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What Was Levaquin?

Levaquin was the trade name for levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial. FDA lists the 250 mg, 500 mg, and 750 mg Levaquin tablets as discontinued and determined that they were not withdrawn for safety or efficacy reasons. Generic levofloxacin tablets remain marketed in the United States.

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What Was Levaquin?

Levaquin was the trade name for levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial. FDA lists the 250 mg, 500 mg, and 750 mg Levaquin tablets as discontinued and determined that they were not withdrawn for safety or efficacy reasons. Generic levofloxacin tablets remain marketed in the United States.

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How Does Levofloxacin Kill Bacteria?

Levofloxacin inhibits bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase. Blocking these enzymes interferes with DNA replication, transcription, repair, and recombination, leading to bacterial death in susceptible organisms.

Who Is Treated With Levofloxacin?

Current generic labeling includes selected cases of pneumonia, skin and skin structure infections, chronic bacterial prostatitis, inhalational anthrax after exposure, plague, complicated urinary tract infection, acute pyelonephritis, uncomplicated urinary tract infection, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and acute bacterial sinusitis. Use for uncomplicated urinary tract infection, bronchitis exacerbation, and sinusitis is reserved for patients without alternative treatment options.

How Is Levofloxacin Dosed?

Adults with creatinine clearance of at least 50 mL per minute receive 250 mg, 500 mg, or 750 mg by mouth every 24 hours depending on the infection. Treatment duration ranges from three days to 60 days according to the indication. Kidney impairment below this threshold requires dose adjustment.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Levofloxacin?

Levofloxacin carries a boxed warning for disabling and potentially irreversible reactions including tendinitis and tendon rupture, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system effects. Fluoroquinolones can also worsen muscle weakness in myasthenia gravis. Other serious concerns include aortic aneurysm or dissection, QT prolongation, severe glucose disturbances, Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, severe hypersensitivity, and liver toxicity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Levaquin

What medicine was in Levaquin?

Levaquin contained levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial.

Is Levaquin still marketed under that trade name?

No. FDA lists the original Levaquin tablets as discontinued, while generic levofloxacin remains marketed.

What oral strengths did Levaquin contain?

The discontinued tablets were available in 250 mg, 500 mg, and 750 mg strengths.

Does levofloxacin have a boxed warning?

Yes. The boxed warning covers serious tendon, peripheral nerve, central nervous system, and myasthenia gravis risks.

References

DailyMed - LEVOFLOXACIN tablet, film coated. https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=710c0c10-89a5-4954-8f74-acc187c5cf0f. Date Accessed October 12, 2026.

LEVAQUIN (levofloxacin) Prescribing Information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/020634s072lbl.pdf. Date Accessed October 12, 2026.

Levofloxacin. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548357/. Date Accessed October 12, 2026.

Levofloxacin. MedlinePlus. https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697040.html. Date Accessed October 12, 2026.

Levofloxacin. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Levofloxacin. Date Accessed October 12, 2026.