Xerava

Xerava is a prescription medication used to treat adults with intra-abdominal (stomach) infections that are difficult to treat. Xerava belongs to a group of antibiotics called tetracyclines. Tetracyclines kill bacterial cells that cause infection by binding to and blocking part of the cell machinery that is involved in making proteins.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. The medicine is given once every 12 hours for at least 4 days and up to 14 days. 

Common side effects of Xerava include infusion site reactions, nausea, and vomiting.

Xerava is a prescription medication used to treat complicated intra-abdominal (stomach) infections in adults. Complicated means that the infection is difficult to treat because it has spread to the abdominal space. 

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

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

Common side effects include:

• Infusion site reactions
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

This is not a complete list of Xerava 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:

• Medications that induce CYP3A4 such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), loratidine (Claritin), prednisone, rifampin (Rifadin), itraconazole (Sporanox), and more.

• Anticoagulants (medications that keep your blood from clotting) such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and more.

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

Serious side effects have been reported including:

• Serious Allergic (Hypersensitivity) Reactions: Life-threatening hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported with tetracycline antibacterial drugs, including Xerava.
• Tooth Discoloration and Enamel Hypoplasia: The use of Xerava during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy and childhood to the age of 8 years) may cause permanent discoloration of the teeth (yellow-gray-brown) and enamel hypoplasia (tooth enamel deficiency). 
• Inhibition of Bone Growth: The use of Xerava during the second and third trimester of pregnancy, infancy and childhood up to the age of 8 years may cause reversible inhibition of bone growth.
• Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. Symptoms include:
  • Watery diarrhea (at least three bowel movements per day for two or more days)
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain or tenderness

Do not use Xerava if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of the medicine or to other tetracycline antibiotics.

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 Xerava, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

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

• Are allergic to Xerava or to any of its ingredients
• Have a urinary tract infection
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

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.

In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication at very high dosages 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 Xerava 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. Breastfeeding is not recommended during therapy with Xerava. Ask your doctor how best to feed your baby during treatment.

Take Xerava exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Xerava is given by IV infusion (over 60 minutes) every 12 hours for up to 14 days.

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

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• The condition being treated
• Other medical conditions you have
• Other medications you are taking
• How you respond to this medication
• Your weight
• Your height
• Your age
• Your gender

The recommended dose of Xerava (eravacycline) for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections is 1 mg/kg every 12 hours.

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

Store Xerava at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).

This page was written by David Giang, PharmD Candidate 2020 | UT Austin College of Pharmacy