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How Long Do Levaquin Side Effects Last?
Question: My 96 year old mother was prescribed Levaquin ---one a day for ten days. She is in an assisted living facility. She has become terribly fatigued with a dry mouth and has had to be on her oxygen for longer portions of the day. She was given the Levaquin for an upper respiratory problem as she suffers from COPD. The nurses at the facility and I decided that after the 8th day she would not complete the prescription. She has not taken any in the last two days. However, she is still very much fatigued, short of breath and dry mouthed. How long should these ailments from the meds last? She hasn't yet complained of tendon or muscle soreness. She had taken this med before without the reaction. She also took flagyl several months back when a yeast type thing was going through the facility. She showed no problems with this that we know of either. I just feel so sorry for her---she says she is just sooo tired sooo tired.
Brief Answer:
antibiotics, electrolytes, arterial blood gas
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mimi,
Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.
Your mother is suffering from COPD and is being treated for a respiratory tract infection with levofloxacin. This medicine is known to cause behavioural problems, seizures when used in geriatric patients. The altered behaviour could be from levaquin. We also need to look at her serum electrolytes like sodium, potassium and calcium levels. They can have a contributory role.
The dryness of mouth is atttibuted to ipratropium/ tiotropium which is a staple drug for COPD. This is an anti cholinergic drug. It inhibits the secretion from bronchial glands, salivary glands. This leads to the dryness. The only way to deal with this is frequent sips of water.
I would also like to know about the arterial blood gases for your mother. COPD patients tend to have hypercarbia and type 2 respiratory failure. This can lead to fatigue, tiredness and breathlessness.
Please get back to me with the above investigations for further steps.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker.
antibiotics, electrolytes, arterial blood gas
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mimi,
Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.
Your mother is suffering from COPD and is being treated for a respiratory tract infection with levofloxacin. This medicine is known to cause behavioural problems, seizures when used in geriatric patients. The altered behaviour could be from levaquin. We also need to look at her serum electrolytes like sodium, potassium and calcium levels. They can have a contributory role.
The dryness of mouth is atttibuted to ipratropium/ tiotropium which is a staple drug for COPD. This is an anti cholinergic drug. It inhibits the secretion from bronchial glands, salivary glands. This leads to the dryness. The only way to deal with this is frequent sips of water.
I would also like to know about the arterial blood gases for your mother. COPD patients tend to have hypercarbia and type 2 respiratory failure. This can lead to fatigue, tiredness and breathlessness.
Please get back to me with the above investigations for further steps.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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