Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance
For what does Levaquin treat that another antibiotic could not? Is there is something else that would work without the risk?
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Yes, there almost always is another alternative. Sometimes the problem arises for someone like me who is allergic to 2 major classes of antibiotics. So, if say a Z-pak doesn't work (usually my first line for bacterial infections because of my allergies), then the doctor may have to move on to a quinolone antibiotic (like Levaquin). But of course it all depends on what you are treating, and there are plenty of older antibiotics that work just as well as some of the newer ones for some indications. Sometimes I think there is a lot of overkill when prescribing these newer more potent antibiotics, but it is a very individual thing in more ways than one......again not always an easy decision for physicians.
We as patients also play an important role in all of this (as some mentioned previously), by not insisting on an antibiotic for every ailment that comes along. Viruses, like colds, flu, some ear infections and sinus infections, etc do not require antibiotics and may do more harm than good in the long run. These more potent antibiotics are a direct result of the superbug phenomenon whereby overprescribing of antibiotics that should work, have been rendered ineffective by overuse.