Moxifloxacin side effects: what 14,003 FDA adverse event reports show
Drug class
Not stated in label
Who reports
14,003 reports · 85% serious · 1,997 with death outcome · 55% female
Used for
Moxifloxacin tablets are a fluoroquinolone antibacterial indicated for treating infections in adults 18 years of age and older caused by designated susceptible bacteria, in the conditions listed below: Community Acquired Pneumonia ( 1.1 ) Skin and Skin.
What it is
Moxifloxacin hydrochloride USP is a synthetic antibacterial agent for oral administration. Moxifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, is available as the monohydrochloride salt of 1-cyclopropyl-7-[(S,S)-2,8-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-8-yl]-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3 quinoline carboxylic acid.
Boxed warning
SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDING TENDINITIS, TENDON RUPTURE, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS andEXACERBATION OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin tablets, have been a.
Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals
What the badges mean
- Labeled (related wording) The label describes this effect under different wording (e.g. 'neutropenia' for 'neutrophil count decreased'). Treated as known.
- Likely indication confounding The term appears in the label's indications: reports probably describe the disease being treated (or its progression), not a drug effect. Classic confounding by indication.
- Lab value / disease marker A laboratory result, investigation or disease-activity marker (antibody positive, CRP abnormal, swollen joint count) not described in the label. These usually mirror the monitored disease or testing protocol rather than a drug effect; not screened further.
- Not in label — unassessed Not found in the label text, not an artifact pattern. This is a genuine candidate for a formal causality assessment (Bradford Hill / WHO-UMC); it has NOT had one here.
Strongest disproportionality signals
Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,093 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Npm1 gene mutation | 11 | 8,120.9 1,800.1–36,635.2ROR 8,127.3 · calibrated p 6e-15 ✓ | 393.1 EB05 234.2 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=11 | no trial data cached |
| Iris transillumination defect | 96 | 1,629.3 1,219.5–2,176.6ROR 1,640.5 · calibrated p 3e-19 ✓ | 670.7 EB05 565.5 · IC025 +6.9 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=94 · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Spirometry abnormal | 172 | 622.5 521.3–743.3ROR 630.2 · calibrated p 7e-15 ✓ | 417.7 EB05 367.9 · IC025 +7.3 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious n=172 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Mite allergy | 162 | 511.1 427.8–610.6ROR 517.1 · calibrated p 6e-14 ✓ | 363.6 EB05 319.0 · IC025 +7.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=162 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Total lung capacity increased | 67 | 487.3 369.9–642.0ROR 489.7 · calibrated p 2e-13 ✓ | 331.9 EB05 270.4 · IC025 +6.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=67 · ♀ 100% (drug 55%) · 93% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Pulmonary vasculitis | 116 | 421.9 343.4–518.2ROR 425.4 · calibrated p 5e-13 ✓ | 311.5 EB05 266.7 · IC025 +6.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=116 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, hypersomnia type | 20 | 373.8 228.9–610.4ROR 374.3 · calibrated p 2e-11 ✓ | 232.4 EB05 158.9 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=20 | no trial data cached |
| Type 2 lepra reaction | 37 | 366.7 255.9–525.3ROR 367.6 · calibrated p 6e-12 ✓ | 255.2 EB05 193.4 · IC025 +5.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=37 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Mycotic allergy | 164 | 362.5 305.8–429.7ROR 366.8 · calibrated p 2e-12 ✓ | 281.7 EB05 247.3 · IC025 +7.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=164 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Total lung capacity abnormal | 71 | 343.7 265.6–444.8ROR 345.5 · calibrated p 5e-12 ✓ | 259.5 EB05 212.7 · IC025 +6.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=71 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Dust allergy | 168 | 316.4 268.1–373.5ROR 320.2 · calibrated p 7e-12 ✓ | 253.2 EB05 222.7 · IC025 +6.9 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=168 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Keratitis fungal | 33 | 290.0 199.8–421.1ROR 290.7 · calibrated p 6e-11 ✓ | 212.8 EB05 158.6 · IC025 +5.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=32 · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Iris hypopigmentation | 17 | 285.2 169.7–479.3ROR 285.6 · calibrated p 2e-10 ✓ | 188.8 EB05 124.8 · IC025 +4.1 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=16 | no trial data cached |
| Capillaritis | 42 | 278.1 200.1–386.5ROR 278.9 · calibrated p 6e-11 ✓ | 211.7 EB05 163.2 · IC025 +5.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=42 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Infective keratitis | 11 | 275.3 144.6–523.9ROR 275.5 · calibrated p 1e-9 ✓ | 165.9 EB05 98.9 · IC025 +3.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=11 | no trial data cached |
| Choroiditis | 58 | 273.6 206.8–361.9ROR 274.7 · calibrated p 5e-11 ✓ | 214.7 EB05 172.2 · IC025 +5.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=58 · ♀ 18% (drug 55%) · 91% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Persistent corneal epithelial defect | 16 | 243.5 143.6–413.2ROR 243.8 · calibrated p 9e-10 ✓ | 167.7 EB05 109.4 · IC025 +4.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=12 | no trial data cached |
| Mycobacterial peritonitis | 13 | 234.1 130.4–420.1ROR 234.3 · calibrated p 2e-9 ✓ | 156.3 EB05 97.2 · IC025 +3.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=13 | no trial data cached |
| Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome | 70 | 232.8 181.0–299.4ROR 233.9 · calibrated p 2e-10 ✓ | 190.8 EB05 156.1 · IC025 +6.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=70 · ♀ 100% (drug 55%) · 93% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Pigment dispersion syndrome | 12 | 221.5 120.8–406.2ROR 221.7 · calibrated p 4e-9 ✓ | 147.9 EB05 90.2 · IC025 +3.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=12 | no trial data cached |
| Chimerism | 11 | 210.9 112.2–396.7ROR 211.1 · calibrated p 7e-9 ✓ | 140.3 EB05 83.6 · IC025 +3.3 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=11 | no trial data cached |
| C-reactive protein | 111 | 208.8 171.3–254.5ROR 210.4 · calibrated p 4e-10 ✓ | 177.5 EB05 151.5 · IC025 +6.3 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious n=111 · ♀ 100% (drug 55%) · 92% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Conjunctivitis allergic | 167 | 193.1 164.5–226.7ROR 195.4 · calibrated p 6e-10 ✓ | 167.6 EB05 147.4 · IC025 +6.6 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=167 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Grip strength | 24 | 172.9 113.3–263.8ROR 173.2 · calibrated p 6e-9 ✓ | 138.1 EB05 97.6 · IC025 +4.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=24 | no trial data cached |
| Disseminated mycobacterium avium complex infection | 22 | 172.8 111.1–268.6ROR 173.1 · calibrated p 7e-9 ✓ | 136.7 EB05 95.1 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=22 · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Mycobacterium fortuitum infection | 19 | 171.1 106.4–275.0ROR 171.3 · calibrated p 1e-8 ✓ | 133.2 EB05 90.1 · IC025 +4.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=19 | no trial data cached |
| Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive | 69 | 156.7 122.4–200.8ROR 157.5 · calibrated p 5e-9 ✓ | 136.5 EB05 111.5 · IC025 +5.7 3/3 methods agree | Lab value / disease marker | serious n=69 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Tuberculoma of central nervous system | 17 | 153.1 92.9–252.1ROR 153.2 · calibrated p 3e-8 ✓ | 120.3 EB05 79.6 · IC025 +4.0 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious n=17 | no trial data cached |
| Rhodococcus infection | 15 | 147.7 86.9–251.0ROR 147.8 · calibrated p 4e-8 ✓ | 115.0 EB05 74.0 · IC025 +3.8 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=15 | no trial data cached |
| Keratitis bacterial | 14 | 143.6 82.9–248.4ROR 143.7 · calibrated p 6e-8 ✓ | 111.4 EB05 70.5 · IC025 +3.7 3/3 methods agree | Likely indication confounding shares a disease stem with the indications wording | serious n=13 | no trial data cached |
| Tuberculosis of central nervous system | 23 | 141.5 92.3–217.0ROR 141.7 · calibrated p 3e-8 ✓ | 116.9 EB05 82.0 · IC025 +4.4 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious n=23 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated tuberculosis | 26 | 126.7 84.9–189.0ROR 126.9 · calibrated p 6e-8 ✓ | 107.7 EB05 77.3 · IC025 +4.5 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=26 · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Mycobacterium abscessus infection | 55 | 126.7 96.2–166.8ROR 127.2 · calibrated p 3e-8 ✓ | 112.3 EB05 89.5 · IC025 +5.4 3/3 methods agree | Likely indication confounding shares a disease stem with the indications wording | serious n=55 · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Necrotising scleritis | 11 | 123.0 66.5–227.6ROR 123.1 · calibrated p 3e-7 ✓ | 95.4 EB05 56.8 · IC025 +3.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=11 | no trial data cached |
| Neuritis | 116 | 122.1 101.1–147.4ROR 123.1 · calibrated p 3e-8 ✓ | 110.8 EB05 94.9 · IC025 +5.9 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=116 · ♀ 0% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Swollen joint count | 18 | 118.1 73.1–190.9ROR 118.3 · calibrated p 2e-7 ✓ | 98.3 EB05 65.8 · IC025 +4.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=18 | no trial data cached |
| Deep vein thrombosis postoperative | 139 | 114.2 96.2–135.6ROR 115.3 · calibrated p 5e-8 ✓ | 104.6 EB05 90.8 · IC025 +6.0 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=139 · ♀ 100% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Nasal oedema | 126 | 113.2 94.5–135.5ROR 114.2 · calibrated p 5e-8 ✓ | 103.6 EB05 89.3 · IC025 +5.9 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=126 · ♀ 100% (drug 55%) · 96% clinician | no trial data cached |
| Corneal decompensation | 11 | 112.0 60.7–206.7ROR 112.1 · calibrated p 5e-7 ✓ | 88.6 EB05 52.8 · IC025 +3.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=11 | no trial data cached |
| Corneal infiltrates | 21 | 109.2 70.1–170.0ROR 109.3 · calibrated p 2e-7 ✓ | 93.3 EB05 64.4 · IC025 +4.2 3/3 methods agree | Not in label — unassessed | serious n=20 · 100% clinician | no trial data cached |
Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Most frequently reported reactions
By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off label use (used outside approved label) | 1,452 | 2.5 2.4–2.6ROR 2.7 · calibrated p 0.739 | 2.5 EB05 2.4 · IC025 +1.2 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 2.8 | no trial data cached |
| Drug ineffective (drug did not work) | 1,413 | 1.6 1.5–1.7ROR 1.7 · calibrated p 0.754 | 1.6 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.6 | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 2.9 | no trial data cached |
| Dyspnoea (shortness of breath) | 1,288 | 3.4 3.2–3.6ROR 3.7 · calibrated p 0.447 | 3.4 EB05 3.3 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 3.2 | no trial data cached |
| Pneumonia (lung infection) | 1,207 | 5.6 5.3–5.9ROR 6.0 · calibrated p 0.147 | 5.6 EB05 5.3 · IC025 +2.4 3/3 methods agree | Likely indication confounding term in indications | serious PRR 3.9 · ♀ 81% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Vomiting | 1,176 | 3.8 3.6–4.0ROR 4.0 · calibrated p 0.375 | 3.8 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 3.7 · ♀ 87% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Drug hypersensitivity | 1,136 | 8.8 8.3–9.3ROR 9.5 · calibrated p 0.039 ✓ | 8.7 EB05 8.3 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | Labeled (related wording) related wording | serious PRR 15.2 · ♀ 95% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Asthma | 964 | 13.0 12.2–13.8ROR 13.9 · calibrated p 0.010 ✓ | 12.9 EB05 12.2 · IC025 +3.6 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 12.2 · ♀ 78% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Pain | 878 | 2.1 2.0–2.3ROR 2.2 · calibrated p 0.944 | 2.1 EB05 2.0 · IC025 +1.0 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 2.2 · ♀ 86% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Nausea | 867 | 1.6 1.5–1.8ROR 1.7 · calibrated p 0.762 | 1.6 EB05 1.6 · IC025 +0.6 | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 2.0 · ♀ 76% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Wheezing | 847 | 21.7 20.4–23.2ROR 23.1 · calibrated p 0.001 ✓ | 21.4 EB05 20.2 · IC025 +4.3 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 20.0 · ♀ 77% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Rash | 780 | 2.7 2.5–2.9ROR 2.8 · calibrated p 0.696 | 2.7 EB05 2.5 · IC025 +1.3 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 3.7 · ♀ 85% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Condition aggravated | 778 | 3.9 3.6–4.1ROR 4.0 · calibrated p 0.372 | 3.8 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 3.8 | no trial data cached |
| Fatigue (tiredness) | 773 | 1.5 1.4–1.6ROR 1.5 · calibrated p 0.654 | 1.5 EB05 1.4 · IC025 +0.5 | Labeled — boxed warning synonym match | serious PRR 1.8 | no trial data cached |
| Diarrhoea (diarrhea) | 743 | 1.7 1.6–1.9ROR 1.8 · calibrated p 0.813 | 1.7 EB05 1.6 · IC025 +0.7 | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 1.9 · ♀ 75% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
| Malaise (feeling unwell) | 714 | 2.4 2.3–2.6ROR 2.5 · calibrated p 0.808 | 2.4 EB05 2.3 · IC025 +1.2 3/3 methods agree | Labeled adverse reaction exact term | serious PRR 2.7 · ♀ 91% (drug 55%) | no trial data cached |
Unlabeled candidate signals
These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.
- Iris transillumination defect — n=96, PRR 1,629.3
- Mite allergy — n=162, PRR 511.1
- Total lung capacity increased — n=67, PRR 487.3
- Pulmonary vasculitis — n=116, PRR 421.9
- Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, hypersomnia type — n=20, PRR 373.8
- Type 2 lepra reaction — n=37, PRR 366.7
- Mycotic allergy — n=164, PRR 362.5
- Total lung capacity abnormal — n=71, PRR 343.7
- Dust allergy — n=168, PRR 316.4
- Keratitis fungal — n=33, PRR 290.0
Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.
Common questions
What are the most reported side effects of Moxifloxacin?
In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Moxifloxacin are dyspnoea, pneumonia, vomiting, drug hypersensitivity, asthma, pain. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.
Does Moxifloxacin have an FDA boxed warning?
Yes. The current FDA label carries a boxed warning: SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDING TENDINITIS, TENDON RUPTURE, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS andEXACERBATION OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin tablets, have been a.
Do FAERS signals prove that Moxifloxacin causes these side effects?
No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.
Sources & methods
- FDA label via openFDA (set ID 182ecd0f-714f-42f0-9b16-fb604cf15786, effective 20260317; matched on
openfda.generic_name.exact:"MOXIFLOXACIN") - Bayesian shrinkage measures computed offline over all 1,317,300 cached pairs: BCPNN information component (IC, with Norén closed-form IC025) and MGPS empirical-Bayes geometric mean (EBGM, EB05) with a two-component gamma prior fitted by maximum marginal likelihood (α₁=0.57, β₁=0.02, α₂=1.42, β₂=0.70, w=0.17); unstratified
- FAERS pair statistics from the OpenPV build of 2026-09-14 (openFDA
count=aggregation, fieldpatient.drug.openfda.generic_name.exact, 1,133 reaction terms, min 3 co-reports); PRR/ROR with 95% CI, chi-square with Yates correction - Serious-only and stratified counts (serious:1, patient.patientsex, primarysource.qualification) from openFDA count queries; serious-only PRR uses the drug serious report total and the term global serious total (N_serious=11,882,979); strata shown only when n ≥ 20
- Seriousness and sex counts from openFDA
count=serious,patient.patientsex,seriousnessdeath
Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.