Levaquin is a powerful antibiotic prescribed for hard-to-defeat and life-threatening bacterial infections. The medicine's possible side effects include stimulation of the central nervous system, which can be further increased by caffeine. Levaquin has also been found to reduce or interfere with the body's natural metabolism of caffeine. You should carefully monitor your body's responses to caffeine when taking Levaquin, and possibly avoid caffeine altogether.
Levaquin and Infections
Levaquin is an antibiotic medication originally developed to treat endemic infections that had failed to respond to other antibiotics. Levaquin is a member of the powerful fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics, and kills bacteria by interfering with their ability to replicate DNA.
Drug-resistant Staph, E. coli and Klebsiella are several bacterial species that are vulnerable to defeat by Levaquin under certain circumstances. Levaquin treatment can last anywhere from three to 60 days, depending on the infection, though the majority of Levaquin regimens are for 14 days or less.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a naturally-occurring chemical in several tropical plant species that serve as human food sources. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and can be enjoyable, though it can also cause wakefulness, insomnia, anxiety and stomach upset, depending on the dose and individual tolerance.
Coffee, tea and chocolate are common sources of caffeine in the American diet, along with sodas and cola drinks. Espresso and "energy drinks" can deliver several times more caffeine than is present in comparable volumes of other beverages. Some "energy pills" and headache-relief medications also contain substantial caffeine.
Caffeine in foods and drugs can be natural or synthetic in origin.
Levaquin and Nervous System Side-Effects
Along with other fluoroquinolones, a potential side-effect of Levaquin is stimulation to the central nervous system, including the brain, and the production of unwanted psychiatric effects. In a small number of patients this can result in anxiety, agitation, insomnia and disturbing dreams.
The likelihood of these side-effects for an individual cannot generally be predicted in advance, though research indicates that up to 4 percent of Levaquin patients may experience insomnia, with under 1 percent of patients experiencing the other effects.
Several substances, including caffeine and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can exert synergistic effects with Levaquin, raising the probability of unwanted nervous system stimulation when taken together.
Caffeine Metabolism and Levaquin
Levaquin has also been found to interfere with the body's normal metabolism of caffeine, slowing the elimination of caffeine by up to 75 percent according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Medical Advisory Panel.
For people who drink caffeinated beverages, this can cause blood levels of caffeine to build up to unusually high levels, and exert stimulative effects that may be unsettling and slower-than-expected to dissipate.
An elevated level of caffeine may exert an impact on its own, or increase the degree of stimulation and agitation that can be caused by Levaquin.
Tips for Dealing with Caffeine and Levaquin
The best advice when taking Levaquin is to reduce or avoid caffeine intake. If you regularly drink caffeinated coffee, reduce your normal intake until you can gauge how your body responds to caffeine and Levaquin. Maintaining good hydration is important while taking Levaquin, and helps your body eliminate caffeine and waste products.
Most importantly, discuss the possible side effects of Levaquin with your doctor and how to deal with possible caffeine interactions.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed: Levofloxacin
- Ortho-McNeil-Janssen: Levaquin, U.S. Prescribing Information
- Colorado State University: Nutrient-Drug Interactions and Food
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affair: Drug Class Review: Fluoroquinolones
- Novant Medical Group: Levofloxacin Ophthalmic drops, solution
- McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois: Caffeine
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