Patient was educated on contraindications for using Levaquin as follows:
- Patients with history of antibiotic associated diarrhea must be cautious about using Levaquin. Discuss with your doctor regarding your history of the same.
- Patients with history of opportunistic infections must be cautious about using Levaquin. Discuss with your doctor regarding your history of the same.
- Peripheral neuropathy can sometimes get worse with use of Levaquin. Patients with history of peripheral neuropathy are at increased risk for exacerbation of neuropathy with Levaquin. Discuss with your doctor regarding safety with Levaquin use.
- Levaquin can significantly increase the risk for hypoglycemic episodes, especially in diabetics taking glipizide and glyburide. So, Levaquin should be prescribed in diabetic individuals with close watch of the patient’s blood sugars.
- Levaquin should be avoided in individuals with history of cardiac arrhythmias, as it has the potential to exacerbate any underlying arrhythmias. Such individuals upon taking Levaquin could present with irregular heartbeats and life-threatening arrhythmias. Individuals with history of chronic disturbance in serum magnesium and potassium ions are at increased risk for arrhythmias. Also, individuals taking Lasix are at increased risk for losing potassium, thus setting the ground for life-threatening arrhythmias, upon taking Levaquin.