The key difference between ofloxacin and levofloxacin is that ofloxacin shows comparatively less effective antibacterial properties and less safety, whereas levofloxacin shows comparatively high antibacterial properties and high safety.
Ofloxacin and levofloxacin are two antibiotic medications that are used to treat a number of bacterial infections.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ofloxacin
3. What is Levofloxacin
4. Ofloxacin vs Levofloxacin in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Ofloxacin vs Levofloxacin
What is Ofloxacin?
Ofloxacin is an antibiotic medication that is important in treating a number of bacterial infections. We can classify it as a quinolone antibiotic. The routes of ofloxacin administration include oral administration and intravenous injection. When it is taken orally or as an injection, it can treat pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, plague, and some types of infectious diarrhea. There are some other uses as well, including the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In the form of an eye drop, we can use it to treat bacterial infections in the eye.
Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Ofloxacin
The common side effects of the oral drug include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and rash. However, there can be some serious side effects as well, including tendon rupture, numbness, seizures, and psychosis.
The bioavailability of ofloxacin is around 85%-95%, and its protein binding ability is about 32%. The elimination half-life of ofloxacin is about 8 – 9 hours. The chemical formula of this substance is C18H20FN3O4.
Moreover, there can be some contradictions regarding this medication, such as effects shown during pregnancy, musculoskeletal injury in children, etc. In addition, there can be some adverse effects caused by the overdose of ofloxacin.
When considering the mode of action of ofloxacin, it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species. This medication can work by inhibiting two bacterial enzymes: type II topoisomerase and DNA gyrase.
What is Levofloxacin?
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic medication that is important in treating a number of bacterial infections such as acute bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, H.Pylori, urinary tract infections, and chronic prostatitis. The brand name of this drug is Levaquin. Generally, this drug is suitable only when there is no other option. The routes of administration of levofloxacin include oral administration, intravenous administration, and in the form of eye drops.
Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of Levofloxacin
There can be some side effects of levofloxacin, including nausea, diarrhea, and trouble sleeping. However, there can be some serious side effects as well, which include tendon rupture, seizures, tendon inflammation, psychosis, permanent peripheral nerve damage, etc.
The bioavailability of levofloxacin is about 99%, and its protein binding ability is around 31%. The metabolism of levofloxacin occurs in the form of desmethyl and N-oxide metabolites. The elimination half-life of levofloxacin is about 6.9 hours. The excretion of this medication occurs through the kidney, mostly in an unchanged form.
What is the Difference Between Ofloxacin and Levofloxacin?
Ofloxacin and levofloxacin are important antibacterial medications. The key difference between ofloxacin and levofloxacin is that ofloxacin shows comparatively less effective antibacterial properties and less safety, whereas levofloxacin shows comparatively high antibacterial properties and high safety.
The below infographic presents the differences between ofloxacin and levofloxacin in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Ofloxacin vs Levofloxacin
Ofloxacin is an antibiotic medication that is important in treating a number of bacterial infections. Levofloxacin is an antibiotic medication that is important in treating a number of bacterial infections like acute bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, H.Pylori, etc. The key difference between ofloxacin and levofloxacin is that ofloxacin shows comparatively less effective antibacterial properties and less safety, whereas levofloxacin shows comparatively high antibacterial properties and high safety.
Reference:
1. “Levofloxacin Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Ofloxacin” By Fvasconcellos 02:55, 14 May 2007 (UTC) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Levofloxacin skeletal” By Fvasconcellos (talk · contribs) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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