Moxifloxacin

Pronunciation

Therapeutic Categories

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat a variety of infections in adults.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

How does it work?

• Moxifloxacin kills may types of bacteria that cause infections in your body.

How is it best taken?

• Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes stomach upset.
• Do not take antacids, iron, or multivitamins with this antibiotic. Take the antibiotic 4 hours before or 8 hours after any of these other medicines.
• Medicine must be taken exactly as directed. Swallow tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• Take at a similar time everyday.
• Take entire prescription as directed even if feeling better.
• Make sure you are drinking enough noncaffeine-containing liquids unless told to drink less.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Alcohol may prevent infection from responding to the medicine.
• Do not use this medicine if you are being treated for irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Do not use this medicine if you are on quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone or sotalol. Check all medicines with healthcare provider before taking. Should not be used with erythromycin, cisapride, antipsychotics and tricyclic antidepressants.
• You can burn. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have had low potassium in your blood or if you are on a water pill.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine especially a group of antibiotics called the quinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin). Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Do not use in pregnancy.
• Do not use if breast-feeding.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
• Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum,or Lactobacillus acidophilus may help.
• Dizziness. Use caution when driving, doing other tasks or hobbies until you know how this medicine affects you.

What should I monitor?

• Temperature; worsening of infection.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing, tightness in the chest, fever, itching, bad cough, blue skin color, fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
• Passing out, fainting, dizziness, rapid heartbeats, or lightheadedness.
• Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Pain, inflammation or rupture of a tendon.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in tight container at room temperature. Avoid high humidity.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine.

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