Delafloxacin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 26, 2025.

Applies to delafloxacin: oral tablet.

Other dosage forms:

• intravenous powder for solution

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure it is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Delafloxacin may cause inflammation (tendinitis) or tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). This can occur while you are using the medicine or after you finish using it. The risk of having tendon problems may be increased if you are over 60 years of age, are using steroid medicines (eg, dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, Medrol®), have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), or if you have received an organ transplant (eg, heart, kidney, or lung). Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden pain or swelling in a tendon (eg, ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), bruise more easily after an injury, or are unable to bear weight or move the affected area. Refrain from exercise until your doctor says otherwise.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: seizures, feeling anxious, confused, or depressed, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, severe headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual thoughts or behaviors.

Delafloxacin may worsen myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness) in people who already have this condition. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you use this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk for aortic aneurysm (bulge in the wall of the largest artery). Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden chest, stomach, or back pain, trouble breathing, cough, or hoarseness.

Delafloxacin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Delafloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy or lightheaded than they are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

If you are a diabetic patient taking diabetes medicine by mouth: Delafloxacin may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in some patients. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. If you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, check with your doctor right away.

• Symptoms of low blood sugar can include: anxiety, behavior change similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool pale skin, difficulty with concentrating, drowsiness, excessive hunger, headache, nausea, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, shakiness, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of delafloxacin

Along with its needed effects, delafloxacin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking delafloxacin:

Other side effects of delafloxacin

Some side effects of delafloxacin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Other side effects of delafloxacin

Some side effects of delafloxacin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to delafloxacin: intravenous powder for injection, oral tablet.

General adverse events

In patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), the most common side effects were nausea, diarrhea, headache, transaminase elevations, and vomiting. This drug was discontinued due to a side effect in 0.9% of ABSSSI patients; therapy was discontinued most commonly due to urticaria and hypersensitivity.

In patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), the most common side effects were diarrhea and transaminase elevations. This drug was discontinued due to a side effect in 2.1% of CABP patients; therapy was discontinued most commonly due to transaminase elevations.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erosive gastritis, stomatitis, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, oral paresthesia, oral hypoesthesia, glossodynia, dry mouth, flatulence, constipation, discolored feces
• Frequency not reported: Oral candidiasis, Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral neuropathy (including paresthesia, hypoesthesia), dizziness, dysgeusia, presyncope, tinnitus, vertigo
• Frequency not reported: Hypoesthesia, paresthesia, syncope, vestibular disorder, sensory axonal polyneuropathy, sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy, dysesthesia

Fluoroquinolones:

• Frequency not reported: Peripheral neuropathy, central nervous system (CNS) effects (convulsions, increased intracranial pressure [including pseudotumor cerebri], toxic psychosis, severe headaches), neuropathies associated with paresthesia, memory impairment, impairment of hearing/vision/taste/smell
• Postmarketing reports: Exacerbation of myasthenia gravis^[Ref]

Cases of sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy (affecting small and/or large axons) resulting in paresthesias, hypoesthesias, dysesthesias, and weakness have been reported.^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Transaminase elevations (included hypertransaminasemia, increased transaminases, increased ALT and AST, increased hepatic enzyme, increased ALT), hypertransaminasemia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic dermatitis, urticaria, rash, alopecia, hyperhidrosis, cold sweat, night sweat
• Frequency not reported: Dermatitis^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fungal infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pyrexia, peripheral edema, fatigue, chills, medical device complication, wound complication, increased blood alkaline phosphatase, decreased blood albumin, flushing, C difficile infection
• Frequency not reported: Weakness

Fluoroquinolones:

• Frequency not reported: Gait disturbance, fatigue^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Injection/infusion site reaction
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Local swelling
• Frequency not reported: Infusion related reactions, infusion site extravasation, infusion site bruise, infusion site discomfort, infusion site edema, infusion site erythema, infusion site irritation, infusion site pain, infusion site phlebitis, infusion site swelling, infusion site thrombosis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Reactive arthritis, arthralgia, myalgia, myositis, tendonitis, musculoskeletal pain (e.g., pain in extremity, back pain, neck pain), muscle weakness, muscle spasm, increased blood creatine phosphokinase

Fluoroquinolones:

• Frequency not reported: Tendinitis, tendon rupture, arthralgia, pain in extremities^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity, seasonal allergy

Fluoroquinolones:

• Frequency not reported: Serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, insomnia, abnormal dreams, auditory hallucination
• Frequency not reported: Agitation, confusional state

Fluoroquinolones:

• Frequency not reported: CNS effects (hallucinations, anxiety, depression, insomnia, confusion), sleep disorders^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sinus tachycardia, palpitations, bradycardia, hypotension, hypertension, phlebitis
• Frequency not reported: Ventricular extrasystoles^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal impairment
• Frequency not reported: Increased blood creatinine, renal failure^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thrombocytopenia, decreased hematocrit, decreased WBC count, decreased hemoglobin, decreased RBC count
• Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, decreased appetite

Other fluoroquinolones:

• Frequency not reported: Blood glucose disturbances^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea, cough, dry throat, sinusitis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hematuria, crystal urine present, urinary tract infection
• Frequency not reported: Vulvovaginal candidiasis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blurred vision, dry eye^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What type of antibiotic is Baxdela?

Further information

Delafloxacin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer