levofloxacin vs moxifloxacin
Side-by-side comparison of levofloxacin and moxifloxacin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Levaquin
Avelox
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
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.
Moxifloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and infections in your stomach area. It can also treat sinus infections, bronchitis, and plague. This medicine should only be used to treat infections that are proven or very likely to be caused by bacteria that it can kill.
Levofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Moxifloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- Off Label Use 3,120
- Drug Ineffective 2,964
- Dyspnoea 2,949
- Pneumonia 2,862
- Nausea 2,791
- Off Label Use 1,369
- Drug Ineffective 1,347
- Dyspnoea 1,224
- Pneumonia 1,142
- Vomiting 1,101
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.
Moxifloxacin can cause serious side effects, even if they don't happen to everyone. These include tendon problems, nerve damage, and central nervous system problems. If you have myasthenia gravis, moxifloxacin can make your muscle weakness worse. If you experience any of these serious side effects, stop taking moxifloxacin immediately and talk to your doctor. Because of these risks, moxifloxacin should only be used when other treatment options are not available for sinus infections or bronchitis.
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.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Moxifloxacin may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if moxifloxacin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This levofloxacin vs moxifloxacin Comparison
levofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while moxifloxacin 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, levofloxacin has 14,686 submissions while moxifloxacin has 6,183. 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 levofloxacin and moxifloxacin — 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.