Zyvox

Generic Name: linezolid (Intravenous route, Oral route)

lin-AYZ-oh-lid

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Zyvox

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution


• Tablet


• Powder for Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Oxazolidinone

Uses For Zyvox

Linezolid belongs to the family of medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. Linezolid will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Linezolid is used to treat infections of the blood, lungs, and skin. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. It is given by injection or orally. It is used mainly for serious infection for which other medicines may not work.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using Zyvox

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults

Geriatric

This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Almotriptan


• Amitriptyline


• Amoxapine


• Apraclonidine


• Atomoxetine


• Benzphetamine


• Brimonidine


• Buspirone


• Carbidopa


• Citalopram


• Clomipramine


• Clovoxamine


• Cyclobenzaprine


• Cyproheptadine


• Desipramine


• Desvenlafaxine


• Dexmethylphenidate


• Diethylpropion


• Dobutamine


• Dopamine


• Doxepin


• Duloxetine


• Eletriptan


• Epinephrine


• Escitalopram


• Femoxetine


• Flesinoxan


• Fluoxetine


• Frovatriptan


• Guanadrel


• Guanethidine


• Imipramine


• Isocarboxazid


• Levodopa


• Levomethadyl


• Linezolid


• Maprotiline


• Mazindol


• Meperidine


• Methamphetamine


• Methyldopa


• Methylene Blue


• Methylphenidate


• Milnacipran


• Mirtazapine


• Morphine


• Morphine Sulfate Liposome


• Naratriptan


• Nefazodone


• Nefopam


• Norepinephrine


• Nortriptyline


• Opipramol


• Paroxetine


• Phendimetrazine


• Phenelzine


• Phenmetrazine


• Phentermine


• Phenylalanine


• Phenylpropanolamine


• Procarbazine


• Protriptyline


• Pseudoephedrine


• Rasagiline


• Reserpine


• Rizatriptan


• Selegiline


• Sertraline


• Sibutramine


• Sumatriptan


• Tapentadol


• Tetrabenazine


• Tranylcypromine


• Trazodone


• Trimipramine


• Venlafaxine


• Vilazodone


• Zimeldine


• Zolmitriptan

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Albuterol


• Altretamine


• Arformoterol


• Avocado


• Bambuterol


• Bitolterol


• Bitter Orange


• Broxaterol


• Bupropion


• Clenbuterol


• Dextromethorphan


• Diphenhydramine


• Droperidol


• Entacapone


• Ethchlorvynol


• Fenoterol


• Fentanyl


• Fluvoxamine


• Formoterol


• Guarana


• Hexoprenaline


• Hydromorphone


• Indacaterol


• Isoetharine


• Kava


• Levalbuterol


• Licorice


• Lithium


• Ma Huang


• Mate


• Metoclopramide


• Oxycodone


• Pirbuterol


• Procaterol


• Reboxetine


• Rimiterol


• Risperidone


• Ritodrine


• Salmeterol


• St John's Wort


• Terbutaline


• Tolcapone


• Tramadol


• Tulobuterol


• Tyrosine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Clarithromycin


• Ginseng


• Rifampin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Tyramine Containing Food

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diarrhea—May be a sign of a serious condition that your doctor will want to check before you start taking this medicine.


• Phenylketonuria—The oral suspension contains phenylalanine, which may cause side effects; however, the other dosage forms do not contain phenylalanine

Proper Use of Zyvox

• The liquid form of linezolid should be gently mixed by turning the bottle upside down 3 to 5 times before each dose. Do not shake this product.


• Do not use after the expiration date on the label. The medicine may not work properly after that date. If you have any questions about this, check with your pharmacist.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Also, it works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, linezolid must be given on a regular schedule.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms:
  
  • Adults—400 or 600 mg every 12 hours.
  
  
  • Children—10 mg per kg (2.2 lbs.) every 8 or 12 hours as determined by your doctor
  
  


• For parenteral dosage form (injection):
  
  • Adults—600 mg every 12 hours.
  
  
  • Children— 10 mg per kg (2.2 lbs.) every 8 hours as determined by your doctor
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using Zyvox

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Contact your doctor right away if you develop abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fast, shallow breathing, general feeling of discomfort, muscle pain or cramping, nausea, shortness of breath, sleepiness, unusual tiredness or weakness or vomiting. These could be symptoms of a serious condition.

If you begin to have visual impairment problems such as changes in color vision, blurred vision, or visual field defect, make an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Linezolid can lower the number of white blood cells in your blood temporarily, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions your doctor may ask you to take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills.


• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising.


• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.


• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.


• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

When taken with certain foods or drinks, linezolid can cause an increase in blood pressure. To avoid this, do not eat large amounts of foods or drink beverages that have a high tyramine content (most common in foods that are aged, fermented, pickled, or smoked to increase their flavor, such as aged cheeses; air-dried, fermented, or smoked fish, meat, or poultry; sauerkraut; soy sauce; red wine; or tap beer. If a list of these foods and beverages is not given to you, ask your health care professional to provide one.

Zyvox Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

More common

• Diarrhea

Less common or rare

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain (severe)


• black, tarry stools


• blood in urine or stools


• chills


• cough


• diarrhea (severe and watery, may also be bloody)


• discharge from the vagina


• fever


• headache


• hoarseness


• itching of the vagina


• lower back or side pain


• painful or difficult urination


• pinpoint red spots on skin


• shortness of breath


• sore mouth or tongue


• unusual bleeding or bruising


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• white patches in mouth, tongue, or throat

Incidence not known

• Abdominal discomfort


• blindness


• blurred vision


• burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations


• decreased appetite


• decreased vision


• eye pain


• fast, shallow breathing


• general feeling of discomfort


• muscle pain or cramping


• sleepiness


• unsteadiness or awkwardness


• weakness in arms, hands, legs, or feet

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Nausea

Less common or rare

• Bad taste in the mouth


• change in sense of taste


• change in color of tongue


• dizziness


• loss of taste


• vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Zyvox side effects (in more detail)

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More Zyvox resources

• Zyvox Side Effects (in more detail)
• Zyvox Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Zyvox Drug Interactions
• Zyvox Support Group
• 11 Reviews for Zyvox - Add your own review/rating

• Zyvox Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Zyvox Consumer Overview


• Zyvox Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Zyvox MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Linezolid Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

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