates [MDRSP]), Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. § Due to Streptococcus pneumoniae (excluding multi-drug-resistant isolates [MDRSP]), Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or Chlamydophila pneumoniae. ¶ Drug administration should begin as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to aerosolized B. anthracis. This indication is based on a surrogate endpoint. Levofloxacin plasma concentrations achieved in humans are reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. # The safety of Levofloxacin in adults for durations of therapy beyond 28 days or in pediatric patients for durations beyond 14 days has not been studied. An increased incidence of musculoskeletal adverse events compared to controls has been observed in pediatric patients. Prolonged Levofloxacin therapy should only be used when the benefit outweighs the risk. Þ Drug administration should begin as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to Yersinia pestis. Higher doses of Levofloxacin typically used for treatment of pneumonia can be used for treatment of plague, if clinically indicated. ß This regimen is indicated for cUTI due to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and AP due to E. coli, including cases with concurrent bacteremia. à This regimen is indicated for cUTI due to Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and for AP due to E. coli.
Nosocomial Pneumonia	750 mg	7–14
Community Acquired Pneumonia‡	500 mg	7–14
Community Acquired Pneumonia§	750 mg	5
Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections (SSSI)	750 mg	7–14
Uncomplicated SSSI	500 mg	7–10
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis	500 mg	28
Inhalational Anthrax (Post-Exposure), adult and pediatric patients > 50 kg ¶,# Pediatric patients < 50 kg and ≥ 6 months of age¶,#	500 mg	60#
	see Table 2 below (2.2)	60#
Plague, adult and pediatric patients > 50 kg Þ	500 mg	10 to 14
Pediatric patients < 50 kg and ≥ 6 months of age	see Table 2 below (2.2)	10 to 14
Complicated Urinary Tract Infection (cUTI) or Acute Pyelonephritis (AP)ß	750 mg	5
Complicated Urinary Tract Infection (cUTI) or Acute Pyelonephritis (AP)à	250 mg	10
Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection	250 mg	3
Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis (ABECB)	500 mg	7
Acute Bacterial Sinusitis (ABS)	750 mg	5
	500 mg	10–14

Dosage in Pediatric Patients

The dosage in pediatric patients ≥ 6 months of age is described below in Table 2.

Table 2: Dosage in Pediatric Patients ≥ 6 months of age
Type of Infection*	Dose	Freq. Once every	Duration†
* Due to Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis. † Sequential therapy (intravenous to oral) may be instituted at the discretion of the physician. ‡ Drug administration should begin as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to aerosolized B. anthracis. This indication is based on a surrogate endpoint. Levofloxacin plasma concentrations achieved in humans are reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit § The safety of Levofloxacin in pediatric patients for durations of therapy beyond 14 days has not been studied. An increased incidence of musculoskeletal adverse events compared to controls has been observed in pediatric patients. Prolonged Levofloxacin therapy should only be used when the benefit outweighs the risk. ¶ Drug administration should begin as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to Yersinia pestis.
Inhalational Anthrax (post-exposure)‡,§
Pediatric patients > 50 kg	500 mg	24 hr	60 days§
Pediatric patients < 50 kg and ≥ 6 months of age	8 mg/kg (not to exceed 250 mg per dose)	12 hr	60 days§
Plague¶
Pediatric patients > 50 kg	500 mg	24 hr	10 to 14 days
Pediatric patients < 50 kg and ≥ 6 months of age	8 mg/kg (not to exceed 250 mg per dose)	12 hr	10 to 14 days

Dosage Adjustment in Adults with Renal Impairment

Administer Levofloxacin with caution in the presence of renal insufficiency. Careful clinical observation and appropriate laboratory studies should be performed prior to and during therapy since elimination of levofloxacin may be reduced.

No adjustment is necessary for patients with a creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min.

In patients with impaired renal function (creatinine clearance <50 mL/min), adjustment of the dosage regimen is necessary to avoid the accumulation of levofloxacin due to decreased clearance.

Table 3 shows how to adjust dose based on creatinine clearance.

Table 3: Dosage Adjustment in Adult Patients with Renal Impairment (creatinine clearance <50 mL/min)
Dosage in Normal Renal Function Every 24 hours	Creatinine Clearance 20 to 49 mL/min	Creatinine Clearance 10 to 19 mL/min	Hemodialysis or Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)
750 mg	750 mg every 48 hours	750 mg initial dose, then 500 mg every 48 hours	750 mg initial dose, then 500 mg every 48 hours
500 mg	500 mg initial dose, then 250 mg every 24 hours	500 mg initial dose, then 250 mg every 48 hours	500 mg initial dose, then 250 mg every 48 hours
250 mg	No dosage adjustment required	250 mg every 48 hours. If treating uncomplicated UTI, then no dosage adjustment is required	No information on dosing adjustment is available

Drug Interaction With Chelation Agents: Antacids, Sucralfate, Metal Cations, Multivitamins

Levofloxacin Oral Solution

Levofloxacin Oral Solution should be administered at least two hours before or two hours after antacids containing magnesium, aluminum, as well as sucralfate, metal cations such as iron, and multivitamin preparations with zinc or didanosine chewable/buffered tablets or the pediatric powder for oral solution.

Administration Instructions

Food and Levofloxacin Oral Solution

It is recommended that Levofloxacin Oral Solution be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

Hydration for Patients Receiving Levofloxacin Oral Solution

Adequate hydration of patients receiving oral Levofloxacin should be maintained to prevent the formation of highly concentrated urine. Crystalluria and cylindruria have been reported with quinolones.