Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is It Safe To Take Levofloxacin With Coumadin?
Question: would it be better to take levofloxacin or clarithromycin with coumadin?
Brief Answer:
levofloxacin would be safer
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Both of these drugs can affect warfarin levels causing an increase in warfarin and therefore an increase in bleeding.
The mechanism by which clarithromycin does this is well known, it affects the chemicals or the pathway in the liver that is involved in the breakdown of warfarin. By decreasing warfarin breakdown, it causes increased levels.
It is recommended that clarithromycin is never used with warfarin because of these very known effect.
Levofloxacin also causes an increase but the exact way it does this is not known. It may be related to affecting vitamin K levels in the gut.
This interaction is monitored closely.
Between the two, it would be safer to use levofloxacin once there is very careful monitoring for any bleeding.
I hope this helps,feel free to ask any other questions
levofloxacin would be safer
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Both of these drugs can affect warfarin levels causing an increase in warfarin and therefore an increase in bleeding.
The mechanism by which clarithromycin does this is well known, it affects the chemicals or the pathway in the liver that is involved in the breakdown of warfarin. By decreasing warfarin breakdown, it causes increased levels.
It is recommended that clarithromycin is never used with warfarin because of these very known effect.
Levofloxacin also causes an increase but the exact way it does this is not known. It may be related to affecting vitamin K levels in the gut.
This interaction is monitored closely.
Between the two, it would be safer to use levofloxacin once there is very careful monitoring for any bleeding.
I hope this helps,feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
