Drug interactions
Levofloxacin + Zinc
Severity: Moderate
Levofloxacin and Zinc: 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 zinc binds levofloxacin in the gut and reduces its absorption, which can lower antibiotic levels and risk treatment failure. The effect applies to zinc-containing supplements and multivitamins taken at the same time.
What this interaction means in plain words
Levofloxacin and Zinc 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.
Levofloxacin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Zinc belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Chelation of levofloxacin by divalent zinc cations in the gastrointestinal tract, forming poorly absorbed complexes.
What to do
Give oral levofloxacin at least 2 hours before or after zinc-containing products. Consider holding zinc supplements during the antibiotic course.
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 Zinc, 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 7 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
Other interactions of Zinc
- Alendronate + Zinc Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Zinc Moderate
- Cefalexin + Zinc Moderate
- Ciprofloxacin + Zinc Moderate
- Delafloxacin + Zinc Moderate
- Dolutegravir + Zinc Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Levofloxacin with Zinc?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Levofloxacin and Zinc 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 zinc binds levofloxacin in the gut and reduces its absorption, which can lower antibiotic levels and risk treatment failure. The effect applies to zinc-containing supplements and multivitamins taken at the same time.
How serious is the interaction between Levofloxacin and Zinc?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give oral levofloxacin at least 2 hours before or after zinc-containing products. Consider holding zinc supplements during the antibiotic course.
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.
