telithromycin

Telithromycin may cause sudden and serious liver damage. In rare cases, liver failure can develop and may cause death. Stop using the medication and call your doctor right away if you have nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Do not take telithromycin if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap), or if you have a muscle disorder called myasthenia gravis.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction or liver problems caused by telithromycin or similar antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S.), azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), troleandomycin (TAO), or dirithromycin (Dynabac).

Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. Telithromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Telithromycin is in a group of drugs called antibiotics. Telithromycin helps the body fight infection that is caused by bacteria.

Telithromycin is used to treat bacterial infections in the lungs and sinuses.

Telithromycin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to telithromycin, or if you have:

• myasthenia gravis;
• if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap); or
• if you have a history of liver problems caused by telithromycin or similar antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., PCE, Erythrocin), azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), troleandomycin (TAO), or dirithromycin (Dynabac).

Before taking telithromycin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• myasthenia gravis (a nerve and muscle disorder);
• low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood;
• a heart rhythm disorder; or
• a family history of Long-QT syndrome.

If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to use telithromycin or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether telithromycin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take telithromycin exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take telithromycin for longer than your doctor has prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

Telithromycin can be taken with or without food.

Telithromycin is usually taken once a day. Try to take telithromycin at about the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. Telithromycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Telithromycin is not expected to cause overdose symptoms.

Telithromycin can cause blurred vision, double vision, or trouble focusing. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

If you also use theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Respbid, Elixophyllin, others), avoid using it within 1 hour before or after you take telithromycin.

Telithromycin may cause sudden and serious liver damage. In rare cases, liver failure can develop and may cause death. Stop using the medication and call your doctor right away if you have nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Stop using telithromycin and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• irregular heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• problems with vision (difficulty focusing, drooping eyelid);
• muscle pain or weakness;
• trouble swallowing; or
• loss of balance, coordination, or ability to climb stairs or rise from a chair.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Talk with your doctor if you have any of these side effects:

• mild nausea, vomiting;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• headache; or
• dizziness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Before taking telithromycin, tell your doctor if you are also using any of the following drugs:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• cholesterol-lowering medicine such as simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor);
• ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Cafatine, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (Migranal, D.H.E. 45);
• a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), temazepam (Restoril);
• itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• heart rhythm medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procanbid), dofetilide (Tikosyn);
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);
• seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal);
• metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL);
• tacrolimus (Prograf) or sirolimus (Rapamune);
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); or
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take telithromycin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect telithromycin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your pharmacist has additional information about telithromycin written for health professionals that you may read.

Telithromycin is available with a prescription under the brand name Ketek. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Ketek 400mg--oval, light orange, film-coated tablets