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Levaquin and Alcohol/Food Interactions

There are 2 alcohol/food/lifestyle interactions with Levaquin (levofloxacin).

Moderate

Multivitamins With Minerals Levofloxacin

Moderate Drug Interaction

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Oral preparations that contain magnesium, aluminum, or calcium may significantly decrease the gastrointestinal absorption of quinolone antibiotics. Absorption may also be reduced by sucralfate, which contains aluminum, as well as other polyvalent cations such as iron and zinc. The mechanism is chelation of quinolones by polyvalent cations, forming a complex that is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The bioavailability of ciprofloxacin has been reported to decrease by as much as 90% when administered with antacids containing aluminum or magnesium hydroxide.

MANAGEMENT: When coadministration cannot be avoided, quinolone antibiotics should be dosed either 2 to 4 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after polyvalent cation-containing products to minimize the potential for interaction. When coadministered with Suprep Bowel Prep (magnesium/potassium/sodium sulfates), the manufacturer recommends administering fluoroquinolone antibiotics at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after Suprep Bowel Prep to avoid chelation with magnesium. Please consult individual product labeling for specific recommendations.

References (32)
  1. Polk RE, Helay DP, Sahai J, Drwal L, Racht E (1989) "Effect of ferrous sulfate and multivitamins with zinc on absorption of ciprofloxacin in normal volunteers." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 33, p. 1841-4
  2. Nix DE, Watson WA, Lener ME, et al. (1989) "Effects of aluminum and magnesium antacids and ranitidine on the absorption of ciprofloxacin." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 46, p. 700-5
  3. Garrelts JC, Godley PJ, Peterie JD, Gerlach EH, Yakshe CC (1990) "Sucralfate significantly reduces ciprofloxacin concentrations in serum." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 34, p. 931-3
  4. Frost RW, Lasseter KC, Noe AJ, Shamblen EC, Lettieri JT (1992) "Effects of aluminum hydroxide and calcium carbonate antacids on the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 36, p. 830-2
  5. Yuk JH (1989) "Ciprofloxacin levels when receiving sucralfate." J Am Geriatr Soc, 262, p. 901
  6. Deppermann KM, Lode H, Hoffken G, Tschink G, Kalz C, Koeppe P (1989) "Influence of ranitidine, pirenzepine, and aluminum magnesium hydroxide on the bioavailability of various antibiotics, including amoxicillin, cephalexin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 33, p. 1901-7
  7. Campbell NR, Kara M, Hasinoff BB, Haddara WM, McKay DW (1992) "Norfloxacin interaction with antacids and minerals." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 33, p. 115-6
  8. Parpia SH, Nix DE, Hejmanowski LG, Goldstein HR, Wilton JH, Schentag JJ (1989) "Sucralfate reduces the gastrointestinal absorption of norfloxacin." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 33, p. 99-102
  9. Nix DE, Wilton JH, Ronald B, Distlerath L, Williams VC, Norman A (1990) "Inhibition of norfloxacin absorption by antacids." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 34, p. 432-5
  10. Akerele JO, Okhamafe AO (1991) "Influence of oral co-administered metallic drugs on ofloxacin pharmacokinetics." J Antimicrob Chemother, 28, p. 87-94
  11. Wadworth AN, Goa KL (1991) "Lomefloxacin: a review of its antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic use." Drugs, 42, p. 1018-60
  12. Shimada J, Shiba K, Oguma T, et al. (1992) "Effect of antacid on absorption of the quinolone lomefloxacin." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 36, p. 1219-24
  13. Sahai J, Healy DP, Stotka J, Polk RE (1993) "The influence of chronic administration of calcium carbonate on the bioavailability of oral ciprofloxacin." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 35, p. 302-4
  14. Lehto P, Kivisto KT (1994) "Effect of sucralfate on absorption of norfloxacin and ofloxacin." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 38, p. 248-51
  15. Noyes M, Polk RE (1988) "Norfloxacin and absorption of magnesium-aluminum." Ann Intern Med, 109, p. 168-9
  16. Grasela TH Jr, Schentag JJ, Sedman AJ, et al. (1989) "Inhibition of enoxacin absorption by antacids or ranitidine." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 33, p. 615-7
  17. Lehto P, Kivisto KT (1994) "Different effects of products containing metal ions on the absorption of lomefloxacin." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 56, p. 477-82
  18. Spivey JM, Cummings DM, Pierson NR (1996) "Failure of prostatitis treatment secondary to probable ciprofloxacin-sucralfate drug interaction." Pharmacotherapy, 16, p. 314-6
  19. (2001) "Product Information. Levaquin (levofloxacin)." Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical
  20. (2001) "Product Information. Raxar (grepafloxacin)." Glaxo Wellcome
  21. (2001) "Product Information. Zagam (sparfloxacin)." Rhone Poulenc Rorer
  22. (2001) "Product Information. Trovan (trovafloxacin)." Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals
  23. Teng R, Dogolo LC, Willavize SA, Friedman HL, Vincent J (1997) "Effect of Maalox and omeprazole on the bioavailability of trovafloxacin." J Antimicrob Chemother, 39 Suppl B, p. 93-7
  24. Zix JA, Geerdes-Fenge HF, Rau M, Vockler J, Borner K, Koeppe P, Lode H (1997) "Pharmacokinetics of sparfloxacin and interaction with cisapride and sucralfate." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 41, p. 1668-72
  25. Honig PK, Gillespie BK (1998) "Clinical significance of pharmacokinetic drug interactions with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs." Clin Pharmacokinet, 35, p. 167-71
  26. Johnson RD, Dorr MB, Talbot GH, Caille G (1998) "Effect of Maalox on the oral absorption of sparfloxacin." Clin Ther, 20, p. 1149-58
  27. Lober S, Ziege S, Rau M, Schreiber G, Mignot A, Koeppe P, Lode H (1999) "Pharmacokinetics of gatifloxacin and interaction with an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 43, p. 1067-71
  28. Allen A, Vousden M, Porter A, Lewis A (1999) "Effect of Maalox((R)) on the bioavailability of oral gemifloxacin in healthy volunteers." Chemotherapy, 45, p. 504-11
  29. Kamberi M, Nakashima H, Ogawa K, Oda N, Nakano S (2000) "The effect of staggered dosing of sucralfate on oral bioavailability of sparfloxacin." Br J Clin Pharmacol, 49, p. 98-103
  30. (2003) "Product Information. Factive (gemifloxacin)." *GeneSoft Inc
  31. (2010) "Product Information. Suprep Bowel Prep Kit (magnesium/potassium/sodium sulfates)." Braintree Laboratories
  32. (2017) "Product Information. Baxdela (delafloxacin)." Melinta Therapeutics, Inc.

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Moderate

Levofloxacin Food

Moderate Food Interaction

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food may reduce the oral absorption and bioavailability of levofloxacin. According to the drug product labeling, administration of levofloxacin 500 mg with food prolonged the time to peak concentration by 1 hour and decreased the Cmax decreased by 25% following administration of the oral solution and by 14% following administration of the oral tablet.

MANAGEMENT: To ensure maximal and consistent oral absorption, levofloxacin oral solution should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after meals. For administration of the oral solution with continuous enteral nutrition, some experts recommend that the tube feeding should be interrupted for one hour before and two hours after the dose of levofloxacin. The oral tablets may be taken without regard to food.

References (1)
  1. Wohlt PD, Zheng L, Gunderson S, Balzar SA, Johnson BD, Fish JT (2009) "Recommendations for the use of medications with continuous enteral nutrition." Am J Health Syst Pharm, 66, p. 1438-67

Switch to consumer interaction data

Levaquin drug interactions

There are 507 drug interactions with Levaquin (levofloxacin).

Levaquin disease interactions

There are 10 disease interactions with Levaquin (levofloxacin) which include:

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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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