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Drug interactions

Calcium gluconate + Levofloxacin

Severity: Moderate

Calcium gluconate and Levofloxacin: moderate interaction.

Last updated

For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.

Summary

Oral calcium gluconate may bind levofloxacin in the intestine and decrease its absorption, risking reduced antibacterial effect. Intravenous calcium gluconate is not expected to interact this way.

What this interaction means in plain words

Calcium gluconate and Levofloxacin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.

Calcium gluconate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Levofloxacin belongs to Anti Bacterial.

Evidence level: Moderate

Why it happens

Chelation of levofloxacin by calcium cations in the gastrointestinal lumen.

What to do

Separate oral levofloxacin and oral calcium gluconate by at least 2 hours, giving levofloxacin first.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Should I take them at different times of day?
  • Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
  • Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Calcium gluconate with Levofloxacin?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium gluconate and Levofloxacin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Oral calcium gluconate may bind levofloxacin in the intestine and decrease its absorption, risking reduced antibacterial effect. Intravenous calcium gluconate is not expected to interact this way.

How serious is the interaction between Calcium gluconate and Levofloxacin?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Separate oral levofloxacin and oral calcium gluconate by at least 2 hours, giving levofloxacin first.

What other medicines interact with Levofloxacin?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Levofloxacin with, for example, Dronedarone, Ibutilide, Thioridazine. The full list is on the Levofloxacin page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

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