GENERIC NAME: LINEZOLID - ORAL TABLETS (lin-AZE-oh-lid)
BRAND NAME(S): Zyvox
Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage
USES: Linezolid is an antibiotic used to treat certain serious bacterial infections often resistant to other antibiotics.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth usually every 12 hours or as directed by your doctor. Linezolid is related to a group of drugs called MAO inhibitors. Certain foods interact with MAO inhibitors causing severe headache and increased blood pressure. This could lead to a medical emergency. See DRUG INTERACTIONS section. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. Continue to take this medication until the full-prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a relapse of the infection. Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve in 10 days.
SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea, headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, or rash may occur. If these persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of these unlikely but serious side effects: easy bruising or bleeding, severe headache, severe dizziness, vision changes, tingling or numbness of hands/feet, fever, persistent sore throat, unusual fatigue. Use of this medication for prolonged or repeated periods may result in a secondary infection (e.g., oral or vaginal fungal infection). Contact your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge or other new symptoms. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: high blood pressure (hypertension), blood disorders (low blood counts), chronic infection, any allergies you may have. Tell your doctor if you have had diarrhea and stomach pain while taking other antibiotics. This may be a symptom of a different infection (pseudomembranous colitis) that requires another medication. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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