Prescription medication · Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
moxifloxacin
Also sold as Avelox. Moxifloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and infections in your stomach area.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 13,400
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 10
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
moxifloxacin (Avelox) is a prescription Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic, reported less often than most tracked drugs (13,400 FDA reports), with 10 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
moxifloxacin (Avelox) is a prescription Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic. Moxifloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and infections in your stomach area.
Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
moxifloxacin is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$2.05/unit
Generic Available
Yes (15 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: MOXIFLOXACIN 0.5% EYE DROPS
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -18.9% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 23, 2024 | $2.52/ML | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $2.05/ML | -18.9% | 8 |
What it does
Moxifloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and infections in your stomach area.
Common side effects
Nausea, Diarrhea, Headache
Key warnings
Moxifloxacin can cause serious side effects, even if they don't happen to everyone.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from moxifloxacin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Moxifloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. It works by stopping bacteria from multiplying. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 13,400 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for moxifloxacin, by number of reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
1,225 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
1,142 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
1,101 reports
- Drug Hypersensitivity
Drug Hypersensitivity
1,073 reports
- Asthma
Asthma
910 reports
- Pain
Pain
832 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
814 reports
- Wheezing
Wheezing
795 reports
- Rash
Rash
757 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
750 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for moxifloxacin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where moxifloxacin sits
moxifloxacin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 46% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is moxifloxacin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 13,400 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
13,400
Reports Mentioning Death
1,914
14.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
4,770
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | DYSPNOEA | 1,225 |
| 4 | PNEUMONIA | 1,142 |
| 5 | VOMITING | 1,101 |
| 6 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 1,073 |
| 7 | ASTHMA | 910 |
| 8 | PAIN | 832 |
| 9 | NAUSEA | 814 |
| 10 | WHEEZING | 795 |
| 11 | RASH | 757 |
| 12 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 750 |
| 13 | FATIGUE | 735 |
| 14 | DIARRHOEA | 715 |
| 15 | PYREXIA | 682 |
| 16 | MALAISE | 669 |
| 17 | OEDEMA | 601 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Therefore, avoid concomitant use of XENLETA Injection and XENLETA Tablets with such drugs (for example, Class IA and III antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, erythromycin, moxifloxacin, tricyclic antidepressants).
Mechanism: Both of these medicines can affect the electrical timing of your heart. Taking them together increases the risk of developing a life-threatening irregular heartbeat.
( 2.2 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) Warfarin Anticoagulant effect enhanced. 7.2 Warfarin Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin hydrochloride, have been reported to enhance the anticoagulant effects of warfarin or its derivatives in the patient population. Therefore the prothrombin time, International Normalized Ratio (INR), or other suitable anticoagulation tests should be closely monitored if moxifloxacin hydrochloride is administered concomitantly with warfarin or its derivatives [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Mechanism: Moxifloxacin can increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin, which makes it easier for you to bleed or bruise.
Sotalol, a Class III antiarrhythmic, has been shown to further increase the QTc interval when combined with high doses of intravenous moxifloxacin hydrochloride in dogs.
Mechanism: Both drugs can change the electrical timing of your heartbeat, which might increase the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Interacting Drug Interaction Multivalent cation-containing products including: antacids, sucralfate, multivitamins Decreased moxifloxacin hydrochloride absorption. ( 5.12 , 7.3 ) 7.1 Antacids, Sucralfate, Multivitamins and Other Products Containing Multivalent Cations Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin hydrochloride, form chelates with alkaline earth and transition metal cations. Oral administration of moxifloxacin hydrochloride with antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, with sucralfate, with metal cations such as iron, or with multivitamins containing iron...
Mechanism: Sucralfate contains metals that stick to the antibiotic in your stomach, which stops the medicine from being absorbed into your body.
Oral administration of moxifloxacin hydrochloride with antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, with sucralfate, with metal cations such as iron, or with multivitamins containing iron or zinc, or with formulations containing divalent and trivalent cations such as didanosine buffered tablets for oral suspension or the pediatric powder for oral solution, may substantially interfere with the absorption of moxifloxacin hydrochloride, resulting in systemic concentrations considerably lower than desired.
Mechanism: Zinc binds to the antibiotic in your digestive tract, preventing the drug from reaching the rest of your body to treat infection.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking moxifloxacin?
Can moxifloxacin affect my blood sugar?
What if I develop diarrhea while taking moxifloxacin?
Can moxifloxacin make me sensitive to the sun?
What should I do if I experience tendon pain while taking moxifloxacin?
Can I take moxifloxacin if I am allergic to other antibiotics?
Does moxifloxacin interact with blood thinners?
Can I drive or operate machinery while taking moxifloxacin?
How long should I take moxifloxacin?
What if my symptoms don't improve after taking moxifloxacin?
What are the common side effects of moxifloxacin?
Does moxifloxacin interact with other medications?
What drug class is moxifloxacin?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for moxifloxacin?
Has moxifloxacin been recalled?
Is moxifloxacin currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Imprimis NJOF, LLC
Presence of Particulate Matter: glass vials from the manufacturer showed signs of glass delamination.
Denver Solutions, LLC DBA Leiters Health
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.
Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder
Related Medications in Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near moxifloxacin - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
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Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with moxifloxacin →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with moxifloxacin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with moxifloxacin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with moxifloxacin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with moxifloxacin →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for moxifloxacin: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 13,400.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 14.28%.
- triazolam Δ 0.01 pts · 8,521 reports · Benzodiazepine (Hypnotic) 14.29%death share
- venlafaxine Δ 0.02 pts · 68,147 reports · Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) 14.30%death share
- potassium chloride Δ 0.03 pts · 109,144 reports · Electrolyte Supplement 14.25%death share
- lorazepam Δ 0.05 pts · 174,469 reports · Benzodiazepine 14.34%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for moxifloxacin
The FDA label for moxifloxacin (sold under brand names such as Avelox) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic class. Moxifloxacin treats infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and infections in your stomach area. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Diarrhea, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 13,400 voluntary reports. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $2.05.
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 5 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: September 18, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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