Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It can treat many types of bacterial infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs). But because levofloxacin can cause serious side effects, such as tendon rupture and nerve damage, it's usually only prescribed for more serious infections or when safer options aren't available. Levofloxacin is taken by mouth, typically once daily. Some of the more common side effects of this medication include nausea, headache, and diarrhea. Levofloxacin is generic only, brand-name Levaquin is no longer available.
Adults only
Adults and children
Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone (or "quinolone") antibiotic. It works by blocking certain enzymes (proteins) that bacteria use to grow and repair their genetic material in order to survive. By blocking this process, the antibiotic kills bacteria.
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Rare
Agitation
blisters
confusion
diarrhea (watery and severe) which may also be bloody
feeling that others can hear your thoughts or control your behavior
pain, inflammation, or swelling in the calves of the legs, shoulders, or hands
redness and swelling of the skin
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
sensation of burning on the skin
severe mood or mental changes
stomach cramps or pain (severe)
skin rash, itching, or redness
trembling
unusual behavior
Incidence not known
Black, tarry stools
blurred vision
burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
dark urine
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with chewing, talking, or swallowing
drooping eyelids
fainting
fast or irregular heartbeat
general body swelling
hoarseness
joint or muscle pain
muscle cramps, spasms, pain, or stiffness
peeling or loosening of the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
seizures
severe dizziness
severe tiredness
tightness in the chest
unsteadiness or awkwardness
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vision changes
voice changes
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Change in taste
dizziness
drowsiness
headache
lightheadedness
nervousness
stomach pain or discomfort
trouble sleeping
vaginal itching and discharge
vomiting
Incidence not known
Feeling of warmth or heat
flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
sweating
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More tips for the oral liquid
The most serious side effects of levofloxacin include risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture, nerve problems (e.g., burning or tingling in the hands and feet) , muscle weakness (e.g., myasthenia gravis), and mood-related problems (e.g., depression). Certain people might be at higher risk for some of these side effects. For example, adults ages 60 years and older and people taking corticosteroids might be more likely to experience tendon problems. The FDA gave levofloxacin and other quinolone antibiotics black box warnings, the most serious warning, because of these risks. Your healthcare team will typically only consider levofloxacin as a treatment option if you have a serious infection and there aren't any safer alternative antibiotics. Talk with your care team if you have any specific concerns about levofloxacin.
How you can reverse the side effects of levofloxacin depends on what side effects you're experiencing. You can try to manage certain side effects of levofloxacin through lifestyle changes. For example, if you feel nauseous after taking levofloxacin, then take it with food next time to see if that helps. But your healthcare team might likely ask you to stop taking levofloxacin completely if you experience more serious side effects, such as pain or swelling in the tendons. In this case, your care team might also ask you to pause certain activities, such as running or jumping, for a few months after you stop levofloxacin. This is because you're still at risk for tendon-related problems during this time. If you have a question about how to manage a specific levofloxacin side effect, talk with your care team.
Traces of levofloxacin can last in your system for up to 2 days after your last dose; it can linger around even longer if you're older than 65 years old or if you have kidney problems. This calculation is based on the medication's half-life, which is an estimation for how long it takes your body to clear the medication.
No, levofloxacin is a quinolone antibiotic, while penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic. Levofloxacin is unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction if you have a penicillin allergy.
You can take levofloxacin at night if directed by your provider. But there's a risk that this medication can cause trouble sleeping (insomnia) as a side effect. To lower the risk of sleep problems after starting levofloxacin, practice good sleep hygiene. For example, try to avoid drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening, or avoid looking at computer or phone screens an hour before bed. If you experience insomnia with levofloxacin, taking your dose in the morning might help.
It's best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking levofloxacin. This is because drinking alcohol can worsen certain side effects of levofloxacin, including nausea and headaches. Doing so can also raise the risk of certain serious side effects, such as liver problems and mood-related problems. Furthermore, drinking alcohol, especially regularly, can make it harder for your body to fight off an infection. Speak with your healthcare team if you need tips or resources to help avoid drinking alcohol while your body is healing from the infection.
Your healthcare team will decide how long you need to take levofloxacin based on what kind of infection you have and how serious it is. You need to take levofloxacin for 1 to 2 weeks for certain infections, like pneumonia or skin infections. Other types of infections might take a shorter or longer time to treat. Make sure to finish your treatment course as directed, even if you're feeling better before then. Otherwise, your infection might come back and become more difficult to treat.
If you're pregnant, make sure to tell your healthcare team before starting levofloxacin. Discuss with them about the risks and benefits of taking the antibiotic during pregnancy. It's not completely clear how safe levofloxacin is in pregnancy because the evidence isn't strong. Based on limited studies, levofloxacin doesn't appear to be linked to a risk of pregnancy complications or harm to babies. But more research is needed to confirm if this antibiotic is safe to take during pregnancy. Speak to your healthcare team if you have concerns.
Levofloxacin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Quinolone antibiotics like levofloxacin can raise your risk of inflammation in the tendon (tendonitis) or tearing of the tendon. This most often happens at the Achilles tendon, which is above your heel. It can also affect other tendons throughout your body (e.g., shoulder, hand). Tendon damage can happen at any time after you start levofloxacin or up to several months after stopping the medication. If you experience pain or swelling in your joints or muscles, stop taking levofloxacin and contact your healthcare professional (HCP) right away.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics like levofloxacin can raise your risk of seizures, dizziness, and tremors. This medication can also put you at risk for nerve damage that can happen shortly after starting treatment. In some cases, nerve problems can be permanent. Nerve damage can feel like pain, numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, and changes in sensations related to touch or temperature.
Levofloxacin can also raise your risk of mental health problems such as depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, psychosis, nervousness, trouble sleeping, and confusion. These changes in behavior or thoughts can happen even after just one dose of medication. If you experience any of these side effects, seek medical help right away or contact your HCP. They can help manage your treatment.
If you have myasthenia gravis, taking levofloxacin can worsen symptoms like muscle weakness and difficulty breathing. Ask your HCP about safer alternative treatment options if you have myasthenia gravis.
Severe allergic reactions to levofloxacin are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). If you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after taking levofloxacin, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Additionally, although rare, levofloxacin can cause serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). If you notice changes in your skin, such as rash, blisters, skin reddening, or skin peeling, stop using levofloxacin and get medical attention right away.
Some people taking levofloxacin have reported serious liver problems that sometimes led to liver failure. Though rare, severe cases occurred within 6 to 14 days of starting the antibiotic. Get medical attention right away if you notice swelling of your stomach, stomach pain, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, stool changes (black, tarry, or bloody stools), or dark or brown urine. You might need to stop using the medication to prevent further liver damage.
Although rare, in studies, there was a higher rate of severe damage to the aorta within 2 months of finishing a fluoroquinolone like levofloxacin, particularly in older adults. The aorta is the largest artery in the body, and it delivers blood to the rest of your body. Damage to the aorta, such as weakening and tearing, can be severe and life-threatening. Talk with your HCP if you have a history of an aortic aneurysm since levofloxacin might not be the best medication for you. If you've taken a fluoroquinolone antibiotic recently and experience sudden pain in the chest, back, or stomach that's severe and doesn't go away, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
Levofloxacin can raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). This infection can cause severe diarrhea. Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can cause C. diff to overgrow in your gut and lead to an infection. While diarrhea is a side effect of levofloxacin, C. diff-related diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, and frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day). This type of diarrhea is an emergency. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical attention promptly so you can get tested for C. diff infection and receive treatment.
Levofloxacin can affect your heart rhythm, which can be serious and life-threatening. One example includes lengthening the time it takes for your heart to pump and then relax. This is known as QT prolongation. Your risk for QT prolongation is higher if you have certain factors, including abnormal electrolyte levels, heart rhythm problems, or are taking other medications that cause heart rhythm problems, such as amiodarone (Pacerone), among others. If you feel your chest pounding, have shortness of breath or chest pain, or feel faint or lightheaded while taking levofloxacin, call 911 right away.
In studies, some children taking levofloxacin had problems with their muscles, bones, or joints. Because of this risk, levofloxacin should only be used in children if other antibiotics can't be used. Your child's pediatrician will decide whether levofloxacin is an appropriate antibiotic for your child.
Levofloxacin makes your skin more sensitive to the sun or ultraviolet (UV) light. This means you can get sunburns more easily than usual. This can happen even during the winter and on overcast days. To protect your skin, make sure to wear sunscreen when going outside and wear long-sleeve clothing. Also avoid being exposed to UV light (e.g., tanning beds) or sun for a long time.
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250mg | 3 tablets | $8.39 | $2.80 |
| 500mg | 7 tablets | $10.59 | $1.51 |
| 750mg | 7 tablets | $11.59 | $1.66 |
Your healthcare team will determine your dose of levofloxacin based different factors, such as the type of infection you have and how serious it is.
General dosing for levofloxacin tablets and oral solution:
Levofloxacin is also available as an injection that's given through the veins by a healthcare professional (HCP) for people in a hospital or clinic setting. Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Levofloxacin will not be safe for you to take.