Levofloxacin

N/A

Levoxin Vet is very effective against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria, Mycolplasma, Staphylococci, Streptococci, E. coli, Salmonella, Hemophilus, Klebshiella and Pasteruella.

N/A

Avoid use in young animals because of risk of cartilage injury. Use cautiously in animals that may be prone to seizures, such as epileptics. Do not administer IV solution rapidly.

Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial. Like other fluoroquinolones, levofloxacin acts to inhibit DNA gyrase and cell DNA and RNA synthesis. It is the L-isomer (S-enantiomer) of ofloxacin and is more active in vitro against gram-positive bacteria and anaerobes than some other fluoroquinolones. Levofloxacin is a human-labeled antibiotic but has been used in veterinary medicine to treat various bacterial infections. Its spectrum of activity includes gram-negative bacilli of the Enterobacteriaceae and fluoroquinolone-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 

It also has activity against some gram-positive cocci, including Staphylococcus spp. Multi-drug– resistant bacteria, including gram-negative bacilli of the Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus, are likely to be resistant to levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones. It also has activity against some anaerobic bacteria and other organisms (e.g., Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, and Mycobacterium spp.). In human medicine, it is considered one of the “respiratory fluoroquinolones” because of its broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria.
Levofloxacin is available as inexpensive, generic tablets, which has facilitated its use in veterinary medicine. According to the manufacturer’s information for use of the drug in humans, the drug undergoes limited metabolism and is not metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes. It is almost entirely eliminated in the urine, and the pharmacokinetics are not affected by liver disease. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

Coadministration with divalent and trivalent cations, such as products containing aluminum (e.g., sucralfate), magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium, may decrease absorption. Do not mix in solutions or in vials with aluminum, calcium, iron, or zinc because chelation may occur.

High concentrations may cause CNS toxicity, especially in animals with renal failure. Levofloxacin can produce occasional vomiting. IV solution should be given slowly (over 30 minutes) because rapid injections IV can produce an anaphylactoid reaction, histamine release, and hypotension. Safety studies have not been performed in cats, but blindness in cats has not been reported for levofloxacin. All of the fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin, have the potential to produce arthropathy in young animals. Dogs are most susceptible to quinolone-induced
arthropathy in the age group of 4–28 weeks of age. Large, rapidly growing dogs are the most susceptible. Levofloxacin has not been tested in horses, but arthropathy in young animals is a concern as well as enteritis and colic from oral administration. Tendinitis and tendon rupture are described as a warning for use in people, but this effect has not been observed in animals.