Ask a doctor about a prescription for LEVOFLOXACIN ALTAN 5 mg/mL SOLUTION FOR INFUSION
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Levofloxacino Altan 5 mg/ml solution for infusion EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
The name of this medicine is Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion. Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion contains an active substance called levofloxacin, which belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics. Levofloxacin is a type of antibiotic known as a quinolone, and it works by killing the bacteria that cause infections in your body.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and do not work for viral infections such as flu or common cold.
It is important that you follow the instructions regarding dose, administration interval, and treatment duration indicated by your doctor.
Do not store or reuse this medicine. If you have leftover antibiotic after finishing treatment, return it to the pharmacy for proper disposal. Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste.
Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion can be used to treat infections in:
In some special situations, Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion can be used to reduce the possibility of acquiring a lung infection called anthrax or worsening of this disease after being exposed to the bacteria that cause anthrax.
Do not use this medicine and consult your doctor if:
Do not use this medicine if any of the above cases apply to you. If in doubt, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using Levofloxacino Altan.
Warnings and precautions
Before you start using this medicine
You should not use antibacterial medicines that contain fluoroquinolones or quinolones, including Levofloxacino Altan, if you have experienced any severe adverse reaction in the past when using a quinolone or fluoroquinolone. If this is the case, you should inform your doctor as soon as possible.
Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using this medicine if:
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using Levofloxacino Altan if you are not sure if any of the above cases apply to you.
During treatment with this medicine
Rarely, pain and swelling in the joints and inflammation or rupture of the tendonsmay 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 Levofloxacino Altan. At the first sign of pain or inflammation of a tendon (e.g., in the ankle, wrist, elbow, shoulder, or knee), stop using Levofloxacino Altan, contact your doctor, and rest the affected area. Avoid any unnecessary exercise, as this may increase the risk of tendon rupture.
Rarely, 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 using Levofloxacino Altan and inform your doctor immediately to prevent the development of a potentially irreversible disorder.
If you feel a sudden, severe pain in the chest, abdomen, or back, which can be symptoms of aortic dissection or aneurysm, go to the emergency room immediately. The risk may be increased 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), inform your doctor immediately.
If you start experiencing sudden, 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 ongoing pain in the stomach area, or vomit - consult a doctor immediately, as this could be a sign of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
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.
Severe, disabling, long-lasting, and potentially irreversible side effects
Antibacterial medicines that contain fluoroquinolones or quinolones, including Levofloxacino Altan, have been associated with very rare but serious side 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, 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 side effects after using Levofloxacino Altan, 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 from another class.
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.
If you develop a severe rash or any of these skin symptoms, stop taking levofloxacin and contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately.
Using Levofloxacino Altan with other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This is because Levofloxacino Altan can affect the functioning of other medicines. Additionally, some medicines can affect the functioning of Levofloxacino Altan.
In particular, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines, as this increases the possibility of experiencing side effects when taking them with Levofloxacino Altan:
Determination of opiates in urine
Urine tests may show "false positive" results for the presence of strong painkillers called "opiates" in patients using Levofloxacino Altan. Inform your doctor that you are using Levofloxacino Altan if you have been prescribed a urine test.
Tuberculosis test
This medicine may cause a "false negative" result in some laboratory tests used to detect the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not use this medicine if:
Driving and using machines
Some side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, balance disorders (vertigo), or visual disturbances may occur. Some of these side effects can affect your ability to concentrate or reduce your reaction time. If this happens, do not drive or operate any machinery that requires a high level of attention.
Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion contains sodium
Patients on low-sodium diets should note that this medicine contains 900 mg of sodium per 100 ml dose.
How to use Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion
How much Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion is administered
If you are not sure why you are being administered Levofloxacino Altan or have any questions about how much Levofloxacino Altan you are being administered, consult your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Adults and elderly patients
Adults and elderly patients with kidney problems
Your doctor may administer a lower dose to you.
Children and adolescents
This medicine should not be administered to children or adolescents.
Protect your skin from sunlight
Do not expose your skin directly to the sun (even on cloudy days) while you are being administered this medicine and for two days after stopping use, 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:
If you use more Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion than you should
It is unlikely that your doctor or nurse will administer more medicine than you need. Your doctor and nurse will monitor your progress and control the medicine that has been administered to you. Always ask if you are not sure why you are being administered this medicine.
If you are administered more Levofloxacino Altan than you need, the following effects may appear: epileptic seizures (convulsions), confusion, dizziness, decreased consciousness, tremors, heart disorders that can cause irregular heartbeats as well as discomfort (nausea).
If you forget to use Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion
Your doctor or nurse will have instructions on when to give you this medicine. It is unlikely that you will not be administered the medicine as prescribed. However, if you think you have forgotten a dose, inform your doctor or nurse.
If you interrupt treatment with Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion
Your doctor or nurse will continue to administer Levofloxacino Altan to you, even if you feel better. If treatment is interrupted too early, you may get worse or the bacteria may become resistant to the medicine. After a few days of treatment with the infusion solution, your doctor may decide to switch you to the tablet form of this medicine to complete the treatment.
If you have any other questions about using the product, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. They are usually mild to moderate and tend to disappear after a short time.
Interrupt treatment with Levofloxacino Altan and contact a doctor or nurse or go to a hospital immediately if you notice the following side effects:
Very rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Interrupt treatment with Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion and contact a doctor or nurse 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)
Very rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Others:
Consult an eye specialist immediately if your vision deteriorates or you have any other eye problems while taking Levofloxacino Altan.
Tell your doctorif any of the following side effects worsen or last more than a few days:
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Frequency not known(cannot be estimated from the available data)
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, limb pain, 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 thoughts), and 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 could lead to rupture and be fatal, and heart valve problems in patients who have received fluoroquinolones. See also section 2.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a side effect 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 medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 30°C.
Keep the bag in the outer packaging to protect it from light.
No need to protect from light during infusion.
Levofloxacino Altan should be used immediately after removal from the outer packaging.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date stated on the packaging and vial after EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not use Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion if you notice that the solution is not transparent, is not yellowish-green in color, and/or has particles inside.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
The active ingredient is levofloxacin.
Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion is available in a 500 mg presentation in a 100 ml plastic bag. One ml of infusion solution contains 5 mg of levofloxacin.
The other ingredients are: sodium chloride, hydrochloric acid (pH adjuster), and water for injectable preparations (sodium concentration: 15.4 mmol/100 ml).
Appearance of the product and package contents
Levofloxacino Altan solution for infusion is a clear, yellowish-green solution without particles.
It is presented in a plastic bag.
The 100 ml bag is available in packs of 1 and 50 units (clinical packaging).
Only some pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder
Altan Pharmaceuticals, S.A.
C/ Cólquide 6. Portal 2, 1ª planta, oficina F. Edificio Prisma
28230 Las Rozas. Madrid
Spain
Manufacturer
Altan Pharmaceuticals, S.A.
Pol. Ind. de Bernedo s/n
01118 Bernedo. Álava
Spain
This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about something, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Date of the last revision of this leaflet: May 2025
Detailed and updated information about this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/
Discuss dosage, side effects, interactions, contraindications, and prescription renewal for LEVOFLOXACIN ALTAN 5 mg/mL SOLUTION FOR INFUSION – subject to medical assessment and local rules.