Avelox (Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride)

(mox'' i flox' a sin)

Using moxifloxacin injection increases the risk that you will develop tendinitis (swelling of fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle) or have a tendon rupture (tearing of fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle) during your treatment or for up to several months afterward. These problems may affect tendons in your shoulder, your hand, the back of your ankle, or in other parts of your body. Tendinitis or tendon rupture may happen to people of any age, but the risk is highest in people over 60 years of age. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant; kidney disease; a joint or tendon disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function); or if you participate in regular physical activity. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking oral or injectable steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), or prednisone (Rayos). If you experience any of the following symptoms of tendinitis, stop using moxifloxacin injection, rest, and call your doctor immediately: pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or difficulty in moving a muscle. If you experience any of the following symptoms of tendon rupture, stop using moxifloxacin injection and get emergency medical treatment: hearing or feeling a snap or pop in a tendon area, bruising after an injury to a tendon area, or inability to move or to bear weight on an affected area. Using moxifloxacin injection may cause changes in sensation and nerve damage that may not go away even after you stop taking moxifloxacin. This damage may occur soon after you begin using moxifloxacin injection. Tell your doctor if you have ever had peripheral neuropathy (a type of nerve damage that causes tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet). If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using moxifloxacin injection and call your doctor immediately: numbness, tingling, pain, burning, or weakness in the arms or legs; or a change in your ability to feel light touch, vibrations, pain, heat, or cold. Using moxifloxacin injection may affect your brain or nervous system and cause serious side effects. This can occur after the first dose of moxifloxacin injection. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures, epilepsy, cerebral arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood vessels in or near the brain that can lead to stroke or ministroke), stroke, changed brain structure, or kidney disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using moxifloxacin injection and call your doctor immediately: seizures; tremors; dizziness; lightheadedness; headaches that won't go away (with or without blurred vision); difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; nightmares; not trusting others or feeling that others want to hurt you; hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist); thoughts or actions towards hurting or killing yourself; feeling restless, anxious, nervous, depressed, memory problems, or confused, or other changes in your mood or behavior. Using moxifloxacin injection may worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis (a disorder of the nervous system that causes muscle weakness) and cause severe difficulty breathing or death. Tell your doctor if you have myasthenia gravis. Your doctor may tell you not to use moxifloxacin injection. If you have myasthenia gravis and your doctor tells you that you should use moxifloxacin injection, call your doctor immediately if you experience muscle weakness or difficulty breathing during your treatment. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using moxifloxacin injection.

Moxifloxacin injection is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as pneumonia; and skin and abdominal (stomach area) infections. Moxifloxacin injection is also used to prevent and treat plague (a serious infection that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack. Moxifloxacin injection may also be used to treat bronchitis or sinus infections but should not be used for these conditions if there are other treatment options available. Moxifloxacin injection is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by killing the bacteria that cause infections. Antibiotics such as moxifloxacin injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Moxifloxacin injection comes as a solution (liquid) to be given through a needle or catheter placed into a vein. It is usually infused (injected slowly) intravenously (into a vein) over a period of at least 60 minutes once a day for 5 to 21 days. The length of treatment depends on the type of infection being treated. Your doctor will tell you how long to use moxifloxacin injection. You may receive moxifloxacin injection in a hospital, or you may use the medication at home. If you will be using moxifloxacin injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you how to infuse the medication. Be sure that you understand these directions, and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions. Ask your healthcare provider what to do if you have any problems infusing moxifloxacin injection. You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with moxifloxacin injection. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor. Use moxifloxacin injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. Do not stop using moxifloxacin injection without talking to your doctor unless you experience certain serious side effects listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING and SIDE EFFECTS sections. If you stop using moxifloxacin injection too soon or if you skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

Before using moxifloxacin injection,
• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to moxifloxacin, other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), and ofloxacin, any other medications, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in moxifloxacin injection. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain antidepressants; antipsychotics (medications to treat mental illness); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.); diuretics ('water pills'); erythromycin (E.E.S., Eryc, Erythrocin, others); insulin or other medications to treat diabetes such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl, in Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), tolazamide, and tolbutamide; certain medications for irregular heartbeat including amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide, quinidine (in Nuedexta), and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine, Sotylize). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death). Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an irregular or slow heartbeat, a heart attack, an aortic aneurysm (swelling of the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body), high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the blood vessels), Marfan syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect the heart, eyes, blood vessels and bones), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect skin, joints, or blood vessels), and if you have a low level of potassium or magnesium in your blood. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes or problems with low blood sugar, or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using moxifloxacin injection, call your doctor.
• do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how moxifloxacin injection affects you.
• plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (tanning beds and sunlamps) and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Moxifloxacin injection may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Call your doctor if you develop skin redness or blisters during your treatment with moxifloxacin injection.

Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids every day during your treatment with moxifloxacin injection.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Moxifloxacin injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• heartburn
• irritation, pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, or swelling at the injection spot

If you experience any of the following symptoms, or any of the symptoms described in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, stop using moxifloxacin injection and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical help:

• severe diarrhea (watery or bloody stools) that may occur with or without fever and stomach cramps (may occur up to 2 months or more after your treatment)
• rash
• hives
• itching
• peeling or blistering of the skin
• fever
• swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• hoarseness or throat tightness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• ongoing or worsening cough
• yellowing of the skin or eyes; pale skin; dark urine; or light colored stool
• extreme thirst or hunger; pale skin; feeling shaky or trembling; fast or fluttering heartbeat; sweating; frequent urination; trembling; blurred vision; or unusual anxiety
• fainting or loss of consciousness
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• sudden pain in the chest, stomach, or back

Moxifloxacin injection may cause problems with bones, joints, and tissues around joints in children. Moxifloxacin injection should not be given to children younger than 18 years of age. Moxifloxacin injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are using this medication.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to moxifloxacin injection. If you have diabetes, your doctor may ask you to check your blood sugar more often while using moxifloxacin. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.