Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Levaquin?

What the drug label says

We read a current levofloxacin tablet label on DailyMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s drug label database. We found no mention of alcohol or ethanol in the sections we read. Interactions it does list include NSAIDs (may raise the risk of CNS stimulation and convulsive seizures) and diabetes medicines (blood glucose should be monitored). It also says to avoid levofloxacin in people with known QT interval prolongation.

Dizziness and driving

The patient section says levofloxacin can make you feel dizzy and lightheaded, and not to drive, operate machinery or do other activities needing mental alertness or coordination until you know how it affects you. Dizziness is among its most common side effects.

NIAAA says alcohol disrupts the brain’s communication pathways and impairs clear thinking and coordinated movement. We did not find an official page that tests the two together, so this is our reading of the two sources, not a stated rule.

What to do

• Check the label or Medication Guide that came with your prescription.
• Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether alcohol is safe with your dose and condition.
• Tell them if you have diabetes, a heart rhythm problem or take other medicines.
• If you feel dizzy, do not drive.

This is general information, not medical advice. Labels differ by manufacturer and change over time.