Moxifloxacin 400mg - Unavailable

About Moxifloxacin

Description

Moxifloxacin contains the active ingredient moxifloxacin which belongs to a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Moxifloxacin works by killing bacteria that cause infections.

Suitability

Do not take Moxifloxacin:

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to moxifloxacin or any of the other ingredients listed in the patient information leaflet
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• if you have previously had problems with your tendons related to treatment with quinolone antibiotics
• if you have a severe liver disease or increased liver enzymes (transaminases) higher than 5 times the upper normal limit
• if you were born with or have any condition with abnormal heart rhythm (seen on ECG, electrical recording of the heart)
• if you have a salt imbalance in the blood (especially low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood)
• if you have a very slow heart rhythm (called 'bradycardia')
• if you have a weak heart (heart failure)
• if you have a history of abnormal heart rhythms
• if you are taking other medicines that result in abnormal ECG changes - this is because Moxifloxacin can cause changes on the ECG, that is a prolongation of the QT-interval, i.e. delayed conduction of electrical signals

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Moxifloxacin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Important Interactions

You must tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take other medicines, in particular:

• other medicines that affect your heart such as medicines that belong to the group of anti-arrhythmics (e.g. quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide), antipsychotics (e.g. phenothiazines, pimozide, sertindole, haloperidol, sultopride), tricyclic antidepressants, some antimicrobials (e.g. saquinavir, sparfloxacin, intravenous erythromycin, pentamidine), antimalarials particularly halofantrine, some antihistamines (e.g. terfenadine, astemizole, mizolastine), other medicines (e.g. cisapride, intravenous vincamine, bepridil and diphemanil) - taking any of these medicines with Moxifloxacin increases the risk for altering your heart rhythm
• medicines that can lower your blood potassium levels (e.g. some diuretics, some laxatives and enemas (high doses) or corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory drugs), amphotericin B) or cause a slow heart rate - these can also increase the risk of serious heart rhythm disturbances while taking Moxifloxacin
• any medicine containing magnesium or aluminium (such as antacids for indigestion), iron, zinc or didanosine or any medicine containing sucralfate (to treat stomach disorders) - these can reduce the action of Moxifloxacin tablets
• any medicine containing charcoal - this reduces the action of Moxifloxacin and it is recommended that these medicines are not used together
• medicines to thin your blood (e.g. oral anti-coagulants such as warfarin)

Side Effects

• headache
• dizziness
• infections caused by resistant bacteria or fungi, e.g. oral and vaginal infections caused by Candida (thrush)
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• stomach and abdominal ache
• diarrhoea
• change of the heart rhythm (ECG) in patients with low blood potassium level.
• increase of a special liver enzyme in the blood (transaminases)

Please Note

All medication can cause side effects. We have only listed a few to be aware of. Details of all side effects, including rare side effects to be aware of, are listed in the patient information leaflet (PIL). When completing your medical questionnaire, it is very important that you answer the questions truthfully. This is to ensure your doctor has a full picture of your medical history before prescribing. List all medicines you are already taking, including non-prescription and herbal medicines.

Alternatives

The treatment with doxycycline is the preferred first line, if macrolide resistance has not been detected.

Looking after your medicine

Do not take medicines after the expiry date stamped on the pack. Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

Medicines are only intended to be used by the person they are prescribed for. Do not give your prescribed medicine to anybody else, even if they have the same symptoms as you. Medicines can be harmful if used by anybody other than the person they have been prescribed for.

References

Moxifloxacin 400mg Patient Information Leaflet

British National Formulary: moxifloxacin