Antibiotics play a major role in the effective treatment of acne, and are selected according to the individual needs of each patient. For decades, they have been the mainstay drug of choice for doctors treating moderate to severe acne; however, not all antibiotics are right for every patient. Before taking any medication, it is important to know the possible side-effects, and be sure that the benefits outweigh the risks. Levofloxacin, sold under the brand name Levaquin, is an antibiotic used to treat acne.
Effects
There is a wide range of medications that are commonly used to treat skin acne, including erythromycin, Tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, clindamycin. Though not recommended by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for acne, Levaquin has also recently come onto the pharmaceutical horizon to treat acne. All of the antibiotics used for acne have some side-effects; however, according to the FDA, Levaquin appears to be one of the most dangerous.
Recommendations
Levaquin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, generally reserved to treat serious, life-threatening illnesses, such as anthrax. It has been known to be prescribed by doctors for skin acne. Though it is not specifically recommended for acne, it is appropriate to be used only with extreme caution due to the high-level, long-term health risks.
Expert Insight
According the National Institutes of Health, Levaquin carries with it 35 serious, important warnings; in the event any of these complications occur, you should call your doctor straight away. Dangerous side-effects include seizures, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, severe diarrhea, difficulty breathing, anxiety, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.
Risk Factors
Major risk factors for using Levaquin include patients under 18 years old, unless used to treat anthrax, people over 60 years old, taking corticosteroids, pregnant or nursing, and those who have had a kidney, lung or heart transplant. Use during pregnancy and while nursing are not recommended; and cautious use in children is advised, as Levaquin may cause severe problems in bones, joints, and joint tissue in children. Overall, the most common side effect in adult is tendinitis and tendon rupture in shoulders, hands, feet and ankles.
Prevention/Solution
Today, there are ample medical options for treating skin acne, and most of them carry minor to moderate health risks. According to the FDA and the NIH, Levaquin is generally reserved for severe, life-threatening infections, as it carries a high level of risk. Patients are advised to take advantage of safer drugs and modalities available to treat acne.
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