PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

delafloxacin vs levofloxacin

Side-by-side comparison of delafloxacin and levofloxacin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
delafloxacin Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
levofloxacin Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
Type
delafloxacin Prescription
levofloxacin Prescription
Summary
delafloxacin

Baxdela is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat certain skin infections and pneumonia.

levofloxacin

Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.

What It Treats
delafloxacin

Baxdela treats acute bacterial skin infections and skin structure infections in adults. It can treat infections caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Streptococcus, and others. Baxdela also treats community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults, caused by bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and others.

levofloxacin

Levofloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, prostate infections, and urinary tract infections. It can also treat anthrax after exposure and plague. This medicine should only be used for certain infections when other options won't work.

How It Works
delafloxacin

Baxdela belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.

levofloxacin

Levofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.

Common Side Effects
delafloxacin
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Changes in liver enzyme tests
  • Vomiting
levofloxacin
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
delafloxacin

No adverse event reports.

levofloxacin
  • Off Label Use 3,120
  • Drug Ineffective 2,964
  • Dyspnoea 2,949
  • Pneumonia 2,862
  • Nausea 2,791
Serious Warnings
delafloxacin

Baxdela has a boxed warning. It can cause serious side effects like tendon problems, nerve damage, and central nervous system problems. It can also make muscle weakness worse if you have myasthenia gravis. Stop taking Baxdela right away if you have any of these side effects.

levofloxacin

This drug has serious warnings. Levofloxacin can cause tendon problems, nerve damage, and central nervous system effects. It can also make muscle weakness worse if you have myasthenia gravis. If you have any of these side effects, stop taking the medicine and call your doctor right away. Only use this medicine if you have no other treatment options for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, bronchitis, or sinusitis.

Pregnancy
delafloxacin

It is not known if Baxdela will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Baxdela passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Baxdela.

levofloxacin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Levofloxacin should only be used during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. It may pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This delafloxacin vs levofloxacin Comparison

delafloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while levofloxacin sits within the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, delafloxacin has 0 submissions while levofloxacin has 14,686. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between delafloxacin and levofloxacin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.