Allina Health

Moxifloxacin (mox-i-FLOX-a-sin)

Treats bacterial infections. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Avelox I.V.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• Your doctor may give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Ask your pharmacist for the Medication Guide if you do not have one.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you use a steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, Decadron®, or Medrol®). Your chance of tendon problems may increase if you use this medicine together with steroids.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you use arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®), a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®, or Jantoven®), cisapride (Propulsid®), erythromycin (Ery-Tab®), medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, doxepin, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, Elavil®, Pamelor®, or Sinequan®), medicine for mental illness (such as Geodon®, Haldol®, Mellaril®, or Serentil®), pain medicine (such as diclofenac, etodolac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, nabumetone, naproxen, piroxicam, Feldene®, Relafen®, or Voltaren®), or medicine for an abnormal heart rhythm (such as amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, Betapace®, Cordarone®, Corvert®, Norpace®, Procanbid®, or Tikosyn®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have a history of heart disease, heart rhythm problems, kidney disease, liver disease, myasthenia gravis, low blood potassium, depression, or a seizure disorder. Tell your doctor if you have a family history of a heart condition called prolonged QT interval.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
• This medicine may rarely cause inflammation or tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). This can occur while you are using the medicine or after you finish using it. The risk of tendon problems may be increased if you are older than 60 years of age, use steroid medicines (such as dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (such as rheumatoid arthritis), or have received an organ transplant (such as heart, kidney, or lung). Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (such as ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), bruise more easily after an injury, or are not able to put weight on or move the affected area. Do not exercise until your doctor says it is all right.
• If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine.
• This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, itching, or red skin rash
• Chest pain, fast or uneven heartbeat
• Diarrhea that may contain blood
• Fever
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet
• Pain, swelling, or bruising in your knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, hand, or wrist
• Seizures
• Severe muscle weakness
• Swelling of your face, neck, or lips
• Trouble breathing
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Agitation, confusion, or trouble sleeping
• Headache
• Mild diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting
• Mild skin rash
• Pain, swelling, or redness where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088