Free Uganda: gemifloxacin

jem-i-FLOX-a-sin

Oral route(Tablet)

Fluoroquinolones, including gemifloxacin mesylate, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. Risk further increases with age over 60 years, concomitant steroid therapy, and kidney, heart, or lung transplants. Fluoroquinolones, including gemifloxacin mesylate, may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. Avoid in patients with known history of myasthenia gravis .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Factive

Available Dosage Forms:

Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Fluoroquinolone

Uses For gemifloxacin

Gemifloxacin is used to treat bronchitis and pneumonia caused by bacterial infections.

Gemifloxacin belongs to the class of medicines known as fluoroquinolone antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, gemifloxacin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

gemifloxacin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using gemifloxacin

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 gemifloxacin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to gemifloxacin 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

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of gemifloxacin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of gemifloxacin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney or heart problems, or develop severe tendon problems (including tendon rupture), which may require caution in patients receiving gemifloxacin.

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

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using gemifloxacin.

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 gemifloxacin, 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 gemifloxacin 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.

Bepridil

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Mesoridazine

Pimozide

Sparfloxacin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Ziprasidone

Using gemifloxacin 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.

Acarbose

Acecainide

Acetohexamide

Ajmaline

Alfuzosin

Amiodarone

Amisulpride

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Apomorphine

Arsenic Trioxide

Asenapine

Astemizole

Azimilide

Azithromycin

Benfluorex

Bretylium

Chloral Hydrate

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Chlorpropamide

Ciprofloxacin

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clomipramine

Clozapine

Crizotinib

Dasatinib

Desipramine

Dibenzepin

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Doxepin

Droperidol

Erythromycin

Flecainide

Fluconazole

Fluoxetine

Foscarnet

Gatifloxacin

Gliclazide

Glimepiride

Glipizide

Gliquidone

Glyburide

Granisetron

Guar Gum

Halofantrine

Haloperidol

Hydroquinidine

Ibutilide

Iloperidone

Imipramine

Insulin

Insulin Aspart, Recombinant

Insulin Glulisine

Insulin Lispro, Recombinant

Isradipine

Lapatinib

Levofloxacin

Levomethadyl

Lidoflazine

Lopinavir

Lumefantrine

Mefloquine

Metformin

Methadone

Miglitol

Moxifloxacin

Nilotinib

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Ondansetron

Paliperidone

Pazopanib

Pentamidine

Perflutren Lipid Microsphere

Pirmenol

Posaconazole

Prajmaline

Probucol

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Propafenone

Protriptyline

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Ranolazine

Risperidone

Salmeterol

Saquinavir

Sematilide

Sertindole

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

Spiramycin

Sulfamethizole

Sultopride

Sunitinib

Tedisamil

Telavancin

Telithromycin

Tetrabenazine

Tolazamide

Tolbutamide

Toremifene

Trazodone

Trifluoperazine

Trimethoprim

Trimipramine

Troglitazone

Vandetanib

Vasopressin

Vemurafenib

Voriconazole

Zolmitriptan

Zotepine

Using gemifloxacin 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.

Aluminum Carbonate, Basic

Aluminum Hydroxide

Aluminum Phosphate

Betamethasone

Calcium Carbonate

Corticotropin

Cortisone

Cosyntropin

Deflazacort

Dexamethasone

Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate

Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate

Fludrocortisone

Fluocortolone

Hydrocortisone

Magaldrate

Magnesium Carbonate

Magnesium Hydroxide

Magnesium Oxide

Magnesium Trisilicate

Methylprednisolone

Paramethasone

Prednisolone

Prednisone

Sucralfate

Triamcinolone

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.

Proper Use of gemifloxacin

Take gemifloxacin only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

gemifloxacin should come with a Medication Guide. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Be sure to ask your doctor about anything you do not understand.

Gemifloxacin may be taken with or without food. The tablet must be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet.

Drink plenty of fluids while you are taking gemifloxacin. Drinking extra water will help prevent some unwanted effects of gemifloxacin.

gemifloxacin works best when there is a constant amount in the blood or urine. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Try to take the medicine at the same time each day.

Do not take gemifloxacin alone with milk, yogurt, or other dairy products. Do not drink any juice with calcium added when you take gemifloxacin. It is okay to have dairy products or juice as part of a larger meal when you take gemifloxacin.

If you are taking aluminum or magnesium-containing antacids, iron supplements, multivitamins, didanosine (Videx®), sucralfate (Carafate®), or zinc, do not take them at the same time that you take gemifloxacin. It is best to take these medicines 3 hours before or 2 hours after taking gemifloxacin. These medicines may keep gemifloxacin from working properly.

Keep using gemifloxacin for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of gemifloxacin 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 gemifloxacin. 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 form (tablets):
- For treatment of lung infections:
  - Adults— 320 milligrams (mg) once a day.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of gemifloxacin, 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 gemifloxacin

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

For patients with low potassium levels, gemifloxacin may increase your risk of having a fast, slow or irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness, or fainting spells. If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor right away.

gemifloxacin may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash; itching; hives; hoarseness; shortness of breath; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you take gemifloxacin.

Serious side effects can occur during treatment with gemifloxacin. Sometimes serious side effects can occur without warning. However, possible warning signs are including black, tarry stools; blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin; bloody or cloudy urine; chills; decreased urination; diarrhea; fever; joint or muscle pain; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips; severe stomach pain; skin rash; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, and/or lower legs; unusual bleeding or bruising; or unusual weight gain. Stop taking gemifloxacin and check with your doctor immediately if you notice any of these warning signs.

Liver problems can occur while using gemifloxacin. Stop using gemifloxacin and check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal or stomach pain, or yellow eyes or skin.

Gemifloxacin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using gemifloxacin. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Gemifloxacin may rarely cause inflammation (tendinitis) or tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). This can occur while you are taking the medicine or after you finish taking it. The risk of having tendon problems may be increased if you are over 60 years of age, are using steroid medicines (e.g., dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), or if you have received an organ transplant (e.g., heart, kidney, or lung). Stop using gemifloxacin and check with your doctor right away if you have sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (e.g., ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), bruise more easily after an injury, or are unable to bear weight or move the affected area. Refrain from exercise until your doctor says otherwise.

Some people who take gemifloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than they are normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn; skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration. When you begin taking gemifloxacin:

Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.

Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.

Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some people may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Do not use a sun lamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor.

Gemifloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to gemifloxacin before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

gemifloxacin 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.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Rash

Rare

Black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blood in the urine or stools

body aches or pain

burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations

chest pain

chills

congestion

cough

fever

hives or welts

hoarseness

itching skin

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

redness of the skin

runny nose

shortness of breath

sneezing

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

swollen glands

tightness in the chest

trouble with swallowing

troubled breathing

unsteadiness or awkwardness

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

voice changes

weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

wheezing

yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach tenderness

bleeding gums

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet

confusion

coughing up blood

decreased frequency or amount of urine

decreased vision or other changes in vision

diarrhea

difficulty with breathing or swallowing

difficulty with chewing or talking

dizziness

double vision

drooping eyelids

facial swelling

fainting

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

flaking and falling off of the skin

headache

hives

increased blood pressure

increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

joint or muscle pain

loss of appetite

lower back or side pain

muscle weakness

nausea

nosebleeds

numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs

paralysis

prolonged bleeding from cuts

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

rapid weight gain

red or dark brown urine

red, irritated eyes

redness or other discoloration of the skin

severe abdominal or stomach cramps and pain

severe sunburn

severe tiredness

swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs

tingling of the hands or feet

trouble speaking, thinking, or walking

unusual weight gain or loss

vomiting

watery and severe diarrhea, which may also be bloody

weight gain

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:

Rare

Abnormal urine

acid or sour stomach

back pain

bad, unusual, or unpleasant taste

belching

blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin

blurred vision

change in taste

change in vision

cracked, dry, or scaly skin

difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

difficulty with moving

dizziness or lightheadedness

dry mouth

dryness or soreness of the throat

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

feeling of warmth

fruit like breath odor

heartburn

hoarseness

increased hunger and thirst

increased urination

indigestion

lack or loss of strength

leg cramps

muscle aching or cramping

muscle pain or stiffness

nervousness

pain

pain in the joints

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

sensation of spinning

shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

sleepiness or drowsiness

sleeplessness

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

sudden sweating

swelling

swollen joints

trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

voice changes

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: gemifloxacin side effects (in more detail)

The information contained in the Thomson Reuters Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.

The use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Reuters Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Reuters Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products.

More gemifloxacin resources

Gemifloxacin Side Effects (in more detail)
Gemifloxacin Dosage
Gemifloxacin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Gemifloxacin Drug Interactions
Gemifloxacin Support Group
5 Reviews for Gemifloxacin - Add your own review/rating

gemifloxacin Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)

Gemifloxacin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Factive Prescribing Information (FDA)

Factive Monograph (AHFS DI)

Compare gemifloxacin with other medications

Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Strep Throat

Free Uganda

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

gemifloxacin