Is Levofloxacin a Penicillin: Find the Truth
Health is an essential aspect of everyone’s life. But bacterial infections can disrupt and negatively impact the lives of people.
To treat the infection, a healthcare provider can prescribe antibiotics, such as Levofloxacin and others that contain Penicillin.
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic with a broad spectrum and is used to treat the disease caused by bacteria.
On the other hand, Penicillin has always been one of the first conventional medicines to treat various bacterial infections and promote a healthy lifestyle.
But is Levofloxacin also a Penicillin-containing drug? And is it safe to administer if you are sensitive to Penicillin?
Knowing about your drug is necessary.
Therefore, this article will help you understand “Is Levofloxacin a Penicillin” and how can you distinguish these medically approved drugs to treat your infections.
An overview
Before learning about Levofloxacin and Penicillin, let’s take a look at an overview of the distinction between these anti-bacterial drugs:
| Features | Levofloxacin | Penicillin |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Class | Fluoroquinolones | Natural Penicillin |
| Brand Name | Levaquin | N/A |
| Indicated for | Bacterial infection | Bacterial infections |
| Administration | Intravenous solutionOral tabletOral solution | Deep intramuscular injection |
| Mode of Action | Inhibits bacterial DNA synthesis | Inhibits the Transpeptidase enzyme |
Is Levofloxacin a Penicillin
The answer is no, Levofloxacin is not a Penicillin.
Levofloxacin is a third-generation Fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
The antibiotic was patented in 1987 and subsequently received FDA approval in 1996.
Levofloxacin can be used to treat the following medical conditions:
- Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
- Complicated and Uncomplicated skin structure infections
- Chronic bacterial Prostatitis
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Acute Pyelonephritis
- Anthrax
On the other hand, the Penicillin family of antibiotics also has bactericidal (kills bacteria) activity, with excellent distribution throughout the body and low toxicity.
Penicillin is in the beta-lactam antibiotic class of drugs. It is effective against many different infections, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
However, some bacteria have obtained Penicillin resistance and are now treated with a combination of other drugs, such as in the case of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP).
According to NCBI, to treat CAP, Penicillins were included.
But as the Penicillin resistance concern grew, Levofloxacin with lower drug resistance was adopted for the treatment.
Still, Penicillins are used to treat various bacterial infections such as:
- Pneumonia
- Enterococcal and non-enterococcal Endocarditis
- Diphtheria
- Anthrax
- Meningitis
- Syphilis
Does Levofloxacin have Penicillin in it
As Levofloxacin belongs to another class of drugs, it does not have Penicillin in it.
Not only Levofloxacin but all the other drugs in the Fluoroquinolone class lack Penicillin.
Therefore, people sensitive to Penicillin can take Levofloxacin to treat their bacterial infections with much efficacy and low risks of drug resistance.
Can you take Levofloxacin if allergic to Penicillin
People suffering from bacterial infections can take Levofloxacin if they are allergic to Penicillin.
According to NCBI, Levofloxacin achieved decent efficacy and safety as a first-line antimicrobial medication in people with Penicillin allergy.
Moreover, Levofloxacin is now recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
It can treat acute bacterial Rhinosinusitis in children and adults with a history of type I hypersensitivity to Penicillin.
Although these drugs have many clinical benefits, you should always consult your doctor before administering them.
Conclusion
Levofloxacin and Penicillin are widely accepted antibiotics to treat various infections caused by bacteria.
However, Levofloxacin is not a Penicillin.
Levofloxacin belongs to the Fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, whereas the penicillin family is in the beta-lactam antibiotic class of drugs.
Further, Levofloxacin can be used to treat CAP, chronic Prostatitis, and UTIs.
Whereas, Penicillin can effectively treat Pneumonia, Diphtheria, and Meningitis.
Since Levofloxacin does not contain Penicillin, people allergic to Penicillin can administer Levofloxacin to treat bacterial infection.
Moreover, many researchers have approved the efficacy and safety of Levofloxacin for people sensitive to Penicillin.
Even though the use of Levofloxacin is suitable, you should consult your doctor to avoid any serious health complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
WowRx uses only high-quality sources while writing our articles. Please read our content information policy to know more about how we keep our content reliable and trustworthy.
