Moxifloxacin Injection

Why this is used

Moxifloxacin injection is used to treat certain infections such as pneumonia; bronchitis; and sinus, skin, and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria. Moxifloxacin injection is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by killing the bacteria that cause infections. Antibiotics will not work against colds, flu, or other viral infections.

How to take it

Moxifloxacin injection comes as a solution (liquid) to be given through a needle or catheter placed into a vein. It is usually infused (injected slowly) intravenously (into a vein) over a period of at least 60 minutes once a day for 5 to 21 days. The length of treatment depends on the type of infection being treated. Your doctor will tell you how long to use moxifloxacin injection. You may receive moxifloxacin injection in a hospital, or you may use the medication at home. If you will be using moxifloxacin injection at home, use it at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or other healthcare provider to explain any part you do not understand. Use moxifloxacin injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If you will be using moxifloxacin injection at home, your health care provider will show you how to infuse the medication. Be sure that you understand these directions, and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions. Ask your healthcare provider what to do if you have any problems infusing moxifloxacin injection. You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with moxifloxacin injection. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor. Use moxifloxacin injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. Do not stop using moxifloxacin injection unless you experience the symptoms of tendinitis or tendon rupture described in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or the symptoms of allergic reaction described in the SIDE EFFECTS section. If you stop using moxifloxacin injection too soon or if you skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

Side effects

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Moxifloxacin injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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nausea</li>
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vomiting</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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constipation</li>
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gas</li>
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heartburn</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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change in ability to taste food</li>
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sores in the mouth or on the tongue</li>
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white patches in the mouth</li>
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dry mouth</li>
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headache</li>
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weakness</li>
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sweating</li>
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vaginal itching or burning</li>
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irritation, pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, or swelling at the injection spot</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, or those mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, stop using moxifloxacin injection, and call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) that may occur with or without fever and stomach cramps (may occur up to 2 months or more after your treatment)</li>
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rash</li>
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itching</li>
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hives</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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swelling of the face or throat</li>
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loss of consciousness</li>
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fever</li>
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blistering or peeling skin</li>
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yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
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dark urine</li>
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excessive tiredness</li>
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muscle or joint pain</li>
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pale skin</li>
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shortness of breath</li>
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unusual bruising or bleeding</li>
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fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat</li>
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fainting</li>
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seizures</li>
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dizziness</li>
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confusion</li>
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nervousness</li>
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agitation</li>
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restlessness</li>
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not trusting others or feeling that others are trying to harm you</li>
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depression</li>
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thoughts about harming or killing yourself</li>
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hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)</li>
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nightmares</li>
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difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
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uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body</li>
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pain, numbness, burning, tingling, and/or weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet</li></ul>Moxifloxacin injection may cause problems with bones, joints, and tissues around joints in children. Moxifloxacin injection should not be given to children younger than 18 years of age. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving moxifloxacin injection to your child.Moxifloxacin injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Precautions

Before using moxifloxacin injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to moxifloxacin, other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin) (not available in the US), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin) (not available in the US), nalidixic acid (NegGram), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), and sparfloxacin (Zagam) (not available in the US), or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain antidepressants; antipsychotics (medications to treat mental illness); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the US); diuretics ('water pills') erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin, others); or certain medications for irregular heartbeat including amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procanbid), quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death) or an irregular heartbeat and if you have or have ever had nerve problems, cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels in or near the brain that can lead to stroke or mini-stroke), seizures, chest pain, a slow heartbeat, a low level of potassium in your blood, or liver disease. you should know that moxifloxacin injection may cause dizziness and lightheadedness. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how moxifloxacin injection affects you. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (tanning beds and sunlamps) and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Moxifloxacin injection may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Call your doctor if you develop skin redness or blisters during your treatment with moxifloxacin injection.

Overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Educational reference only — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber about Moxifloxacin Injection.