levofloxacin vs warfarin
Side-by-side comparison of levofloxacin and warfarin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
(2.4, 7.1) Warfarin Effect may be enhanced. 7.2 Warfarin No significant effect of levofloxacin on the peak plasma concentrations, AUC, and other disposition parameters for R- and S- warfarin was detected in a clinical study involving healthy volunteers. Similarly, no apparent effect of warfarin on levofloxacin absorption and disposition was observed.
Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor your blood clotting tests closely while you are taking this antibiotic.
Levaquin
Coumadin, Jantoven
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Warfarin is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots. It is used to treat and prevent dangerous clots from forming in your body.
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.
Warfarin is used to prevent and treat blood clots in your veins and lungs. It can also prevent clots if you have atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) or a replacement heart valve. After a heart attack, it can lower the risk of death, another heart attack, or a stroke.
Levofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Warfarin works by blocking your body's use of vitamin K. Vitamin K is needed to make blood clotting factors. By blocking vitamin K, warfarin makes your blood less likely to clot.
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Constipation
- • Bleeding from any tissue or organ
- Dyspnoea 2,949
- Pneumonia 2,862
- Nausea 2,791
- Pyrexia 2,725
- Fatigue 2,658
- INR increased 10,275
- Shortness of breath 8,408
- Interaction with another medicine 6,289
- Tiredness 6,141
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,921
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.
Warfarin can cause major or fatal bleeding. You must have your blood tested regularly (INR) while taking warfarin. Many things, like other medicines and diet changes, can affect your INR. Tell your doctor about any bleeding and follow their instructions to prevent bleeding.
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.
Warfarin can harm your unborn baby, especially during the first three months of pregnancy. Do not take warfarin if you are pregnant, unless you have a mechanical heart valve and your doctor says the benefits outweigh the risks. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding, and watch your baby for bruising or bleeding.
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How to Read This levofloxacin vs warfarin Comparison
levofloxacin is classified in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic drug class, while warfarin sits within the Vitamin K Antagonist (Anticoagulant) 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 warfarin has 37,034. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to levofloxacin can increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin, which may increase the risk of bleeding.. 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 warfarin - 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.