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|Gatifloxacin Suspension

Gatifloxacin Suspension

Gatifloxacin Suspension is used for:

Treating infections caused by certain bacteria.

Gatifloxacin Suspension is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It works by stopping the production of proteins that bacteria need to survive.

Do NOT use Gatifloxacin Suspension if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Gatifloxacin Suspension or to similar medicines (eg, ciprofloxacin)
• you have low blood potassium or diabetes
• you or a family member have a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QTc interval
• you are taking medicines for heart rhythm disturbances (eg, quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol), cisapride, ketolides (eg, telithromycin), a macrolide antibiotic (eg, erythromycin), pimozide, or ziprasidone

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Gatifloxacin Suspension:

Some medical conditions may interact with Gatifloxacin Suspension. Tell your health care provider 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 heart problems, including a slow heartbeat, a history of lack of blood supply to your heart, or hardening of the arteries
• if you have a history of low blood potassium levels, diabetes, or kidney or liver problems
• if you have Alzheimer disease, tendonitis, or a history of seizures
• if you have a central nervous system disease or increased pressure in the head

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Gatifloxacin Suspension. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine, loratadine), arsenic, azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), certain medicines for heart rhythm disturbances (eg, quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol), cisapride, diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), droperidol, ketolides (eg, telithromycin, macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), pimozide , or ziprasidone because side effects, such as racing heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, life-threatening irregular heartbeat leading to unconsciousness, may be increased by Gatifloxacin Suspension
• Probenecid because the actions and side effects of Gatifloxacin Suspension may be increased
• Digoxin because the side effects may be increased by Gatifloxacin Suspension
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because side effects, including risk of bleeding, may be increased by Gatifloxacin Suspension
• Insulin, sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide), or other medicines for diabetes because the risk of blood sugar changes may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Gatifloxacin Suspension 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 Gatifloxacin Suspension:

Use Gatifloxacin Suspension as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Gatifloxacin Suspension may be taken with or without food.
• Shake well before using.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension should be taken 4 hours before any other medicines or dietary supplements that contain aluminum, buffered didanosine, calcium, iron, magnesium, sucralfate, or zinc.
• Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
• To clear up your infection completely, continue using Gatifloxacin Suspension for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days.
• Do not miss any doses of Gatifloxacin Suspension. If you miss a dose, 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 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Gatifloxacin Suspension.

Important safety information:

• Gatifloxacin Suspension may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or changes in vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Gatifloxacin Suspension. Using Gatifloxacin Suspension alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension is effective only against bacteria. It is not effective for treating viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• It is important to use Gatifloxacin Suspension for the full course of treatment. Failure to do so may decrease the effectiveness of Gatifloxacin Suspension and may increase the risk that the bacteria will no longer be sensitive to Gatifloxacin Suspension and will not be able to be treated by this or certain other antibiotics in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of Gatifloxacin Suspension may cause a second infection. Your doctor may want to change your medicine to treat the second infection. Contact your doctor if signs of a second infection occur.
• If severe diarrhea, stomach pain/cramps or bloody stools occur, contact your doctor immediately. This could be a symptom of a serious side effect requiring immediate medical attention. Do not treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Gatifloxacin Suspension. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period.
• Phenylketonuria patients - Gatifloxacin Suspension contains phenylalanine.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension may cause low blood sugar (eg, increased heartbeat, headache, chills, sweating, tremor, increased hunger, changes in vision, nervousness, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, fainting) or high blood sugar (eg, thirst, increased urination, confusion, drowsiness, flushing, rapid breathing, fruity breath odor). If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor immediately.
• Use Gatifloxacin Suspension with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially blood sugar changes.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 18 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Gatifloxacin Suspension during pregnancy. It is unknown if Gatifloxacin Suspension is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Gatifloxacin Suspension, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Gatifloxacin Suspension:

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; drowsiness; headache; mild diarrhea; nausea; stomachache; vaginal irritation; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; changes in mood or behavior; chest pain or pounding in the chest; confusion; convulsions; depression; excessive hunger, thirst, or urination; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; "fruity"-smelling breath; hallucinations; hoarseness; lightheadedness; loss of consciousness; nervousness; nightmares; pale skin; paranoia; restlessness; seizures; severe or continuous diarrhea; sleeplessness; stomach pain/cramps; sweating; tendon or joint pain or swelling; tremors; unusual or severe drowsiness or dizziness; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Before mixing, store Gatifloxacin Suspension at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. After mixing, store the suspension in the tightly closed bottle in the refrigerator (36 to 46 degrees F; 2 to 8 degrees C) for up to 14 days. Keep Gatifloxacin Suspension out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Gatifloxacin Suspension, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Gatifloxacin Suspension 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.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Gatifloxacin Suspension. 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.