Is Levofloxacin The Right Medicine For Kidney Infection?

Posted on Sat, 7 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 7 May 2016 Answered on

Thu, 23 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I was diagnosed Friday with a kidney infection. Had a test and everything. I was given an antibiotic called Levofloxacin, 500MG, take once a day for 10 days. I took 1 pill that day and it made me so sick. Then found out my neighbor who is only a few years older then myself had taking this medicine a year ago for a kidney infection and it didn't do his infection any good but it tore his tendons in his calves and ankles, and he has a very hard time walking now. I have trusted my doctor entirely for nearly thirty years and don't read the papers with the pills all the time like I should. I got mine and read it. It said people who are over 60, have kidney disease, and take inflammatory drugs for another problem should not take this medication. So I stopped and called him for another antibiotic and I didn't hear back. So I do not know what to do until Monday and also what do doctor's usually give for kidney infections who already have kidney disease?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Alternatives

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I am sorry you are having trouble. The fluroquinolone antibiotics such as Levofloxacin and Cipro are considered "first line" antibiotics for outpatient treatment of kidney infections. But although the risks from these drugs are rare, they are significant.

If your doctor is not calling back, then go to an urgent care clinic, as kidney infections must be treated. The urgent care doctor will prescribe you an alternative antibiotic.

When a fluroquinolone is not used, then the next choice which is effective, is
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 160 mg/800 mg (brand names are Bactrim DS, Septra DS) 1 tablet by mouth twice a day for 14 days.

If your doctor did a urine culture, and the results are in a computer system that other doctors/clinics have access to, then the antibiotic chosen should depend on the antibiotic sensitivity report that should come with the culture results.

If trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is used when the antibiotic susceptibility/sensitivity report is not known, an initial single IV dose of the following may also be given: ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 1 g IV or a consolidated 24-h dose of an aminoglycoside (gentamicin 7 mg/kg IV or tobramycin 7 mg/kg IV or amikacin 20 mg/kg IV).

If the sensitivity report shows that the bacteria is highly susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, then you do not need an IV or IM (shot) dose of another antibiotic.

I hope this helps. I am not a big fan of the fluoroquinolone class (Cipro, Levofloxacin) of antibiotics, but they are commonly used. I hope this information helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar