Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: GEMIFLOXACIN MESYLATE (JEM-i-FLOX-a-sin)
This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
WARNING: This medicine is associated with an increased risk of tendon problems. These include pain, swelling, inflammation, and possible breakage of tendons. The risk of tendon problems is greater in patients who are over 60 years old, take corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), or have received kidney, heart, or lung transplants. The Achilles tendon in the back of the foot/ankle area is most often affected. However, problems may also occur in other tendons (eg, in the shoulder, arm, or hand). Problems may occur while you take this medicine or up to several months after you stop taking it. SIGNS OF TENDON PROBLEMS may include pain, soreness, redness, or swelling of a tendon or joint; bruising right after an injury in a tendon area; hearing or feeling a snap or pop in a joint or tendon area; or inability to move or bear weight on a joint or tendon area. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms while you take this medicine or within several months after you stop it. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE IF you are taking certain medicines for heart rhythm problems (eg, amiodarone, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol). ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking arsenic, astemizole, azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), cisapride, diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), dofetilide, droperidol, haloperidol, ketolides (eg, telithromycin), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), pimozide, terfenadine, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), ziprasidone, other medicines that may affect your heartbeat, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), probenecid, oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), or corticosteroids (eg, prednisone). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including a stomach infection, brain or nervous system problems, muscle problems (eg, myasthenia gravis), increased pressure in the brain, Alzheimer disease, brain blood vessel problems, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of diabetes, severe or persistent diarrhea, skin sensitivity to the sun, heart problems (eg, abnormal heart function tests, congestive heart failure, heart attack, slow or irregular heartbeat), heart blood vessel problems, low blood potassium or magnesium levels, joint or tendon problems, rheumatoid arthritis, liver problems, kidney problems or decreased kidney function, heart, kidney, or lung transplant, or seizures. Tell your doctor if you are at risk for seizures or have a family history of heart problems. Tell your doctor if you participate in strenuous physical work or exercise. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have abnormal blood electrolyte levels (eg, low potassium or magnesium) or a history of a certain type of irregular heartbeat (eg, QTc interval prolongation). Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.
Follow the directions for taking this medicine provided by your doctor. This medicine has a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine. Take this medicine by mouth with or without food. SWALLOW THIS MEDICINE WHOLE. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing. Take this medicine with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL). DRINKING EXTRA FLUIDS while you are taking this medicine is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions. IF YOU ARE ALSO TAKING aluminum or magnesium (eg, antacids), calcium, iron, zinc, multivitamins, or buffered didanosine (chewable/buffered tablets, pediatric powder for oral solution), do not take it within 3 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine. IF YOU ARE ALSO TAKING SUCRALFATE, take this medicine at least 2 hours before taking sucralfate. STORE THIS MEDICINE at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. This medicine works best if it is taken at the same time each day. TO CLEAR UP YOUR INFECTION COMPLETELY, take this medicine for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take more than 1 dose in the same day.
DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE IF you are allergic to any ingredient in this medicine or to any other quinolone (eg, ciprofloxacin). THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS, DROWSINESS, OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use this medicine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. THIS MEDICINE ONLY WORKS AGAINST BACTERIA; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold). MILD DIARRHEA IS COMMON WITH ANTIBIOTIC USE. However, a more serious form of diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. TELL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY IF YOU EXPERIENCE PAIN OR SWELLING OF A TENDON, or weakness or loss of use of a joint area. Rest the area and avoid exercise until further instruction from your doctor. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE YOU TO BECOME SUNBURNED more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time. SOME PATIENTS TAKING THE MEDICINE HAVE DEVELOPED A RASH. This may be more likely if you are younger than 40 years old, are a woman, are taking hormone replacement therapy, or take this medicine for longer than 5 days. Contact your doctor if you develop a rash. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Use this medicine with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects (eg, tendon problems), especially if they take corticosteroids (eg, prednisone). They may also be more sensitive to other effects (eg, irregular heartbeat). This medicine should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. They may also be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine, including bone and joint problems. FOR WOMEN: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant. It is not known if this medicine is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use this medicine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. DIABETES PATIENTS - This medicine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; headache; nausea; stomach upset; or vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience bloody or tarry stools; burning, numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of the arms, hands, legs, or feet; chest pain or pounding in the chest; dark urine; decreased urination; excessive hunger, thirst, or urination; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, sore throat, or unusual cough; "fruity"-smelling breath; hallucinations; inability to move or bear weight on a joint or tendon area; joint pain; moderate or severe sunburn; mood or mental changes (eg, new or worsening anxiety, agitation, confusion depression, nervousness, restlessness, sleeplessness); muscle pain or weakness; nervousness; pain, soreness, redness, swelling, weakness, or bruising of a tendon or joint area; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; restlessness; seizures; severe or persistent diarrhea; severe or persistent dizziness or lightheadedness; shortness of breath; stomach pain/cramps; suicidal thoughts or actions; sweating; tremors; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual swelling or weight gain; unusual weakness or tiredness; vaginal odor or discharge; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; or unusual hoarseness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions, or later for other infections. A different medicine may be needed in those cases. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets.
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