Contains the active ingredient linezolid
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about linezolid. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your or your child's doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you or your child taking linezolid against the expected benefits it will have.
Ask the doctor if you have any concerns about you or your child taking this medicine.
Keep this leaflet even after your treatment with linezolid is finished.
You may need to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
LINEZOLID APO contains the active ingredient, linezolid.
LINEZOLID APO is an antibiotic (an agent used to destroy certain types of bacteria). It is used in the treatment of bacterial infections such as pneumonia, skin infections or blood infections.
Depending on the type of bacteria, you may be given additional medicines.
Your doctor, however, may prescribe linezolid for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why linezolid has been prescribed for you or your child.
This medicine is not addictive
Before being treated with this medicine
When linezolid must not be given
Linezolid must not be given if you or your child
are allergic to linezolid or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives on the skin.
have uncontrolled high blood pressure
have pheochromocytoma (a type of tumour of the adrenal gland)
have thyrotoxicosis (an overactive thyroid gland)
have flushing or other symptoms caused by a carcinoid tumour
are taking or have taken in the last two weeks any medicine that is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (e.g., moclobemide, phenelzine or tranylcypromine to treat depression or selegiline to treat Parkinson's disease)
any cold or flu medicine containing pseudoephedrine
adrenaline, a medicine used to treat severe allergic reactions
any other medicine that increases blood pressure (e.g., noradrenaline, dopamine, dobutamine)
are taking any medicine that is an SSRI or serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, which are types of medicine to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive - compulsive disorders or obesity (e.g., citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, sibutramine, venlafaxine)
tricyclic antidepressants, which are medicines to treat depression (e.g., amitriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, trimipramine)
some medicines to treat migraine (e.g., naratriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan)
pethidine, a medicine to treat pain.
buspirone, a medicine to treat anxiety.
Before you start to take it
Tell the doctor if you or your child:
have diarrhoea
have allergies to any other medicines or substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
are anaemic or have had any abnormal blood test results (e.g., low haemoglobin or platelets)
are diabetic.
LINEZOLID APO injection contains glucose.
Tell the doctor if you:
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the doctor may decide not to prescribe linezolid.
Talk to the doctor or pharmacist, if you have any concerns about you or your child being given linezolid.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
In particular, tell the doctor if you or your child have been treated with or are taking:
any medicine that inhibits monoamine oxidase (e.g., moclobemide, phenelzine or tranylcypromine to treat depression or selegiline to treat Parkinson's disease)
any cold or flu medicine containing pseudoephedrine
adrenaline, a medicine used to treat severe allergic reactions
any other medicine that increases blood pressure (e.g., noradrenaline, dopamine, dobutamine)
are taking any medicine that is an SSRI or serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, which are types of medicine to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive - compulsive disorders or obesity (e.g., citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, duloxetine, sibutramine, venlafaxine)
tricyclic antidepressants, which are medicines to treat depression (e.g., amitriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, trimipramine)
some medicines to treat migraine (e.g., naratriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan)
pethidine, a medicine to treat pain
buspirone, a medicine to treat anxiety
rifampicin, a medicine to treat tuberculosis and some other infections
any medicine that could reduce the levels of haemoglobin (the pigment in red blood cells which carries oxygen) or platelets (blood cells which help blood to clot).
Ask the doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of medicines.
Also tell the doctor if your or your child's diet contains a lot of mature cheese, yeast extracts, meat extracts, soya bean extracts (e.g., soy sauce), draught beers or wine.
LINEZOLID APO may react with a substance which is naturally present in these foods.
How this medicine is given
It is recommended that treatment with LINEZOLID APO begin in a hospital.
LINEZOLID APO will be given to you or your child by the doctor or nurse.
LINEZOLID APO is a liquid which is given by slow injection into the blood (known as an intravenous infusion or "drip").
If you or your child is on dialysis, LINEZOLID APO infusion should be given after dialysis.
You or your child may be changed from LINEZOLID APO injection to an oral preparation of linezolid (such as tablets or oral suspension) to complete your course of treatment.
How much is given
The recommended dose for adults and adolescents 12 years and older is 600 mg twice daily (every 12 hours).
The recommended doses for babies and children up to 12 years of age is 10 mg/kg three times daily (every 8 hours).
These doses are given intravenously by a "drip" over a period of 30 to 120 minutes.
Treatment is usually given every day for 10 to 14 days, but may given for up to 28 days.
Ask the doctor if you want more information about the dose of LINEZOLID APO and how it is given.
In case of overdose
Overdose is unlikely as treatment will be given by the doctor or nurse. The possible effects of overdose are vomiting, tremors, unsteadiness or lack of coordination.
Tell the doctor or nurse immediately if you or your child have any of these effects or if you or your child feel worse during or after treatment with LINEZOLID APO.
While being treated with this medicine
Things you must do
Follow all instructions given by the doctor.
In some cases, additional blood tests may be required.
As part of the treatment, you or your child may be given other medicines including other antibiotics. It is important to keep taking these medicines as well as linezolid unless you are told otherwise by your doctor or pharmacist.
It is important to tell the doctor if you develop diarrhoea during or after treatment with linezolid. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after linezolid has been stopped.
Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhoea without first checking with the doctor.
Diarrhoea may be caused by a serious condition affecting the bowel. You or your child may need urgent medical care.
If you or your child get a sore white mouth or tongue during or soon after treatment with linezolid tell your doctor.
Tell the doctor if you or your child get vaginal itching or discharge.
This may mean you or your child have a fungal infection called thrush.
Sometimes the use of linezolid allows fungi to grow which causes the symptoms described above. LINEZOLID APO does not work against fungi.
Things you must not do
Do not start taking any other medicines, prescription or not, without first telling your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not give your child any other medicines, prescription or purchased from a health food shop, pharmacy or supermarket without first telling your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhoea without first checking with the doctor.
Diarrhoea may be caused by a serious condition affecting the bowel. You or your child may need urgent medical care.
Avoid eating too much mature cheese, yeast extracts, meat extracts or soya bean extracts (e.g., soy sauce). Avoid drinking alcohol, especially draught beers and wine.
This is because linezolid may react with a substance which is naturally present in these foods.
If you or your child develop a throbbing headache after eating, tell your doctor or health care professional.
Possible side effects
Tell the doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you or your child do not feel well while you are taking LINEZOLID APO.
This medicine helps most people, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You or your child may not experience any of them.
Ask the doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
While taking it
Tell the doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
headache
sore, white mouth or tongue (oral thrush)
vaginal itching or discharge (vaginal thrush)
pain, cramping or bloating of the abdomen
nausea or vomiting
metallic taste
change in the colour of the tongue
change in the colour of teeth. This may be reversible.
Tell your doctor immediately and before you or your child are given the next dose of LINEZOLID APO if you notice any of the following:
skin reactions (hives, rash or itching)
visual disturbances or numbness or weakness of the arms and legs (rare side effects that have been primarily reported in patients treated for longer than 28 days)
tiredness, headaches, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness, looking pale, fever and chills, sore throat or bruising (these symptoms may indicate a decrease in the level of your blood cells)
sweating, feeling drunk and dizzy, muscle twitching, fever and shivering, confusion
These may be symptoms of the serotonin syndrome, which is a rare but serious side effect.
If any of the following happen, tell your or your child's doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital.
seizure
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, severe itching or hives or blisters on the skin.
These may be signs of a serious allergic reaction or side effect. You or your child may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
After finishing it
Tell your or your child's doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with LINEZOLID APO:
severe stomach cramps
watery and severe diarrhoea (which may be bloody), fever, in combination with one or both of the above.
LINEZOLID APO can cause some bacteria, which are normally present in the bowel and normally harmless, to multiply and therefore cause the above symptoms. You may need urgent medical attention.
Tell your or your child's doctor if you notice any other side effects.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using LINEZOLID APO
Storage
LINEZOLID APO will normally be stored in a hospital. It should be stored below 25°C and should be protected from light and do not freeze (kept in the box and foil wrapping before use).
Disposal
Hospital staff will make sure the medicine is not used after the expiry date printed on the bag.
Product description
What LINEZOLID APO looks like
LINEZOLID APO injection is a sterile, clear, colourless to yellow fluid for injection supplied as 300mL in infusion bags. Each bag is for single use only and is packaged in a foil overwrap contained within an outer carton.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in LINEZOLID APO is linezolid. There are 2mg of linezolid in 1 mL of LINEZOLID APO.
Other ingredients are:
glucose monohydrate;
sodium citrate dihydrate (E331)
citric acid (E330)
hydrochloric acid (E507) / sodium hydroxide (E524), and
water for injections.
