Does Ferrous Sulfate Interact With Levofloxacin?
Monitor prothrombin time, INR and watch for bleeding (7.2) Antidiabetic agents Carefully monitor blood glucose (5.13, 7.3) 7.1 Chelation Agents: Antacids, Sucralfate, Metal Cations, Multivitamins While the chelation by divalent cations is less marked than with other fluoroquinolones, concurrent administration of levofloxacin tablets with antacids containing magnesium, or aluminum, as well as sucralfate, metal cations such as iron, and multivitamin preparations with zinc may interfere with the…
Severity: Moderate
Severity basis: drug interactions section (keywords: monitor, consider). Combining Ferrous Sulfate (Oral iron supplement) and Levofloxacin (Fluoroquinolone antibiotic) is classified as a moderate interaction.
What to Do
Use this combination with caution. Your prescriber may monitor you more closely or adjust doses.
How This Interaction Works
Interactions like this one can happen when two medicines have overlapping effects, or when one changes how the other is absorbed, broken down, or cleared from the body. Ferrous Sulfate is a oral iron supplement and Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic; together they are documented as a moderate interaction. How much this matters depends on your dose, your other medications, and your overall health.
If You Take Both Medications
If you have been prescribed both Ferrous Sulfate and Levofloxacin, do not start, stop, or change either medication on your own — some medicines are unsafe to stop suddenly. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist that you take both so they can decide whether the combination is right for you, adjust the dose, monitor you more closely, or suggest an alternative.
From the FDA Label
Monitor prothrombin time, INR and watch for bleeding (7.2) Antidiabetic agents Carefully monitor blood glucose (5.13, 7.3) 7.1 Chelation Agents: Antacids, Sucralfate, Metal Cations, Multivitamins While the chelation by divalent cations is less marked than with other fluoroquinolones, concurrent administration of levofloxacin tablets with antacids containing magnesium, or aluminum, as well as sucralfate, metal cations such as iron, and multivitamin preparations with zinc may interfere with the…
Source: FDA structured product labeling (set_id 05d179f5-b200-8597-e063-6394a90a10cc).
Check these against your full medication list in our free Interaction Checker
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take Ferrous Sulfate and Levofloxacin together?
Ferrous Sulfate and Levofloxacin have a documented moderate interaction. Use this combination with caution. Your prescriber may monitor you more closely or adjust doses.
How serious is the Ferrous Sulfate and Levofloxacin interaction?
It is classified as a moderate interaction, based on the FDA label's drug interactions section (keywords: monitor, consider). A moderate interaction can be clinically meaningful and usually calls for monitoring or a dose adjustment.
What should I do if I'm taking both Ferrous Sulfate and Levofloxacin?
If you have been prescribed both Ferrous Sulfate and Levofloxacin, do not start, stop, or change either medication on your own — some medicines are unsafe to stop suddenly. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist that you take both so they can decide whether the combination is right for you, adjust the dose, monitor you more closely, or suggest an alternative.
This information is educational — not medical advice.
This page is provided for general educational purposes and summarizes publicly available data from sources such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is not a substitute for the judgment of a licensed clinician and should not be used to start, stop, or change any medication. It may be incomplete or out of date, and individual circumstances vary. Always talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific medications and health conditions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.