Moxifloxacin

Moxifloxacin is used to treat certain infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus, skin, and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria. Moxifloxacin can also treat bacterial eye infections.

Moxifloxacin belongs to a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. These work by killing the bacteria that cause infections.

Moxifloxacin comes in oral tablet form and is taken once a day for 5 to 21 days. It is also available as a solution to be injected into a vein (IV) by a health care professional.

This medication also comes in solution form to be instilled directly into the eyes. It is used 3 times a day for 7 days.

Common side effects of oral and injectable moxifloxacin include stomach upset, sores in the mouth, dizziness, and headache.

Common side effects of moxifloxacin eye drops include eye irritation, running nose, and cough.

Moxifloxacin can also cause dizziness and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how moxifloxacin affects you.

Oral:

Moxifloxacin is used to treat certain infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus, skin, and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria.

Topical:

Moxifloxacin is used to treat bacterial eye infections.

Injectable:

Moxifloxacin is used to treat certain infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus, skin, and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Moxifloxacin may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Avelox

• Moxeza

• Vigamox

Serious side effects have been reported with moxifloxacin. See the “Moxifloxacin Precautions” section.

Oral:

Common side effects of oral moxifloxacin include the following:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• heartburn
• loss of appetite
• change in ability to taste food
• sores in the mouth or on the tongue
• white patches in the mouth
• dry mouth
• headache
• weakness
• sweating
• vaginal itching or burning

Topical:

Common side effects of moxifloxacin eye drops include the following:

• red, irritated, itchy, or teary eyes
• blurred vision
• eye pain
• dry eyes
• broken blood vessels in the eyes
• runny nose
• cough

Injectable:

Common side effects of moxifloxacin for injection include the following:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas
• heartburn
• loss of appetite
• change in ability to taste food
• sores in the mouth or on the tongue
• white patches in the mouth
• dry mouth
• headache
• weakness
• sweating
• vaginal itching or burning
• irritation, pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, or swelling at the injection spot

This is not a complete list of moxifloxacin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• antidepressants
• antipsychotics
• corticosteroids
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others)
• diuretics ('water pills')
• erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin, others)
• medications for irregular heartbeat including amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procanbid), quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine)

This is not a complete list of moxifloxacin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Oral:

Serious side effects have been reported with oral moxifloxacin including:

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms, which may indicate a serious reaction to moxifloxacin:

• rash
• hives
• itching
• peeling or blistering of the skin
• fever
• swelling of the eyes, face, mouth. lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fast heartbeat
• fainting
• loss of consciousness
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• decreased urination
• seizures
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• joint or muscle pain

Topical:

Serious side effects have been reported with moxifloxacin eye drops. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms, which may indicate a serious reaction to moxifloxacin:

• sore throat, fever, chills and other signs of infection
• ear pain or fullness
• rash
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

Injectable:

Serious side effects have been reported with injectable moxifloxacin including:

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
• rash

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms, which may indicate a serious reaction to moxifloxacin:

• rash
• hives
• itching
• peeling or blistering of the skin
• fever
• swelling of the eyes, face, mouth. lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fast heartbeat
• fainting
• loss of consciousness
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• dark urine
• decreased urination
• seizures
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• joint or muscle pain

Moxifloxacin can cause dizziness and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how moxifloxacin affects you.

Do not take moxifloxacin if you are allergic to moxifloxacin or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of moxifloxacin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking moxifloxacin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to moxifloxacin or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to any other fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Ciloxan), levofloxacin (Levaquin, Quixin, Iquix), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), gatifloxacin (Zymaxid, Zymar), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin, Ocuflox), and sparfloxacin (Zagam)
• have tendon problems
• have a disease that causes muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
• have central nervous system problems (such as epilepsy)
• have nerve problems
• have or anyone in your family has an irregular heartbeat, especially a condition called “QT prolongation”
• have low blood potassium (hypokalemia)
• have a slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
• have a history of seizures
• have kidney problems
• have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or other history of joint problems
• have diabetes or problems with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• wear contact lenses
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Moxifloxacin falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if moxifloxacin crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using moxifloxacin.

Take moxifloxacin exactly as prescribed.

Oral:

Moxifloxacin come in oral tablet form and it taken once a day for 5 to 21 days.

This medication comes in solution form to be instilled directly into the eyes. It is used 3 times a day for 7 days.

Moxifloxacin tablets should be taken at least 4 hours before or 8 hours after multivitamins (containing iron or zinc), antacids (containing magnesium or aluminum), sucralfate, or didanosine (Videx).

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of moxifloxacin at the same time.

Topical:

This medication comes in solution form to be instilled directly into the eyes. It is used up to 8 times a day.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of moxifloxacin at the same time.

Injectable:

Moxifloxacin is available as a solution to be injected into a vein (IV) by a health care professional.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Oral:

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the condition being treated.

The recommended dose of moxifloxacin for adults for most types of infections is 400 mg daily. The duration of therapy ranges from 5 to 21 days, depending on the type of infection.

Topical:

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the condition being treated.

The recommended dose of moxifloxacin for eye infections is 1 drop into the affected eye(s) 2 times a day for 7 days.

Injectable:

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the condition being treated.

The recommended dose of moxifloxacin for adults for most types of infections is 400 mg daily. The duration of therapy ranges from 5 to 21 days, depending on the type of infection.

If you take too much moxifloxacin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If moxifloxacin is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Oral:

• Store moxifloxacin tablets at room temperature.

Topical:

• Moxifloxacin eye drops may be stored at room temperature or under refrigeration.

Injectable:

• Store moxifloxacin for injection at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Oral/Injectable:

WARNING: TENDON EFFECTS and MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants. Discontinue if pain or inflammation in a tendon occurs.

Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin, may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. Avoid moxifloxacin in patients with known history of myasthenia gravis.