Question 13
Assessment of the safety profile of an agent must consider not only the incidence of side effects, but also the severity, with the discontinuation rates being one reflection of this. Could you comment on the relative severity of side effects and discontinuation rates of the fluoroquinolones in general, with specific reference to levofloxacin? Also, please comment on levofloxacin’s balance between safety and efficacy and how this influences the choice of levofloxacin versus other classes of agents.