Moxifloxacin (Injection)

Moxifloxacin (mox-i-FLOX-a-sin)

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

Brand Name(s):

Avelox I.V.
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to moxifloxacin or to similar medicines such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro®), enoxacin (Penetrex®), gatifloxacin (Tequin™), levofloxacin (Levaquin®), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin™), norfloxacin (Noroxin®), ofloxacin (Floxin®), or trovafloxacin (Trovan®). This medicine should not be given to children.

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for about an hour.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• 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.
• Never share your medicine with anyone.

If a dose is missed:

• Call your doctor, pharmacist, or home health caregiver for instructions.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Do not refrigerate.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine and equipment no longer needed.
• Keep this medicine away from children.

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 arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®), blood thinners (Coumadin®), cyclosporine (Sandimmune®, Neoral®), dofetilide (Tikosyn®), erythromycin (Erythro-Tab®), fluoxetine (Prozac®), probucol (Lorelco®), medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, imipramine, Norpramin®, Vivactil®), medicines to treat mental illness (such as Haldol®, Serentil®, Mellaril®, Geodon™), pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, Aleve®, Feldene®, Motrin®, Orudis®, Relafen®), a steroid (such as cortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, Azmacort®, Flonase®, Flovent®, Nasonex®, Vancenase®), diuretics or "water pills" (such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), or medicines to treat abnormal heart rhythm (such as amiodarone, bretylium, disopyramide, procainamide, sotalol, Betapace®, Cardioquin®, Corvert®, Norpace®, Quinaglute®, Quinidex®).
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, soda, chocolate) while you are receiving this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a history of heart disease, heart rhythm problems, kidney disease, liver disease, hypokalemia (low blood potassium), stroke, or seizure disorder (such as epilepsy), or a family history of a heart rhythm condition called Long QT Syndrome.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
• Call your doctor if you have pain, swelling, or tearing of a tendon. Tendons are located in the back of your knee or ankle, your shoulder or elbow, or your hand or wrist. You may need to stop taking the medicine.

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
• Chest pain, or fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• Diarrhea
• Seizures
• Unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, redness, blistering, or peeling
• Your eyes or skin turn yellow

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

• Dizziness, nervousness, anxiety, confusion, agitation, or trouble sleeping
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation
• Pain, swelling, or redness where the IV needle is placed
• Sores or white patches in your mouth or throat
• Vaginal itching or discharge

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.