Pronunciation: MOX-i-FLOX-a-sin
Generic Name: Moxifloxacin
Brand Name: Avelox
Avelox is associated with an increased risk of tendon problems. These include pain, swelling, inflammation, and possible breakage of tendons. The risk of tendon problems is greater in patients who are older than 60 years old, patients who take corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), or in those have received kidney, heart, or lung transplants. The Achilles tendon in the back of the foot/ankle area is most often affected. However, problems may also occur in other tendons (eg, in the shoulder, arm, or hand). Problems may occur while you take Avelox or up to several months after you stop taking it.
Signs of tendon problems may include pain, soreness, redness, or swelling of a tendon or joint; bruising right after an injury in a tendon area; hearing or feeling a snap or pop in a joint or tendon area; or inability to move or bear weight on a joint or tendon area. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms while you take Avelox or within several months after you stop it.
Avelox may worsen muscle weakness and breathing problems in patients with myasthenia gravis. Do not take Avelox if you have a history of myasthenia gravis.
Avelox is used for:
Treating infections caused by certain bacteria.
Avelox is a fluoroquinolone. It works by killing sensitive bacteria.
Do NOT use Avelox if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Avelox or to any other fluoroquinolone antibiotic (eg, levofloxacin)
- you have a certain type of irregular heartbeat (eg, QT prolongation) or uncorrected low blood potassium levels
- you have a history of myasthenia gravis
- you are taking certain antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol), nilotinib, pentamidine, or tetrabenazine
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Avelox:
Some medical conditions may interact with Avelox. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a stomach infection, liver problems, brain or nervous system problems, increased pressure in the brain, Alzheimer disease, brain blood vessel problems, or a history of seizures
- if you have a history of severe or persistent diarrhea, skin sensitivity to the sun, low blood potassium levels, irregular heartbeat (eg, QT prolongation) or other heart problems (eg, fast or slow heartbeat, angina), or heart attack, or if you have a family member with a history of irregular heartbeat (QT prolongation)
- if you have a history of joint or tendon problems; rheumatoid arthritis; kidney problems or decreased kidney function; or a heart, kidney, or lung transplant
- if you participate in strenuous physical work or exercise
- if you take any medicine that may increase the risk of a certain type of irregular heartbeat (prolonged QT interval). Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines may increase the risk of this type of irregular heartbeat
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Avelox. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) because the risk of tendon problems may be increased
- Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol), arsenic, astemizole, bepridil, chloroquine, cisapride, citalopram, clozapine, crizotinib, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), domperidone, droperidol, halofantrine, haloperidol, iloperidone, imidazoles (eg, fluconazole), macrolides and ketolides (eg, erythromycin, telithromycin), maprotiline, methadone, nilotinib, paliperidone, pentamidine, phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), pimozide, quetiapine, romidepsin, serotonin receptor antagonist antiemetics (eg, ondansetron), tacrolimus, terfenadine, tetrabenazine, toremifene, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (eg, dasatinib), vandetanib, or ziprasidone because the risk of severe and possibly fatal irregular heartbeat may be increased
- Warfarin because the risk of bleeding may be increased by Avelox
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) or tramadol because they may increase the risk of Avelox's side effects
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Avelox may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Avelox:
Use Avelox as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Avelox comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Avelox refilled.
- Take Avelox by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
- Drink plenty of liquids while taking Avelox.
- Do not take a product that has magnesium, aluminum, calcium, zinc, iron, or sucralfate in it within 8 hours before or 4 hours after you take Avelox. Examples of these products include antacids, multivitamins, chewable/buffered didanosine, didanosine suspension, and quinapril. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have a question about whether you should separate Avelox from a certain food or product.
- Take Avelox on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
- To clear up your infection completely, take Avelox for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
- If you miss a dose of Avelox, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take more than 1 dose in the same day.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Avelox.
Important safety information:
- Avelox may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or light-headedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Avelox with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Be sure to use Avelox for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
- Avelox may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Avelox. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.
- Mild diarrhea is common with antibiotic use. However, a more serious form of diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
- Avelox only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
- Do not receive certain live vaccines (oral typhoid vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin [BCG] vaccine) while you are taking Avelox. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.
- Long-term or repeated use of Avelox may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
- Avelox has infrequently caused tendon problems, including tendon rupture. If you experience any unusual pain or swelling in your joints (eg, shoulder, elbow, hand, hip, knee, ankle, foot), contact your doctor right away. Rest and avoid exercise or other physically stressful activity until your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Lab tests, including liver or kidney function and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Avelox. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Avelox with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects (eg, tendon problems), especially if they take corticosteroids (eg, prednisone). They may also be more sensitive to other effects (eg, irregular heartbeat).
- Avelox should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. They may also be more sensitive to the effects of Avelox, including bone and joint problems.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if Avelox can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Avelox while you are pregnant. It is not known if Avelox is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Avelox.
Possible side effects of Avelox:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Diarrhea; dizziness; headache; nausea.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing or swallowing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bloody or tarry stools; burning, numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of the arms, hands, legs, or feet; chest pain; decreased urination; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or unusual cough; hallucinations; inability to move or bear weight on a joint or tendon area; moderate to severe sunburn; mood or mental changes (eg, new or worsening anxiety, agitation, confusion, depression, nervousness, paranoia, restlessness); muscle pain or weakness; nightmares; pain, soreness, redness, swelling, weakness, or bruising of a tendon or joint area; persistent sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe or persistent diarrhea; severe or persistent dizziness, headache, or light-headedness; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; stomach pain or cramps; suicidal thoughts or actions; symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine, loss of appetite, pale stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes); tremor; trouble sleeping; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual swelling or weight gain; unusual tiredness or weakness; vaginal yeast infection; vision changes (eg, blurred vision).
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Avelox side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Avelox:
Store Avelox at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not refrigerate. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Avelox out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Avelox, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Avelox is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Avelox. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Avelox resources
- Avelox Side Effects (in more detail)
- Avelox Dosage
- Avelox Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Avelox Drug Interactions
- Avelox Support Group
- 96 Reviews for Avelox - Add your own review/rating
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