Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Headache

Blurred vision

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Excess gas in the stomach and intestines (flatulence)

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)

Alteration in results of liver function tests

Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)

Dizziness

Flushing

Alteration in taste

Loss of appetite

Inflammation of the lining of the mouth (stomatitis)

Sleepiness (somnolence)

Nervousness

Vaginal thrush (candidiasis)

Rash or itching

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

This antibiotic must not be taken with any of the following medicines because of a possible risk of side effects from the combination: - cisapride - pimozide - astemizole - terfenadine - ergot alkaloids, eg ergotamine, dihydroergotamine - simvastatin - atorvastatin - lovastatin. This antibiotic should be avoided during, and for two weeks after, treatment with any of the following medicines because they may make the antibiotic less effective: - rifampicin - phenytoin - phenobarbitone (phenobarbital) - carbamazepine - the herbal remedy St John's wort. The following medicines may increase the blood level of this antibiotic and should be used with caution: - antifungals such as itraconazole, ketoconazole - HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir - cimetidine. This antibiotic should be used with caution in people taking any of the following medicines, because the combination may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms (prolonged QT interval on the heart monitoring trace or ECG): - anti-arrhythmics, eg amiodarone, procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol - antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, imipramine, maprotiline - antimalarials, eg halofantrine, chloroquine, quinine - antipsychotics, eg thioridazine, chlorpromazine, sertindole, haloperidol - intravenous erythromycin or pentamidine. This antibiotic may increase the blood levels of statins used for lowering cholesterol. Treatment with simvastatin, lovastatin and atorvastatin should be interrupted during treatment with this antibiotic (see above). Other statins, eg cerivastatin can be continued but you should consult your doctor if you experience any muscle pain or weakness. This antibiotic may also increase the blood levels of the following medicines: - benzodiazepines such as midazolam, triazolam and alprazolam. (Oral midazolam should be avoided.) - the immunosuppressants ciclosporin, tacrolimus and sirolimus. Blood levels of these medicines should be monitored if they are used with this antibiotic. - digoxin. Digoxin blood levels should be monitored if it is used with this antibiotic. If you are taking theophylline with this antibiotic the doses of the two medicines should be separated by one hour to avoid possible side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredients

Ketek

<<Go To Page 1

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use



© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved