Zyvox is used for:

Treating adults with certain serious bacterial infections that are often resistant to other antibiotics.

Zyvox is an oxazolidinone antibiotic. It works by interfering with the production of proteins needed by bacteria to grow.

How to use Zyvox:

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

• Take Zyvox by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• To clear up your infection completely, use Zyvox for the full course of treatment. Keep using it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Zyvox, 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 Zyvox.

Before using Zyvox:

Some medical conditions may interact with Zyvox. 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 history of high blood pressure, kidney problems, bone marrow problems, low blood cell or platelet levels, an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma), carcinoid syndrome, severe liver problems, seizures, or an overactive thyroid
• if you have a prolonged infection that has been previously treated with another antibiotic medicine
• if you are taking any medicine for depression

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

• Amphetamines (eg, dextroamphetamine), anorexiants (eg, phentermine, sibutramine), or sympathomimetics (eg, dopamine, epinephrine, pseudoephedrine) because the risk of serious side effects, including severe headache, fever, or high blood pressure, may be increased
• Bupropion, COMT inhibitors (eg, entacapone), levodopa, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (eg, atomoxetine), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (eg, duloxetine, or serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine) because the risk of serious side effects, including severe fever, mental or mood changes, or muscle problems, may be increased
• Apraclonidine, meperidine, or tryptophan because the risk of serious side effects or toxic effects may be increased

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

Do NOT use Zyvox if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Zyvox
• you are taking an amphetamine (eg, dextroamphetamine), certain anorexiants (eg, phentermine), a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor (eg, entacapone), levodopa, meperidine, or a sympathomimetic (eg, albuterol, dopamine, epinephrine, pseudoephedrine)
• you have taken apraclonidine, bupropion, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (eg, atomoxetine), a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (eg, duloxetine), or certain anorexiants (eg, sibutramine) within the past 14 days

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

Important safety information:

• Zyvox may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Zyvox with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Be sure to use Zyvox 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.
• Long-term or repeated use of Zyvox 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.
• 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.
• Zyvox may cause serious increases in blood pressure if certain foods are eaten. Avoid eating foods such as aged cheeses, sour cream, red wines, beer, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, pickled herring, liver, meat prepared with tenderizers, canned figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, soy sauce, fava beans, or yeast extracts. Obtain a complete list of foods and beverages from your doctor or pharmacist.
• Zyvox may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.
• Zyvox only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Lab tests, including blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Zyvox. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Zyvox should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Zyvox while you are pregnant. It is not known if Zyvox is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Zyvox, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Zyvox:

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:

Bad taste in mouth; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; nausea; tongue discoloration; trouble sleeping; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); agitation; bloody stools; bloody vomit; chills; excitation; fast heartbeat; loss of coordination; muscle spasms; prolonged or repeated nausea or vomiting; seizures; severe or continuing diarrhea; sore throat or fever; stomach pain/cramps; sweating; swelling of the hands or feet; tingling or numbness of hands or feet; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; vaginal irritation or unusual discharge; vision changes; white patches in the mouth.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.