levofloxacin
Levofloxacin (eye drop) is an antibiotic eye drop that's used to treat pink eye (0.5% strength) or corneal ulcers (1.5% strength) caused by bacteria. You shouldn't use it for more than a few days to treat the infection. And you'll need to use it multiple times a day for it to work.
What is Levofloxacin (eye drop)?
What is Levofloxacin (eye drop) used for?
- Bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) - 0.5% strength
- Corneal ulcer - 1.5% strength
How Levofloxacin (eye drop) works
Levofloxacin (eye drop) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It kills bacteria by blocking certain proteins that they need to survive and reproduce.
Drug facts
Side effects of Levofloxacin (eye drop)
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.
Common Side Effects
Levofloxacin (eye drop) 0.5% strength:
- Temporary eye burning, pain, or discomfort (1-3%)
- Temporary blurry or loss of vision (1-3%)
- Headache (1-3%)
Levofloxacin (eye drop) 1.5% strength:
- Headache (8-10%)
- Change in taste (8-10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Fever
- Feeling like there's something in your eye
- Sore throat
- Sensitivity to light
- Dry eyes
- Itchy eyes
Levofloxacin (eye drop) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: rash, hives, itching, trouble breathing, swelling around the throat or face
The following Levofloxacin (eye drop) side effects have also been reported
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.
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
Itching, pain, redness or swelling of eye or eyelid
watering of eyes
decreased vision
feeling of having something in the eye
headache
hoarseness
eye burning, dryness, itching, or pain
increased sensitivity of eyes to light
body aches or pain
congestion
dryness or soreness of throat
swelling of the eyelid
tender, swollen glands in neck
trouble in swallowing
voice changes
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.
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Pros and cons of Levofloxacin (eye drop)
Pros
- Applied directly where the infection is
- Causes fewer serious side effects than oral antibiotics
- Safe to use in children 6 years and older
Cons
- Has to be used multiple times a day
- Can cause temporary eye irritation after applying
- Might be difficult to administer for some people
Pharmacist tips for Levofloxacin (eye drop)
- Be sure to use levofloxacin (eye drop) for the full amount of time your healthcare provider told you to, even if you start to feel better. Stopping levofloxacin (eye drop) too soon can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
- Wash your hands before and after putting levofloxacin (eye drop) drops in your eyes. Don't touch the dropper tip with your eye, hands, or any other surface. This will help you avoid contaminating the solution.
- After placing a drop of levofloxacin (eye drop) in your eye, close your eye and press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose and press lightly for 1 minute. This helps make sure your eye absorbs the medication.
- If you're using levofloxacin (eye drop) at the same time as other eye medications, wait 5 minutes between each drop to give your eyes time to absorb each medication. If you are using an eye ointment at the same time as this medication, use levofloxacin (eye drop) first, wait 5 minutes, and then apply your eye ointment.
- Store levofloxacin (eye drop) at room temperature. Don't put it in the refrigerator or freezer because this could damage the medication.
- Don't wear contacts while using levofloxacin (eye drop). It's usually best not to wear contacts while you have an eye infection, since this can affect how quickly your symptoms improve. Once your infection is gone, wear new contacts.
Common questions about Levofloxacin (eye drop)
Levofloxacin (eye drop) is a good treatment for pink eye if it's due to a bacterial infection. Keep in mind that pink eye can also be caused by a viral infection, which levofloxacin (eye drop) won't be able to treat. If you have an eye infection, your healthcare provider will help you find the right treatment for it.
Some people will start feeling symptom relief from antibiotic eye drops, like levofloxacin (eye drop), after 3 days. But for other people, it might take a bit longer. As with all antibiotics, continue to use your medication for the full prescribed course even if you feel like you don't need it anymore. If you stop too early, your infection might come back or be harder to treat.
It depends on your condition. If you're using levofloxacin (eye drop) for pink eye, you'll likely need to use it for up to a week. But if you're using levofloxacin (eye drop) to treat a corneal ulcer, your healthcare provider will determine the length of time. In that case, don't stop until your healthcare provider instructs you to.
Yes. If you're prescribed multiple medications for the eye, wait at least 5 minutes in between medications. If you use a second eye medication too soon, it might wash out some of the first medication. Always make sure to tell your provider about all the eye products that you use, including over-the-counter (OTC) ones.
The higher strength (1.5%) of levofloxacin (eye drop) is specifically FDA approved to treat ulcers (sores) on the cornea. On the other hand, the 0.5% strength isn't approved for corneal ulcers, instead it's only approved to treat pink eye caused by bacteria. Without first checking with your healthcare provider, don't try to use a certain strength for something that it's not approved for. This is because how you use them and the amount of time you need to use them are different.
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Risks and warnings for Levofloxacin (eye drop)
Levofloxacin (eye drop) 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.
Severe allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Rarely, severe allergic reactions to levofloxacin (eye drop) have happened in people taking the oral version of this medication. These reactions include life-threatening problems like anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Call 911 if this happens, or if you notice hives, a rash, swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing after using levofloxacin (eye drop). Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience worsening of your eye symptoms, such as pain or redness.
New infection if used too long
- Risk factors: Using levofloxacin (eye drop) for too long
It's possible to get a new infection from fungi or bacteria that are resistant to levofloxacin (eye drop) after using this medication for a long time. Don't use this medication longer than prescribed. Let your provider know if you notice symptoms of a new infection or if the original symptoms don't get better after using levofloxacin (eye drop).
Levofloxacin (eye drop) dosage
Eye dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ml of 0.5% | 1 eye dropper | $55.57 | $55.57 |
Typical dosage for Levofloxacin (eye drop)
Levofloxacin (eye drop) 0.5% strength:
- Days 1 and 2: Place 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 2 hours while you're awake, up to 8 times per day.
- Days 3 through 7: Place 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 4 hours while you're awake, up to 4 times per day.
Levofloxacin (eye drop) 1.5% strength:
- Days 1 through 3: Place 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 30 minutes to 2 hours while you're awake. Once you've gone to bed, you only need to apply the drops every 4 to 6 hours.
- Day 4 through the end of treatment: Place 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 1 to 4 hours while you're awake.
Interactions between Levofloxacin (eye drop) and other drugs
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.
- Bepridil
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Mesoridazine
- Pimozide
- Piperaquine
- Saquinavir
- Sparfloxacin
- Terfenadine
- Thioridazine
- Ziprasidone
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.
- Acarbose
- Acecainide
- Acenocoumarol
- Acetohexamide
- Alfuzosin
- Alogliptin
- Amiodarone
- Amisulpride
- Amitriptyline
- Anagrelide
- Apomorphine
- Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole Lauroxil
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Asenapine
- Astemizole
- Atazanavir
- Azithromycin
- Bedaquiline
- Benfluorex
- Betamethasone
- Bretylium
- Budesonide
- Buprenorphine
- Buserelin
- Canagliflozin
- Ceritinib
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpromazine
- Chlorpropamide
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Ciprofloxacin
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Clofazimine
- Clomipramine
- Clozapine
- Corticotropin
- Cortisone
- Cosyntropin
- Crizotinib
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Dabrafenib
- Dapagliflozin
- Dasatinib
- Deflazacort
- Degarelix
- Delamanid
- Desipramine
- Deslorelin
- Deutetrabenazine
- Dexamethasone
- Disopyramide
- Dofetilide
- Dolasetron
- Domperidone
- Donepezil
- Doxepin
- Droperidol
- Ebastine
- Efavirenz
- Encorafenib
- Entrectinib
- Eribulin
- Ertugliflozin
- Erythromycin
- Escitalopram
- Exenatide
- Famotidine
- Felbamate
- Fingolimod
- Flecainide
- Fluconazole
- Fludrocortisone
- Fluocortolone
- Fluoxetine
- Formoterol
- Foscarnet
- Fosphenytoin
- Fostemsavir
- Galantamine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Glasdegib
- Gliclazide
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Gliquidone
- Glyburide
- Gonadorelin
- Goserelin
- Granisetron
- Halofantrine
- Haloperidol
- Histrelin
- Hydrocortisone
- Hydroquinidine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxyzine
- Ibutilide
- Iloperidone
- Imipramine
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Insulin
- Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
- Insulin Bovine
- Insulin Degludec
- Insulin Detemir
- Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
- Insulin Glulisine
- Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
- Itraconazole
- Ivabradine
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoconazole
- Lapatinib
- Lefamulin
- Lenvatinib
- Linagliptin
- Liraglutide
- Lofexidine
- Lumefantrine
- Macimorelin
- Mefloquine
- Metformin
- Methadone
- Methylprednisolone
- Metronidazole
- Mifepristone
- Miglitol
- Mirtazapine
- Mizolastine
- Moricizine
- Moxifloxacin
- Nafarelin
- Nateglinide
- Nelfinavir
- Nilotinib
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Olanzapine
- Ondansetron
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Ozanimod
- Paliperidone
- Panobinostat
- Paroxetine
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Pentamidine
- Perphenazine
- Pimavanserin
- Pioglitazone
- Pipamperone
- Pitolisant
- Ponesimod
- Porfimer
- Posaconazole
- Pramlintide
- Prednisolone
- Prednisone
- Probucol
- Procainamide
- Prochlorperazine
- Promethazine
- Propafenone
- Protriptyline
- Quetiapine
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Ranolazine
- Rasagiline
- Repaglinide
- Ribociclib
- Rilpivirine
- Risperidone
- Ritonavir
- Rosiglitazone
- Saxagliptin
- Selpercatinib
- Sertindole
- Sertraline
- Sevoflurane
- Siponimod
- Sitagliptin
- Sodium Phosphate
- Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
- Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
- Solifenacin
- Sorafenib
- Sotalol
- Sulpiride
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Tamoxifen
- Telaprevir
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Tetrabenazine
- Theophylline
- Tolazamide
- Tolbutamide
- Tolterodine
- Toremifene
- Trazodone
- Triamcinolone
- Triclabendazole
- Trimipramine
- Triptorelin
- Vandetanib
- Vardenafil
- Vemurafenib
- Venlafaxine
- Vilanterol
- Vildagliptin
- Vinflunine
- Voclosporin
- Voriconazole
- Vorinostat
- Warfarin
- Zuclopenthixol
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.
How much does Levofloxacin (eye drop) cost?
$55.57
Levofloxacin (eye drop) contraindications
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 (eye drop) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to fluoroquinolone antibiotics
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