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| Pronunciation |
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 (ga
ti FLOKS a
sin) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Tequin™ |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antibiotic, Quinolone |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to another quinolone antibiotic, gatifloxacin,
or any other part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to treat a variety of infections in
adults.
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| How does it work? |
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- Gatifloxacin kills many types of bacteria that cause infections in
your body.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Do not take antacids, iron, didanosine, or multivitamins with this
antibiotic. Take the antibiotic 4 hours before these other medicines.
- Medicine must be taken exactly as directed.
- Swallow tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Take at a similar time everyday.
- Take entire prescription as directed even if feeling better.
- Make sure you are drinking enough liquids unless told to drink less by
healthcare provider. Avoid products with
caffeine.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Alcohol may prevent
infection from responding to the medicine.
- Do not use this medicine if you are being treated for irregular
heartbeats called arrhythmias. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Do not use this medicine if you are on quinidine, procainamide,
amiodarone, or sotalol. Check all medicines with healthcare provider before
taking. Should not be used with erythromycin, cisapride, antipsychotics, and
tricyclic antidepressants.
- You can burn. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen; wear protective
clothing and eyewear.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have had low potassium in your
blood or if you are on a water pill.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine
especially a group of antibiotics called the quinolones (ciprofloxacin,
levofloxacin). Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This
includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing;
cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Vaginal irritation. Report itching or discharge to healthcare
provider.
- Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum
or Lactobacillus acidophilus
may help.
- Dizziness. Use caution when driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may
help.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of infection.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, rapid heartbeats, or
lightheadedness.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Pain, inflammation or rupture of a tendon.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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