{"id":633549,"date":"2025-09-15T11:31:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T15:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=633549"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:06:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:06:14","slug":"levofloxacin-interactions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/levofloxacin-interactions\/","title":{"rendered":"Levofloxacin interactions to avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Levofloxacin<\/span><\/a> (also sold under the brand name Levaquin) is a prescription antibiotic that treats various bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, skin structure infections, respiratory tract infections, and others. Potential off-label uses of this drug include tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and endocarditis. It belongs to the class of medications known as fluoroquinolones. According to research and medical experts, levofloxacin\u2014like many other medications\u2014has several interactions with other drugs. It\u2019s crucial to be aware of these interactions to avoid the chances of mild to severe side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Levofloxacin drug interactions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Below is a list of the most common adverse drug reactions for levofloxacin:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Drug class or group name<\/b><\/td>\nDrug name<\/b><\/td>\nInteractions\/side effects<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Antacids\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Rolaids (calcium carbonate\/magnesium hydroxide)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Mylanta (magnesium hydroxide)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Maalox (aluminum hydroxide)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Reduced levofloxacin efficacy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Antidiabetic medications<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Trulicity (dulaglutide)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ozempic (semaglutide)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Januvia (sitagliptin)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Can lower blood sugar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NSAIDs<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Aleve (naproxen)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Voltaren (diclofenac)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Reduced Levofloxacin efficacy and an increased risk of bleeding<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Antiarrhythmic medications<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Multaq (dronedarone)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pacerone (amiodarone)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Tikosyn (dofetilide)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Can cause irregular heart rhythms<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anticoagulants\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Coumadin, Jantoven (warfarin)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Xarelto (rivaroxaban)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Pradaxa (dabigatran)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Increased risk of bleeding<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Methylxanthines<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron (theophylline)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Reduced levofloxacin efficacy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sucralfate<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Carafate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Reduced levofloxacin efficacy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corticosteroids<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Deltasone (prednisone)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Decadron, DexPak (dexamethasone)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Medrol (methylprednisone)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Increased risk of tendon problems<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HIV medications<\/span><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Videx (didanosine)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ziagen (abacavir)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Retrovir (zidovudine)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Reduced levofloxacin efficacy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Antacids<\/span><\/h3>\n

Antacids are medications that relieve heartburn and indigestion by reducing the amount of acid in your stomach. According to <\/span>Sarah Bonza, MD, MPH, FAAFP<\/span><\/a>, a family medicine physician, founder of <\/span>Bonza Health<\/span><\/a>, and hospitalist physician at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio, antacids reduce levofloxacin absorption in the gut, making it less effective and worsening the infection you\u2019re treating. This is particularly true for antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum. \u201cWhat I advise my patients who are on mineral supplements or antacids is that they should take levofloxacin two hours before or six hours after taking them,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are some antacids that should be taken with caution if you\u2019re on levofloxacin:<\/span><\/p>\n