levofloxacin vs theophylline
According to this portal's Publishing Organization, this page was last reviewed in August 2026 against our methodology. Figures and extracts on this site, including tables above 1,000 rows when the corpus is that large, are the publisher's responsibility.
Side-by-side comparison of levofloxacin and theophylline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
7.5 Theophylline No significant effect of levofloxacin on the plasma concentrations, AUC, and other disposition parameters for theophylline was detected in a clinical study involving healthy volunteers. Similarly, no apparent effect of theophylline on levofloxacin absorption and disposition was observed. However, concomitant administration of other fluoroquinolones with theophylline has resulted in prolonged elimination half-life, elevated serum theophylline levels, and a subsequent increase in the risk of theophylline-related adverse reactions in the patient population.
Levaquin
Theo-24, Elixophyllin
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Theophylline is a medicine that helps you breathe easier. It treats the symptoms of asthma and other lung problems.
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.
Theophylline treats the symptoms of long-term asthma and other lung diseases. These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which make it hard to breathe. This medicine helps to open up your airways so you can breathe easier.
Levofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Theophylline is a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways. This allows more air to flow in and out of your lungs.
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Constipation
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Dyspnoea 2,950
- Pneumonia 2,863
- Nausea 2,790
- Pyrexia 2,723
- Fatigue 2,659
- Dyspnoea 2,273
- Asthma 1,942
- Pneumonia 1,318
- Wheezing 1,306
- 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.
If your theophylline levels get too high in your blood, it can cause serious side effects. These include severe vomiting, irregular heartbeats, and seizures. These can be life-threatening.
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.
It is not known if theophylline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if theophylline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare levofloxacin with
How to Read This levofloxacin vs theophylline Comparison
levofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while theophylline sits within the Methylxanthine Bronchodilator class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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 13,985 submissions while theophylline has 7,940. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to levofloxacin can prevent your body from breaking down theophylline as quickly as usual. this can cause theophylline to build up to unsafe levels in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for levofloxacin or theophylline.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.