What is the most important information I should know about linezolid?

Before taking linezolid, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, a seizure disorder, a thyroid or adrenal gland disorder, kidney or liver disease, bone marrow suppression, or a weak immune system.

Take linezolid for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

While you are using linezolid, avoid taking an "SSRI" antidepressant without telling your doctor. This includes Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, or Zoloft. Taking an SSRI antidepressant together with linezolid can cause symptoms such as anxiety, high fever, sweating, chills or goosebumps, memory problems, trouble concentrating, loss of coordination, or muscle spasms.

Eating tyramine while you are taking linezolid can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Avoid foods that have a high level of tyramine, such as aged cheeses or meats, pickled or fermented meats, smoked or air-dried meats, sauerkraut, soy sauce, tap beer, red wine, or any meat, cheese, or other protein-based food that has been improperly stored.

You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must avoid while you are taking linezolid.

What is linezolid?

Linezolid is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.

Linezolid is used to treat different types of bacterial infections, such pneumonia, skin infections, and infections that are resistant to other antibiotics.

Linezolid may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking linezolid?

Linezolid may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual muscle pain and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heart rate, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to linezolid.

Before taking linezolid, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• high blood pressure;
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• a thyroid or adrenal gland disorder;
• kidney disease;
• liver disease; or
• bone marrow suppression or a weak immune system.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use linezolid, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether linezolid passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

The oral suspension (liquid) form of linezolid may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of linezolid if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

How should I take linezolid?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Linezolid can be taken with or without food.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Some infections need to be treated for up to 28 days. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Linezolid will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Before taking the oral suspension (liquid), gently mix it by turning the bottle upside down 3 to 5 times. Do not shake. Measure the liquid with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store linezolid at room temperature away from moisture and heat. The liquid form of linezolid should be stored at room temperature, but throw away any unused liquid that is more than 21 days old.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a linezolid overdose may include weakness, or loss of balance or coordination.

What should I avoid while taking linezolid?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

While you are using linezolid, avoid taking an "SSRI" antidepressant without telling your doctor. This includes citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft). Taking an SSRI antidepressant together with linezolid can cause symptoms such as anxiety, high fever, sweating, chills or goosebumps, memory problems, trouble concentrating, loss of coordination, or muscle spasms.

Eating tyramine while you are taking linezolid can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Avoid foods that have a high level of tyramine, such as:

• aged cheeses or meats;
• pickled or fermented meats;
• smoked or air-dried meats;
• sauerkraut;
• soy sauce;
• tap beer (alcoholic and nonalcoholic);
• red wine; or
• any meat, cheese, or other protein-based food that has been improperly stored.

You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must avoid while you are taking linezolid.

What are the possible side effects of linezolid?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• blurred vision, trouble seeing colors
• numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, nausea with vomiting, and fast or uneven heart rate.

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• headache, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain or upset;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• itching;
• discolored tongue, unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth;
• vaginal itching or discharge; or
• yeast infection in the mouth.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect linezolid?

Before taking linezolid, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);
• sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf);
• basiliximab (Simulect), efalizumab (Raptiva), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
• mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
• azathioprine (Imuran), leflunomide (Arava), etanercept (Enbrel);
• cold or allergy medicines that contain a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine;
• drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids);
• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
• medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, such as amantadine (Symmetrel), carbidopa or levodopa (Lodosyn, Parcopa, Sinemet), entacapone (Comtan), levodopa (Larodopa), pergolide (Permax), pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinorole (Requip), or tolcapone (Tasmar).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use linezolid, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect linezolid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has information about linezolid written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.05. Revision date: 02/22/2008.