levofloxacin vs ofloxacin
Side-by-side comparison of levofloxacin and ofloxacin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Levaquin
Floxin, Ocuflox
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Ofloxacin ear drops are an antibiotic medicine. They fight bacteria to treat ear 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.
This medicine treats ear infections caused by certain bacteria. It can treat outer ear infections in adults and kids over 6 months old. It also treats middle ear infections with a hole in the eardrum in people 12 and older, and middle ear infections with ear tubes in kids 1 year and older.
Levofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Ofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to clear up the infection in your ear.
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Constipation
- • Application site reaction
- • Itching
- • Taste changes
- Off Label Use 3,120
- Drug Ineffective 2,964
- Dyspnoea 2,949
- Pneumonia 2,862
- Nausea 2,791
- Drug not working 345
- Eye pain 345
- Using the drug for something it's not approved for 306
- Headache 284
- Pain 278
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.
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to ofloxacin or other quinolone antibiotics, or any of the ingredients in the drops.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if ofloxacin ear drops will harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This levofloxacin vs ofloxacin Comparison
levofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while ofloxacin 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 ofloxacin has 1,558. 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 ofloxacin — 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.