{"id":10900,"date":"2020-04-24T13:00:13","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=10900"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:03:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:03:54","slug":"what-is-levaquin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-is-levaquin\/","title":{"rendered":"What is levofloxacin and what is it used for?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is levofloxacin?<\/a> | Uses<\/a> | Side effects<\/a> | Dosages<\/a> | Warnings<\/a> | Interactions<\/a> | Alternatives<\/a><\/p>\n

What do some lung, kidney, and <\/span>sinus infections<\/span> have in common? When certain bacteria cause these infections, a healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic called <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span>. Bacteria come in all shapes and sizes, and they interact with the body in various ways, causing everything from minor illnesses to severe conditions. That’s why antibiotics like <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span> are often prescribed. Levofloxacin can fight certain bacteria in just about any part of the body, making it a useful addition to any <\/span>healthcare provider<\/span>‘s antibiotic toolbox.<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span> isn’t a miracle cure-all\u2014it’s a complex medication with possible drug interactions and potentially <\/span>serious side effects<\/span>. There’s a lot beneath the surface here. Continue reading this <\/span>medication guide<\/span> to learn more about levofloxacin and how it\u2019s used.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is levofloxacin?<\/h2>\n

Levofloxacin<\/span> is an antibiotic used to treat various <\/span>bacterial infections, such as those<\/span> in the lungs, urinary tract, kidneys, sinuses, and skin. <\/span>Healthcare providers<\/span> often prescribe it to treat <\/span>pneumonia<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>sinusitis<\/span>, <\/span>bronchitis<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>prostatitis<\/span>, for example.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Levofloxacin is a multipurpose antibiotic that comes in various forms. <\/span>Healthcare providers<\/span> might use “oral, intravenous, or ophthalmic formulations to treat <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span> of multiple different organ systems,” according to Justin Friedlander, MD, a urologist for the <\/span>Einstein Healthcare Network<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Levofloxacin is a generic prescription antibiotic that is part of a group of antibiotics called <\/span>fluoroquinolones<\/span><\/a>, which block enzymes necessary for bacterial growth. Levaquin is the <\/span>brand-name<\/span> version produced by <\/span>Janssen<\/span> Pharmaceuticals; however, Levaquin has been discontinued. Levofloxacin only works on bacteria, not viruses, so <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span> isn’t effective for the common cold, the flu, or other <\/span>viral infections<\/span> (<\/span>such as coronavirus, or COVID-19<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While it’s a particularly effective antibiotic, <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span> may cause some potentially dangerous side effects, so it’s not available <\/span>over the counter<\/span>. It’s only available via prescription so that a <\/span>healthcare provider<\/span> can evaluate the appropriate conditions and circumstances for its use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Antibiotics 101: What are they and why do we need them?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is levofloxacin used for?<\/h2>\n

There’s many different types of bacteria, and <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span> is effective against many of them, including E. coli, S. aureus, and S. pneumoniae. <\/span>Levofloxacin<\/span>, in addition to moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin, is commonly called a respiratory <\/span>fluoroquinolone<\/span> because of its efficacy against S. pneumoniae, a bacteria that attacks the lungs and airways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

L<\/span>evofloxacin<\/span> is often prescribed to treat:<\/span><\/p>\n