Levaquin Side Effects

Nausea, headache, and diarrhea are the most common problems reported with Levaquin. Side effects that are rare but possible (occurring in less than 1 percent of people taking the drug) include nosebleeds, anemia, and vertigo. While most side effects of Levaquin do not require medical attention, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience fainting, watery or bloody diarrhea, or hallucinations.

An Introduction to Levaquin Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Levaquin® (levofloxacin). However, not everyone who takes the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Levaquin. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Levaquin side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Levaquin

Levaquin has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occurred in a group of people taking Levaquin were documented and compared to side effects that occurred in a similar group of people taking a different antibiotic. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occurred, how often they appeared, and how they compare to the group taking a different medication.
 
In these studies, the most common side effects of Levaquin included:
 
Other common side effects (occurring in 1 to 2 percent of people) included:
 
  • Yeast infections
  • Shortness of breath
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
  • Vomiting
  • Indigestion or heartburn
  • Water retention
  • Chest pain
  • Pain at the injection site (when the medication is given by IV)
  • Vaginal irritation or infection.
     

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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