Gemifloxacin Mesylate (je-mi-FLOX-a-sin MES-i-late)

Treats lung infections that are caused by bacteria. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone (floor-oh-KWIN-oh-lone) antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Factive

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• You may take this medicine with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
• Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.
• Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are using this medicine. This will keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using erythromycin, probenecid (Benemid®), or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin®). Tell your doctor if you are using medicine for depression, such as amitriptyline, imipramine, Norpramin®, or Vivactil®. Make sure your doctor knows if you are using medicine to treat an abnormal heart rhythm such as amiodarone, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, Betapace®, Cordarone®, Cardioquin®, Procan®, Procanbid®, Pronestyl®, Quinaglute®, or Quinidex®.
• Tell your doctor if you are using a phenothiazine medicine such as Compazine®, Phenergan®, Serentil®, or Thorazine®, or a steroid medicine such as cortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, prednisolone, Azmacort®, or Decadron®. There may be other medicines that can interact with gemifloxacin. Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are using.
• Tell your doctor if you are also using antacids that contain magnesium or aluminum (such as Maalox®), iron supplements or multivitamins with iron or zinc, sucralfate (Carafate®), or didanosine (Videx®) powder or chewable/buffered tablets. Do not take any of these medicines close to the time you take gemifloxacin. You must take these medicines at least 3 hours before or 2 hours after you take gemifloxacin.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, chest pain, or low potassium or low magnesium levels in your blood. Make sure your doctor knows if you are receiving dialysis, or if you have a history of seizures.
• If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
• This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Diarrhea, or blood in your stool.
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, or light-headedness and fainting.
• Muscle pain or tenderness, new problems with movement, or numbness or tingling anywhere in your body.
• Seizures, trouble thinking clearly, or feeling very shaky, restless, or nervous.
• Swelling or sudden pain in your shoulder, elbow, hand, wrist, or in the back of your knee or ankle.
• Unexplained fever.
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Mild nausea or vomiting.