Comparing Ciprofloxacin vs Levofloxacin

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
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Ciprofloxacin

Levofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin is an effective antibiotic that treats a wide variety of infections; however, it should not be given to children aged less than 18 and in adults, it should be reserved for infections... View more

Levofloxacin treats a wide range of bacterial infections; however, it can cause some very severe and potentially irreversible side effects such as tendonitis or tendon rupture and should only be used... View more

Prescription only

Ratings & Reviews

View all 834 reviews

View all 677 reviews

Drug Class

Quinolones

Quinolones

Side Effects

Commonly reported side effects include: pyelonephritis, arthralgia, and musculoskeletal signs and symptoms.

See the full ciprofloxacin side effects document.

See the full levofloxacin side effects document.

Pricing and Coupons

* Prices are without insurance

Quantity	1 tablet
Dosage	500 mg
Per Unit^*	$11.09
Cost^*	$11.09

View all ciprofloxacin prices

Quantity	3 tablet
Dosage	500 mg
Per Unit^*	$6.41
Cost^*	$19.22

View all levofloxacin prices

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Generic Availability

Yes (this medicine)

Dosage Form(s) Available

Intravenous solution
Oral powder for reconstitution
Oral tablet
Oral tablet, extended release

Intravenous solution
Oral solution
Oral tablet

Brand Names

Cipro, Cipro Cystitis Pack, Cipro I.V., Cipro XR Levaquin

Half Life

The half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value.

4 hours

6 hours

CSA Schedule**

View glossary of terms.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full Pregnancy Warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 603 drugs are known to interact with ciprofloxacin:

145 major drug interactions (616 brand and generic names)
377 moderate drug interactions (2702 brand and generic names)
81 minor drug interactions (227 brand and generic names)

A total of 463 drugs are known to interact with levofloxacin:

105 major drug interactions (472 brand and generic names)
302 moderate drug interactions (2464 brand and generic names)
56 minor drug interactions (144 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

Do not take ciprofloxacin with dairy products such as milk or yogurt, or with calcium-fortified... View more

When levoFLOXacin as the oral solution is given with enteral (tube) feedings, levoFLOXacin may not... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

October 22, 1987

December 20, 1996

WADA Class

View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

More Information

Consumer Resources

Professional Resources

Related Treatment Guide

** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer