Does Warfarin Interact with Levofloxacin?
CDI records a major classification for Warfarin and Levofloxacin. The stored summary is: Levofloxacin may enhance warfarin effects, elevating prothrombin time and increasing bleeding risk. Monitor prothrombin time, INR, and watch for bleeding. The mechanism involves unknown; postmarketing reports indicate enhancement despite no effect observed in clinical studies. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Levofloxacin Class
- Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Unknown; postmarketing reports indicate enhancement despite no effect observed in clinical studies
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Warfarin and your doctor is considering prescribing Levofloxacin (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider