levofloxacin
Brand names: Levaquin
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.42/unit
Generic Available
Yes (20 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Levofloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, prostate infections, and urinary tract infections.
Common side effects
Nausea, Headache, Diarrhea
Key warnings
This drug has serious warnings.
How It Works
Levofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
Take levofloxacin tablets by mouth once every 24 hours. Your doctor will tell you how much to take and how long to take it. You can take it with or without food. Drink plenty of water while taking this medicine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store levofloxacin tablets at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 27,548 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 58,038 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
58,038
Death-Related Reports
7,897
Hospitalization Reports
27,056
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 3,119 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 2,964 |
| 3 | DYSPNOEA | 2,950 |
| 4 | PNEUMONIA | 2,863 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 2,790 |
| 6 | PYREXIA | 2,723 |
| 7 | FATIGUE | 2,659 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 2,594 |
| 9 | DIARRHOEA | 2,463 |
| 10 | PAIN | 2,424 |
| 11 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 2,286 |
| 12 | ARTHRALGIA | 2,220 |
| 13 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 1,901 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 1,878 |
| 15 | RENAL FAILURE | 1,763 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7.8 Probenecid and Cimetidine No significant effect of probenecid or cimetidine on the Cmax of levofloxacin was observed in a clinical study involving healthy volunteers. The AUC and t 1/2 of levofloxacin were higher while CL/F and CLR were lower during concomitant treatment of levofloxacin with probenecid or cimetidine compared to levofloxacin alone. However, these changes do not warrant dosage adjustment for levofloxacin when probenecid or cimetidine is co-administered.
Mechanism: Probenecid slows down the kidneys' ability to remove levofloxacin, which keeps the antibiotic in your system for a longer time.
What to do: No dose changes are usually needed, but your doctor will monitor your progress.
7.8 Probenecid and Cimetidine No significant effect of probenecid or cimetidine on the Cmax of levofloxacin was observed in a clinical study involving healthy volunteers. The AUC and t 1/2 of levofloxacin were higher while CL/F and CLR were lower during concomitant treatment of levofloxacin with probenecid or cimetidine compared to levofloxacin alone. However, these changes do not warrant dosage adjustment for levofloxacin when probenecid or cimetidine is co-administered.
Mechanism: Cimetidine makes it harder for the kidneys to clear levofloxacin, causing the antibiotic to stay in the body slightly longer.
What to do: No dosage changes are needed, so you can safely take these medications together as prescribed.
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.
Mechanism: 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.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your theophylline dose and check your blood levels more often. Watch for signs of too much medicine, like nausea or shakiness.
(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.
Mechanism: Levofloxacin can increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin, which may increase the risk of bleeding.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood clotting tests closely while you are taking this antibiotic.
7.6 Cyclosporine No significant effect of levofloxacin on the peak plasma concentrations, AUC, and other disposition parameters for cyclosporine was detected in a clinical study involving healthy volunteers. However, elevated serum levels of cyclosporine have been reported in the patient population when co-administered with some other fluoroquinolones. Levofloxacin C max and k e were slightly lower while T max and t1/2 were slightly longer in the presence of cyclosporine than those observed in other studies without concomitant medication.
Mechanism: Levofloxacin may slightly change how your body processes cyclosporine, and similar drugs have been known to raise cyclosporine levels in the blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your cyclosporine blood levels to ensure they stay in a safe range.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking levofloxacin?
Can levofloxacin cause tendon damage?
What should I do if I experience nerve pain or numbness?
Can levofloxacin affect my blood sugar?
Is levofloxacin safe for children?
Can levofloxacin make me sensitive to the sun?
What are the symptoms of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea?
Can I take levofloxacin if I am allergic to other antibiotics?
Does levofloxacin interact with warfarin?
What should I do if I have side effects from levofloxacin?
What are the common side effects of levofloxacin?
Does levofloxacin interact with other medications?
What drug class is levofloxacin?
Is levofloxacin safe during pregnancy?
Has levofloxacin been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
CGMP Deviations:
Akorn, Inc.
Related Medications in Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near levofloxacin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with levofloxacin →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with levofloxacin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with levofloxacin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with levofloxacin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with levofloxacin →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on levofloxacin
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for levofloxacin
The FDA label for levofloxacin (sold under brand names such as Levaquin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic class. Levofloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, prostate infections, and urinary tract infections. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Headache, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 27,548 voluntary reports. The database also lists 8 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.42.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 4 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 4, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages