Linezolid injection

What is this medication?

LINEZOLID (li NE zoh lid) is an oxazolidinone antibiotic. It is used to treat certain kinds of bacterial infections. It will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Zyvox, Zyvox Solution

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• diabetes (high blood sugar)
• high blood pressure
• low blood counts (white cells, platelets, red blood cells)
• low levels of sodium in the blood
• pheochromocytoma
• seizures
• thyroid disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to linezolid, other antibiotics or medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medicine is injected into a vein. It is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic setting. It may also be given at home. If you get this medicine at home, you will be taught how to prepare and give it. Use exactly as directed. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Take all of this medicine unless your health care provider tells you to stop it early. Keep taking it even if you think you are better.

Talk to your health care provider about the use of this medicine in children. While it may be prescribed for children as young as newborn for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• certain medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
• codeine
• dihydrocodeine
• fenfluramine
• MAOIs like Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
• meperidine
• methyldopa
• morphine
• ozanimod
• procarbazine
• St. John's wort
• stimulant medicines for attention disorders, weight loss, or to stay awake
• tapentadol
• tramadol

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• birth control pills
• certain medicines for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart beat
• certain medicines for migraine headache like almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
• other narcotic medicines for pain
• phenylpropanolamine
• pseudoephedrine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Tell your health care provider if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

Do not treat diarrhea with over the counter products. Contact your health care provider if you have diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days or if it is severe and watery.

You may need to be on a special diet while you are taking this medicine. Ask your health care provider.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions (skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips, or tongue)
• bloody or watery diarrhea
• changes in vision
• fever
• high lactic acid levels (trouble breathing; nausea or vomiting; unusual stomach upset or pain)
• infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or trouble passing urine)
• low blood sugar (feeling anxious; confusion; dizziness; increased hunger; unusually weak or tired; increased sweating; shakiness; cold, clammy skin; irritable; headache; blurred vision; fast heartbeat; loss of consciousness)
• low red blood cell counts (trouble breathing; feeling faint; lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired)
• low sodium level (muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, confusion)
• pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
• seizures
• serotonin syndrome (irritable; confusion; diarrhea; fast or irregular heartbeat; muscle twitching; stiff muscles; trouble walking; sweating; high fever; seizures; chills; vomiting)
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea, vomiting

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store at room temperature at 25 degrees C (77 degrees F). Protect from light. Get rid of any unused medicine after the expiration date.

To get rid of medicines that are no longer needed or have expired:

• Take the medicine to a medicine take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
• If you cannot return the medicine, check the label or package insert to see if the medicine should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your health care provider. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medicine out of the container. Mix the medicine with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.