Cipro/Levofloxacin

[Minkie12]

If bacteria is resistant to Levofloxacin can Cipro still be effective?

[caregiver222]

As a matter of interest, the patent claims on both medications suggest they have varying degrees of effectiveness on different types of bacteria. That remains to be seen. Basically, when one drug is about to run out of patent a drug company comes up with a similar molecule that gives them another twenty years.

[caregiver222]

That is an excellent question, since both antibiotics are fluoroquinalones, the same class of drugs. It is not a good idea to take a "lot of these drugs". Tendon rupture and horrible aches and pains for months can result. People have different genetic tolerances. I can tolerate Cipro, for example, however Levofloxacin caused me terrible problems for almost eight months. Getting back to your question the answer is "probably", but not absolutely positively. . Both medications interfere with bacterial replication, but in slightly different ways.

[ill13632]

I'm curious if you take a lot of cipro like I have the last few years what's the worst that can happen?  I've taken cipro from 7-14 days and even IV cipro for an infection.  can you get a terrible lung infection and worsening of asthma?  
tendon rupture is one of the side effects