Leviquin dosage

[Jimi5]

My doctor put me on Leviquin for 7 days for a UTI. I guess my question is: Do or should I stay on it for the 7 days or if feel better after 3-4 days should I stop?
They didn't do a culture because my UA came back and showed 3+ with nitrates. Just started me on Leviquin. I don't know about what I just wrote. My spasticity in the morning increased and my output was much higher. No temp, burning, or ill feelings. Man, it's weird.

[antiquity]

Hi Jim, Levaquin is chemically related to Cipro which is very effective against most of the strains that cause UTI's. The rule of thumb is to continue taking the antibiotic until it's gone, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop prematurely, the bacteria could mutate and become resistant.

[starlightangel]

BY ALL MEANS stay on the antibiotics until it's finished!!! Otherwise if you stop it prematurely you could be opening your self up to drug resistant bacteria.

[Jimi5]

Thanks alot. I learn something new here all the time and it's easy.

[wazabiker]

Jim: As the advertising for several banks said, "Substantial penalty for early withdrawal." Maybe that's what my wife said to me recently. No matter, keep up with the meds. Your doc knows what he's talking about.

[SCI-Nurse]

I don't want to sound critical of your doctor, but he is treating you with the same logic one would use in treating an able-bodied person, and, in the long run, this could get you in trouble.

Because of your spinal cord injury, you will always have bacteria in your bladder. Levaquin (levofloxacin) is a broad spectrum antibiotic that works for now, but if you overtreat the bacteria you already have (and will have, no matter what) you can breed resistant bacteria that will require IV therapy to treat.

In my own practice with SCI people, I always do a culture, even if I am starting someone on antibiotics because of their symptoms, so I can change it if it won't work.

So I would suggest that you ask your doctor to do a culture, whether your UA is suspicious for an infection or not and ask for narrow spectrum antibiotics whenever possible. This will benefit your health in the long run.

(RAB)