Amoxicillin vs Levaquin

Name: Amoxicillin vs Levaquin

Amoxicillin vs.Levaquin quick comparison

  • Amoxicillin and Levaquin (levofloxacin) are both antibiotics used to treat a variety bacterial infections.
  • Levaquin belongs to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, while amoxicillin is a penicillin type of antibiotic.
  • Both Levaquin and amoxicillin are used to treat infections of the lungs, airways, skin, urinary tract, and ears.
  • Differences between the two drugs include the conditions the drugs are used to treat.
  • Amoxicillin also is used to treat infections of tonsillitis, throat, and larynx (laryngitis).
  • Levaquin also is used to treat:
    • Infections of the bones and joints
    • Infectious diarrhea caused by e. Coli, campylobacter jejuni, and shigella bacteria
    • Inhalational anthrax exposure with fever and low white blood cell counts
    • Intra-abdominal infections
    • Prostatitis (infection of the prostate)
    • Acute sinus infections
    • Acute bronchitis
    • Obstetric infections, including mastitis (infection of the breast)
  • Common side effects of both Levaquin and amoxicillin include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, and rash.
  • Levaquin may also cause different side effects such as constipation and restlessness. Amoxicillin may also cause dizziness, heartburn, insomnia, itching, confusion, easy bruising, bleeding, and allergic reactions.
  • Brand names for amoxicillin include Amoxil, Moxatag, and Larotid.

What are the uses of amoxicillin vs. Levaquin?

Amoxicillin uses

Amoxicillin is used to treat infections due to bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of amoxicillin.
Common bacterial infections that amoxicillin is used for include infections of the

  • middle ear,
  • tonsils,
  • throat,
  • larynx (laryngitis),
  • bronchi (bronchitis),
  • Lungs (pneumonia),
  • urinary tract, and
  • skin.

Amoxicillin also treats gonorrhea.

Levaquin uses

  • Levaquin is used to treat infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, airways, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria.
  • Levaquin also is frequently used to treat urinary infections, including those resistant to other antibiotics, as well as prostatitis (infection of the prostate).
  • Levaquin is effective in treating infectious diarrhea caused by E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Shigella bacteria.
  • Levaquin also can be used to treat various obstetric infections, including mastitis (infection of the breast).
  • Inhalation anthrax exposure also is treated with Levaquin.
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Summary

Amoxicillin and Levaquin are antibiotics used to treat various bacterial infections of the throat, lungs, skin, prostate, and bladder. Amoxicillin is a penicillin while Levaquin belongs to a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Penicillins and fluoroquinolones work differently in killing bacteria. Both drugs have similar side effects, for example, abdominal pain, headache, rash, itching, insomnia, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Amoxicillin also causes side effects that include easy bruising, heartburn, insomnia, confusion, bleeding, and dizziness.

Levaquin has serious side effects, for example, sun sensitivity, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), abnormal heart beats, liver problems, C. diff associated diarrhea.

Dosage depends upon the drug and type of infection. Amoxicillin has few drug interactions while Levaquin interacts with certain mineral supplements, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Neither drug is recommended to take if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Reviewed on 10/30/2017 References REFERENCES:

FDA Prescribing Information for amoxicillin.
<https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020634s068,020635s074,021721s035lbl.pdf>

FDA Prescribing Information for Levaquin®.
<https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020634s068,020635s074,021721s035lbl.pdf>
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