LEVOFLOXACIN QUALIGEN 500 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

2. What you need to know before you take Levofloxacin Qualigen

Do not take this medicine and consult your doctor if:

• You are allergic to levofloxacin, other quinolone antibiotics such as moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, or ofloxacin, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• Signs of an allergic reaction include: skin rash, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling of the lips, face, throat, or tongue.
• You have or have had epilepsy.
• You have ever had tendon problems, such as tendinitis, related to treatment with quinolone antibiotics. The tendon is the tissue that connects your muscle to your skeleton.
• You are a child or adolescent in the growth phase.
• You are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.
• You are breastfeeding.

Do not take this medicine if any of the above cases apply to you. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Levofloxacin Qualigen.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take your medicine if:

• You are 60 years old or older.
• You are using corticosteroids, sometimes called steroids (see section "Other medicines and Levofloxacin Qualigen").
• You have ever had a seizure (convulsions).
• You have had brain damage due to a stroke or other brain injury.
• You have kidney problems.
• You have what is known as "glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency", as you may be prone to having serious blood problems when taking this medicine.
• You have ever had mental health problems.
• You have ever had heart problems: caution should be exercised when using this type of medicine if you were born with, or have a family history of, prolonged QT interval (seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG), a graphical representation of the heart's electrical activity), have an imbalance in blood salt levels (especially low potassium or magnesium levels in the blood), have a slow heart rate (called "bradycardia"), have a weak heart (heart failure), have a history of heart attack (myocardial infarction), if you are a woman or an elderly person or are taking other medicines that may cause abnormal changes in the ECG (see section "Other medicines and Levofloxacin Qualigen").
• You are diabetic.
• You have ever had liver problems.
• You have myasthenia gravis.
• You have peripheral nerve disorder (peripheral neuropathy).
• If you have been diagnosed with an aneurysm of a large blood vessel (aortic aneurysm or large peripheral vessel aneurysm).
• If you have had a previous episode of aortic dissection (tear in the aortic wall).
• If you have been diagnosed with heart valve insufficiency (regurgitation of the heart valves).
• If you have a family history of aortic dissection or aneurysm, congenital heart valve disease, or other risk factors or predisposing conditions (e.g., connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Turner syndrome, or Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune inflammatory disease), or vascular disorders such as Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, Behçet's disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis (a joint disease), or endocarditis (a heart infection)).
• You have developed a severe skin rash or peeling of the skin, blisters, and/or sores in the mouth after taking levofloxacin.

Severe skin reactions

Severe skin reactions have been reported, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) with the use of levofloxacin.

• SJS/TEN may initially appear on the trunk as reddish targets or circular patches often with blisters in the center. They may also appear as ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals, and eyes (red and swollen eyes). These severe skin rashes are often preceded by fever and/or flu-like symptoms. The rashes may progress to widespread skin peeling and life-threatening or fatal complications.
• DRESS is initially manifested by flu-like symptoms and a rash on the face, followed by a more widespread rash with elevated body temperature, elevated liver enzymes observed in blood tests, and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) and enlarged lymph nodes.

If you develop a severe rash or any of these skin symptoms, stop taking levofloxacin and contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention.

Do not take antibacterial medicines that contain fluoroquinolones or quinolones, including Levofloxacin Qualigen, if you have experienced any severe adverse reaction in the past when taking a quinolone or fluoroquinolone. If this is the case, you should inform your doctor as soon as possible.

While taking your medicine:

• If you feel a sudden and severe pain in the abdomen, chest, or back, which can be symptoms of aortic dissection or aneurysm, go to the emergency room immediately. The risk may increase if you are receiving systemic corticosteroid treatment.
• If you start experiencing sudden onset of shortness of breath, especially when lying down, or if you notice swelling in the ankles, feet, or abdomen, or the appearance of heart palpitations (feeling of rapid or irregular heartbeat), you should inform your doctor immediately.
• If you start experiencing sudden and involuntary jerks, muscle spasms, or muscle contractions - consult a doctor immediately, as these could be signs of myoclonus. Your doctor may need to discontinue treatment with levofloxacin and initiate appropriate treatment.
• If you have nausea, general discomfort, have intense discomfort or persistent pain or worsening pain in the stomach area, or vomit - consult a doctor immediately, as this could be a sign of pancreatitis (acute pancreatitis).
• If you experience fatigue, pale skin, bruising, uncontrolled bleeding, fever, sore throat, and a severe deterioration of your general condition, or a feeling that your resistance to infections may be decreased - consult a doctor immediately, as these could be signs of blood disorders. Your doctor should monitor your blood with blood counts. In case of abnormal blood counts, your doctor may need to discontinue treatment.

In rare cases, pain and swelling in the joints and inflammation or rupture of the tendons may occur. The risk is greater if you are an elderly person (over 60 years old), have received an organ transplant, have kidney problems, or are being treated with corticosteroids. Tendon inflammation and rupture can occur within the first 48 hours of treatment and even several months after stopping treatment with Levofloxacin Qualigen. At the first sign of pain or inflammation of a tendon (e.g., in the ankle, wrist, elbow, shoulder, or knee), stop taking Levofloxacin Qualigen, contact your doctor, and rest the affected area. Avoid any unnecessary exercise, as this may increase the risk of tendon rupture.

In rare cases, you may experience symptoms of nerve damage (neuropathy) such as pain, burning, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness, especially in the feet and legs or hands and arms. If this happens, stop taking Levofloxacin Qualigen and inform your doctor immediately to prevent the development of a potentially irreversible disorder.

Severe, long-lasting, and potentially irreversible adverse effects

Antibacterial medicines that contain fluoroquinolones or quinolones, including Levofloxacin Qualigen, have been associated with very rare but serious adverse effects, some of which were long-lasting (persisting for months or years), disabling, or potentially irreversible. This includes pain in the tendons, muscles, and joints of the upper and lower limbs, difficulty walking, abnormal sensations such as pins and needles, tingling, prickling, numbness, or burning (paresthesia), sensory disorders such as decreased vision, taste, smell, and hearing, depression, decreased memory, intense fatigue, and severe sleep disorders.

If you experience any of these adverse effects after taking Levofloxacin Qualigen, contact your doctor immediately before continuing treatment. You and your doctor will decide whether to continue or not, also considering the use of an antibiotic of another class.

Inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking Levofloxacin Qualigen if you are not sure if any of the above cases apply to you.

Other medicines and Levofloxacin Qualigen

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This is because Levofloxacin Qualigen may affect the way other medicines work. Also, some medicines may affect the way Levofloxacin Qualigen works.

In particular, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines, as they may increase the risk of adverse effects when taken with Levofloxacin Qualigen:

• Corticosteroids, sometimes called steroids - used for inflammation. You may have a greater chance of experiencing tendon inflammation and/or rupture.
• Warfarin - used to make the blood more fluid. You may have a greater chance of bleeding. Your doctor may need to perform periodic blood tests to check if your blood is clotting correctly.
• Theophylline - used for respiratory problems. You may have a greater chance of experiencing a seizure (convulsions) if you take it with Levofloxacin Qualigen.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - used for pain and inflammation such as acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, indomethacin. You may have a greater chance of experiencing a seizure (convulsions) when taking them with Levofloxacin Qualigen.
• Cyclosporine - used after organ transplants. You may have a greater chance of experiencing the adverse effects of cyclosporine.
• Medicines with known effects on heart rhythm. This includes medicines used for abnormal heart rhythm (antiarrhythmics such as quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide, and amiodarone), for depression (tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and imipramine), for psychiatric disorders (antipsychotics), and for bacterial infections (macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin).
• Probenecid used for gout. Your doctor may need to give you a lower dose if you have kidney problems.
• Cimetidine used for ulcers and heartburn. Your doctor may need to give you a lower dose if you have kidney problems.

Inform your doctor if any of the above cases apply to you.

Do not take Levofloxacin Qualigen tablets at the same time as the following medicines, as they may affect the action of Levofloxacin Qualigen tablets:

• Iron tablets (for anemia), zinc supplements, antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium (for acidity or heartburn), didanosine, or sucralfate (for stomach ulcers). See section 3 "If you are already taking iron tablets, zinc supplements, antacids, didanosine, or sucralfate" below.

Determination of opiates in urine

Urine tests may show "false positive" results for the presence of strong painkillers called "opiates" in patients taking Levofloxacin Qualigen. Inform your doctor that you are taking Levofloxacin Qualigen if you have been prescribed a urine test.

Tuberculosis test

This medicine may cause a "false negative" result in some laboratory tests that look for the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not take this medicine if:

• you are pregnant, might become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant
• you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Driving and using machines

Some adverse effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, altered balance (vertigo), or visual disturbances may occur. Some of these adverse effects may affect your ability to concentrate or reduce your reaction time. If this happens, do not drive or perform any work that requires a high level of attention.

Levofloxacin contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per tablet; it is essentially "sodium-free"

3. How to Take Levofloxacino Qualigen Tablets

Follow your doctor's instructions for taking this medication exactly. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

How to Take this Medication

• Take this medication by mouth
• Swallow the tablets whole with a little water
• The tablets can be taken during or between meals

If You Are Already Taking Iron Tablets, Zinc Supplements, Antacids, Didanosine, or Sucralfate

• Do not take these medications at the same time as Levofloxacino Qualigen. You should take these medications at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Levofloxacino Qualigen tablets.

What Dose Should You Take

• Your doctor will decide how much Levofloxacino Qualigen you should take.
• The dose will depend on the type of infection you have and where the infection is located in your body.
• The duration of treatment will depend on the severity of your infection.
• If you think the effect of the medication is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, ask your doctor.

Adults and Elderly Patients

Paranasal Sinus Infection

• One Levofloxacino Qualigen 500 mg tablet, once a day

Lung Infection, in People with Long-Term Respiratory Problems

• One Levofloxacino Qualigen 500 mg tablet, once a day

Pneumonia

• One Levofloxacino Qualigen 500 mg tablet, once or twice a day

Urinary Tract Infection, Including Kidneys or Bladder

• Half or one Levofloxacino Qualigen 500 mg tablet, per day

Prostate Infection

• One Levofloxacino Qualigen 500 mg tablet, once a day

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections, Including Muscles

• One Levofloxacino Qualigen 500 mg tablet, once or twice a day

Adults and Elderly Patients with Kidney Problems

Your doctor may give you a lower dose.

Children and Adolescents

This medication should not be given to children or adolescents.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Do not expose your skin directly to the sun (even when cloudy) while taking this medication and for 2 days after stopping it, as your skin will become much more sensitive to the sun and may burn, sting, or even blister if you do not take the following precautions:

• Make sure to use high-factor sunscreens
• Always wear a hat and clothing that covers your arms and legs
• Avoid UVA lamps

If You Take More Levofloxacino Qualigen Tablets Than You Should

If you accidentally take more tablets than you should, inform your doctor or get immediate medical help. Take the medication with you so the doctor knows what you have taken. You can also call the Toxicology Information Service on 91 562 04 20, stating the medication and the amount ingested. The effects that may appear are: epileptic seizures (convulsions), confusion, dizziness, decreased consciousness, tremors, heart disorders that can cause irregular heartbeats as well as nausea or stomach burning.

If You Forget to Take Levofloxacino Qualigen Tablets

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If You Stop Taking Levofloxacino Qualigen Tablets

Do not stop your treatment with Levofloxacino Qualigen even if you feel better. It is important that you complete the treatment that your doctor has prescribed. If you stop taking the tablets too soon, the infection may come back, your condition may worsen, or the bacteria may become resistant to the medication.

If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible Side Effects

Like all medications, this medication can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. They are usually mild to moderate and tend to go away on their own in a short time.

Stop Treatment with Levofloxacino Qualigen and Contact a Doctor or Go to the Hospital Immediately if You Notice the Following Side Effects:

Very Rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• If you have an allergic reaction. The signs may include: skin rash, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling of the lips, face, throat, or tongue

Stop Treatment with Levofloxacino Qualigen and Contact a Doctor Immediately if You Notice the Following Serious Side Effects, as You May Need Urgent Medical Treatment:

Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Watery diarrhea that may contain blood, possibly with stomach cramps and fever. These could be signs of a serious intestinal problem
• Pain and inflammation in the tendons or ligaments, which could lead to rupture. The Achilles tendon is the one most frequently affected
• Epileptic seizures (convulsions)
• Seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations, paranoia)
• Depression, mental disorders, feeling of restlessness (agitation), abnormal dreams or nightmares
• Widespread rash, high body temperature, elevated liver enzymes, blood abnormalities (eosinophilia), swollen lymph nodes, and other organs involved (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, also known as DRESS or drug hypersensitivity syndrome). See section 2.
• Syndrome associated with disturbances in water elimination and low sodium levels (SIADH).
• Decreased blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) or decreased sugar levels that can lead to coma (hypoglycemic coma). This is important for diabetic patients.

Very Rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Burning, tingling, pain, or numbness. These can be signs of what is called "neuropathy"

Frequency Not Known(cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Severe skin rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. These can appear on the trunk as reddish spots in a target shape or circular patches, often with blisters in the center, skin peeling, ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals, and eyes, and can be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms. See section 2.

• Lack of appetite, yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, itching or painful stomach (abdomen). These can be signs of liver problems, which can include acute liver failure
• Changes in opinion and thoughts (psychotic reactions) with a risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions.
• Nausea, general discomfort, stomach upset, or vomiting. These could be signs of an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis). See section 2.

Consult an eye specialist immediately if your vision deteriorates or you have any other eye problems while taking Levofloxacino Qualigen.

The administration of antibiotics containing quinolones and fluoroquinolones has been associated with very rare cases of long-lasting (even months or years) or permanent adverse reactions, such as tendon inflammation, tendon rupture, joint pain, pain in the limbs, difficulty walking, abnormal sensations such as pinching, tingling, burning, numbness, or pain (neuropathy), fatigue, decreased memory and concentration, effects on mental health (which can include sleep disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and suicidal ideation), decreased hearing, vision, taste, and smell, in some cases regardless of the presence of pre-existing risk factors.

There have been reports of increased size and weakening or tearing of the aortic wall (aneurysms and dissections), which can lead to rupture and be fatal, and heart valve problems in patients who have received fluoroquinolones. See also section 2.

Tell Your Doctor if Any of the Following Side Effects Worsen or Last More Than a Few Days:

Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Sleep problems
• Headache, dizziness

• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Increased levels of some liver enzymes in the blood

Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Changes in the number of other bacteria or fungi, infection with a fungus called Candida, which may require treatment
• Changes in the number of white blood cells in your blood test results (leukopenia, eosinophilia)
• Stress (anxiety), confusion, nervousness, drowsiness, tremors, feeling of dizziness (vertigo)
• Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
• Changes in taste, loss of appetite, stomach upset, or indigestion (dyspepsia), stomach pain, feeling of bloating (flatulence), or constipation
• Itching and skin rash, intense itching or hives (urticaria), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• Joint or muscle pain
• Abnormal blood test results due to liver (increased bilirubin) or kidney (increased creatinine) problems
• General weakness

Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Appearance of bruises and easy bleeding due to a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
• Decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood (neutropenia)
• Exaggerated immune response (hypersensitivity)
• Feeling of tingling in hands and feet (paresthesia)
• Ear (tinnitus) or vision (blurred vision) disorders
• Abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or decreased blood pressure (hypotension)
• Muscle weakness. This is important in people with myasthenia gravis (a rare nervous system disease)
• Changes in kidney function and occasional kidney failure, which can be a consequence of an allergic reaction in the kidney called interstitial nephritis
• Fever
• Red patches clearly defined with or without blisters that develop a few hours after administration of levofloxacin and heal with residual post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation; usually, it recurs in the same area of the skin or mucous membrane after subsequent exposure to levofloxacin.
• Memory impairment

Frequency Not Known(cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Decrease in red blood cells (anemia): this can cause the skin to become pale or yellowish due to damage to red blood cells; decrease in the number of all types of blood cells (pancytopenia)
• The bone marrow stops producing new blood cells, which can cause fatigue, decreased ability to fight infections, and uncontrolled bleeding (bone marrow failure)

• Fever, sore throat, and persistent general malaise. This may be due to a decrease in the number of white blood cells (agranulocytosis)
• Circulatory collapse (anaphylactic shock)
• Increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). This is important in people with diabetes

• Changes in smell, loss of smell or taste (parosmia, anosmia, ageusia)
• Feeling very excited, euphoric, agitated, or enthusiastic (mania)
• Movement and walking disorders (dyskinesia, extrapyramidal disorders)
• Temporary loss of consciousness or posture (syncope)
• Temporary loss of vision, eye inflammation
• Hearing or vision problems
• Abnormally fast heartbeat, irregular heartbeat with life-threatening risk, including cardiac arrest, alteration of heart rhythm (called "prolongation of the QT interval", observed in the ECG, a graphical representation of the heart's electrical activity)
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing (bronchospasm)
• Pulmonary allergic reactions
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)

• Increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun and ultraviolet light (photosensitivity), darker skin areas (hyperpigmentation)
• Inflammation of the blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body due to an allergic reaction (vasculitis)
• Inflammation of the tissue inside the mouth (stomatitis)
• Muscle rupture and destruction (rhabdomyolysis)
• Red and swollen joints (arthritis)
• Pain, including back, chest, and limb pain
• Sudden, involuntary jerks, muscle spasms, or muscle contractions (myoclonus)
• Porphyria crisis in patients with porphyria (a very rare metabolic disease)
• Persistent headache with or without blurred vision (benign intracranial hypertension)

Reporting Side Effects

If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: www.notificaram.es.

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medication.

5. Storage of Levofloxacino Qualigen Tablets

Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.

This medication does not require special storage conditions, but it is preferable to store Levofloxacino Qualigen tablets in their original packaging in a dry place.

Do not use this medication after the expiration date shown on the packaging and blister after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medications should not be thrown away in drains or trash. Deposit the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point in the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Levofloxacino Qualigen Tablets

The active ingredient is levofloxacin. Each tablet contains 500 mg of levofloxacin (as hemihydrate).

The other ingredients (excipients) are:

• Core: Crospovidone (type A), Hypromellose (E-464), Microcrystalline cellulose (E-460i), Sodium stearyl fumarate.
• Coating: Hypromellose (E-464), Talc, Titanium dioxide (E-171), Macrogol 8000 (E-1520), Red iron oxide (E-172), and Yellow iron oxide (E-172).

Appearance and Packaging of the Product

Levofloxacino Qualigen are film-coated tablets for oral use. The tablets are pink, capsule-shaped, and scored on both sides.

They are available in packs of 1, 7, 10, and 14 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Neuraxpharm Spain, S.L.U.

Avda. Barcelona, 69

08970 Sant Joan Despí

Barcelona – Spain

Manufacturer

Pharmaceutical Works POLPHARMA S.A,

Production Department in Nowa Deba,

2, Metalowca Street,

39-460 Nowa Deba, POLAND

Pharmaceutical Works POLPHARMA S.A,

19, Pelplinska Street

83-200 Starogard Gdanski, POLAND

This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medication. If you have any questions or are unsure about something, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet: May 2025

Detailed and updated information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/