Product Details

What you need to know before you take Linezolid

DO NOT take Linezolid if you are • allergic to linezolid or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). • taking or have taken within the last 2 weeks any medicines known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs for example phenelzine, isocarboxazid, selegiline, moclobemide). These medications may be used to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease. • breast-feeding. This is because linezolid passes into breast milk and could affect the baby. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Linezolid. Linezolid may not be suitable for you if you answer yes to any of the following questions. In this case tell your doctor as he/she will need to check your general health and your blood pressure before and during your treatment, or may decide that another treatment is better for you. Ask your doctor if you are not sure whether these categories apply to you. • Do you have high blood pressure, whether or not you are taking medicines for this? • Have you been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid? • Do you have a tumour of the adrenal glands (phaeochromocytoma) or carcinoid syndrome (caused by tumours of the hormone system with symptoms of diarrhoea, flushing of the skin, wheezing)? • Do you suffer from manic depression, schizoaffective disorder, mental confusion or other mental problems? Tell your doctor before you take this medicine if you • bruise and bleed easily • are anaemic (have low red blood cells) • are prone to getting infections • have a history of seizures • have liver problems or kidney problems particularly if you are on dialysis • have diarrhoea Tell your doctor immediately if during treatment you suffer from • problems with your vision such as blurred vision, changes in colour vision, difficulty in seeing detail or if your field of vision becomes restricted • loss of sensitivity in your arms or legs or a sensation of tingling or pricking in your arms or legs • you may develop diarrhoea while taking or after taking antibiotics, including linezolid. If this becomes severe or persistent or you notice that your stool contains blood or mucus, you should stop taking linezolid immediately and consult your doctor. In this situation, you should not take medicines that stop or slow bowel movement • recurrent nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain or rapid breathing Other medicines and Linezolid There is a risk that linezolid may sometimes interact with certain other medicines to cause side effects such as changes in blood pressure, temperature or heart rate. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking or have taken within the last 2 weeks the following medicines as linezolid must not be taken if you are already taking these medicines or have taken them recently (see also section 2 above ‘DO NOT take Linezolid’). • monoamine oxidase inhibitors ( MAOIs for example phenelzine, isocarboxazid, selegiline, moclobemide). These may be used to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease Also tell your doctor if you are taking the following medicines. Your doctor may still decide to give you linezolid, but will need to check your general health and your blood pressure before and during your treatment. In other cases, your doctor may decide that another treatment is better for you. • Decongestant cold or flu remedies containing pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine. • Some medicines used to treat asthma such as salbutamol, terbutaline, fenoterol. • Certain antidepressants known as tricyclics or SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). There are many of these, including amitriptyline, citalopram, clomipramine, dosulepin, doxepin, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, imipramine, lofepramine, paroxetine, sertraline. • Medicines used to treat migraine such as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan. • Medicines used to treat sudden, severe allergic reactions such as adrenaline (epinephrine). • Medicines which increase your blood pressure, such as noradrenaline (norepinephrine), dopamine and dobutamine. • Medicines used to treat moderate to severe pain, such as pethidine. • Medicines used to treat anxiety disorders, such as buspirone. • Medicines that stop blood clotting, such as warfarin. • An antibiotic called rifampicin. Linezolid with food, drink and alcohol You can take linezolid either before, during or after a meal. Avoid eating large amounts of mature cheese, yeast extracts, or soya bean extracts e.g. soy sauce and drinking alcohol, especially draught beers and wine. This is because linezolid may react with a substance called tyramine which is naturally present in some foods. This interaction may cause an increase in your blood pressure. If you develop a throbbing headache after eating or drinking, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Pregnancy and breast-feeding The effect of linezolid in pregnant women is not known. Therefore it should not be taken in pregnancy unless advised by your doctor. You should not breast-feed when taking linezolid because it passes into breast milk and could affect the baby. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Linezolid may make you feel dizzy or experience problems with your vision. If this happens, do not drive or operate any machinery. Remember that if you are unwell your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected. Sodium content This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free