Drug interactions
Levofloxacin + Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid
Severity: Moderate
Levofloxacin and Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid: 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
The magnesium in this bowel preparation binds oral levofloxacin in the gut and reduces its absorption. In addition, antibiotics can disrupt the colonic bacteria needed to convert picosulfate to its active form, possibly weakening bowel cleansing.
What this interaction means in plain words
Levofloxacin and Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid 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.
Why it happens
Chelation of levofloxacin by magnesium cations reduces absorption, and antibiotic suppression of colonic flora may impair activation of picosulfate.
What to do
Take oral levofloxacin at least 2 hours before and no sooner than 6 hours after the bowel preparation. Ensure adequate bowel cleansing before the procedure if antibiotics are used.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Levofloxacin and Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Levofloxacin
- Dronedarone + Levofloxacin Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Levofloxacin Contraindicated
- Levofloxacin + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Levofloxacin + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Levofloxacin + Ziprasidone Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Levofloxacin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Levofloxacin with Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Levofloxacin and Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid 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. The magnesium in this bowel preparation binds oral levofloxacin in the gut and reduces its absorption. In addition, antibiotics can disrupt the colonic bacteria needed to convert picosulfate to its active form, possibly weakening bowel cleansing.
How serious is the interaction between Levofloxacin and Sodium picosulfate / magnesium oxide / anhydrous citric acid?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Take oral levofloxacin at least 2 hours before and no sooner than 6 hours after the bowel preparation. Ensure adequate bowel cleansing before the procedure if antibiotics are used.
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.
