Brand Name

Zyvox {Pfizer}

Generic Name

linezolid, pronounced lin EZ oh lid

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Drug Guide

The information contained in the following drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

What is Zyvox?

Zyvox is an antibiotic prescribed to treat bacterial infections in your body. You may be given
Zyvox to treat bacterial infections, like pneumonia, skin infections, and infections that are
resistant to other antibiotics.

Zyvox may also be used for conditions that are not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Zyvox

Zyvox can cause a serious reaction if you take an antidepressant or psychiatric medication
with it. Call your doctor immediately if you have signs of this serious drug interaction such as
confusion, memory problems, feeling hyperactive (mentally or physically), loss of coordination,
muscle twitching, shivering, sweating, diarrhea, and/or a fever.

Zyvox is in FDA pregnancy category C. Zyvox is not known to be harmful to an unborn baby. You
should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or if you plan to become pregnant before starting
treatment with Zyvox. You should not use Zyvox without telling your doctor if you are
breastfeeding a baby, as Zyvox it is not yet known if Zyvox passes into breast milk.

The liquid form of Zyvox may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor before using this form of
Zyvox if you have phenylketonuria, or PKU.

Eating tyramine while you are being treated with Zyvox can raise your blood pressure to
dangerous levels. You should avoid foods that have a high level of tyramine, like aged cheeses or
meats, pickled or fermented meats, smoked or air-dried meats, sauerkraut, soy sauce, tap beer,
red wine, or any meat, cheese, or a protein-based food that has been improperly stored.

Before You Take Zyvox

You should not use Zyvox if you are allergic to linezolid.

Do not take Zyvox if you have used an MAO inhibitor like furazolidone (Furoxone),
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam,
Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. There is the potential for a
dangerous drug interaction which can lead to serious side effects.

Zyvox has the potential to interact with many medications. Tell your doctor before using
Zyvox, about all other medications you use, as you may need to stop using certain medicines
before beginning treatment with Zyvox. Some medications may need to be stopped up to five weeks
before starting Zyvox. Do not stop taking any of your medications without your doctor’s
advice.

Let your doctor know if you have untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a history
of high blood pressure.

If you have a carcinoid tumor or a pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor) you should tell your
doctor before taking Zyvox.

Tell your doctor if you have a severe thyroid disorder.

If you have epilepsy or a history of seizures, diabetes (and you use insulin or an oral
diabetes medication), kidney disease or liver disease you should inform your doctor before
starting treatment with Zyvox.

If you have bone marrow suppression or a weak immune system you should tell your doctor before
taking Zyvox.

Zyvox Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• allergy or cold medications
• ADHD medications
• diet pills or stimulants
• Demerol (meperidine)
• MAO inhibitors like furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
• rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• migraine or cluster headache medications like almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova),
• naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet) and zolmitriptan
• (Zomig)
• Parkinson’s disease or restless leg syndrome medications like carbidopa or levodopa (Lodosyn,
• Parcopa, Sinemet), pramipexole (Mirapex) or ropinorole (Requip)
• “SNRI” antidepressants like venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) and duloxetine
• (Cymbalta)
• “SSRI” antidepressants like citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac,
• Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• psychiatric medications used to treat anxiety, depression and psychiatric conditions, like
• bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban, Aplenzin), buspirone (BuSpar), maprotiline (Ludiomil), mirtazapine
• (Remeron), nefazodone, trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro) and vilazodone (Viibryd)
• “tricyclic” antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), clomipramine
• (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil),
• nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil) and trimipramine (Surmontil)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Zyvox. You should tell your doctor
about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and
herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication
without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Zyvox

You should take Zyvox exactly as your doctor has prescribed you to. Do not use Zyvox in larger
or smaller amounts, or for shorter or longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your
prescription label exactly.

You can take Zyvox with or without food.

If you are taking Zyvox oral suspension you should use a special dose-measuring spoon or cup,
and not a regular table spoon to measure the liquid. If you do not have a dose-measuring device
your pharmacist can give one to you. Be sure to gently mix the Zyvox before taking it by turning
the bottle upside down 3 to 5 times. Do not shake Zyvox

If you are taking intravenous Zyvox you will receive an injection into a vein through an IV.
This form of Zyvox must be given slowly, and sometimes this IV infusion can take up to 2 hours to
complete. If you are shown how to use an IV at home you should be sure not to self-inject this
medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used
needles, IV tubing, and other items used to inject the medicine.

While taking Zyvox you may need to have your blood tested often, as well as regular eye exams
to make sure that this medicine is helping you and not hurting you.

You should store Zyvox at room temperature, and away from heat and moisture. Do not freeze the
liquid Zyvox. Any unused oral Zyvox liquid should be thrown away if it is more than 21 days
old.

If your symptoms get worse while taking Zyvox and you have a fever contact your doctor right
away.

If you miss a dose of Zyvox you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you
remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose do not take the missed dose
in addition to your regular dose.

.

Zyvox Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Zyvox and seek
medical help immediately:

• allergic reaction that includes breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your face, lips,
• throat or tongue
• blurry vision or trouble seeing colors
• diarrhea that is bloody or watery
• easy bruising or bleeding
• feeling faint or lightheadedness with pale skin and shortness of breath
• fever with chills, body aches and flu symptoms
• low blood sugar signs, with symptoms like a headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion,
• irritability, dizziness, a fast heart rate and feeling jittery
• numbness and tingling with burning pain in your hands and feet.
• rapid heart rate with trouble concentrating
• seizures or convulsions
• sores in your mouth and throat

Less serious Zyvox side effects may include:

• constipation
• dizziness
• discolored tongue
• headache
• insomnia
• nausea
• unpleasant taste in your mouth
• vaginal itching or discharge
• vomiting
• yeast infection of your mouth

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Zyvox. You
should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Zyvox Description and Dosing

Zyvox is available as I.V. Injection, Zyvox Tablets, and Zyvox for Oral Suspension

Zyvox I.V. Injection is available in single-use, ready-to-use flexible plastic infusion bags
which are in a foil laminate overwrap.

Zyvox tablets are available in dosages of 400 mg and 600 milligrams strengths. The 400 mg
tablet is white, oblong, film-coated and printed with “Zyvox 400mg”. The 600 mg tablet is white,
capsule-shaped, film-coated and printed with “Zyvox 600 mg”.

The oral Suspension of Zyvox is orange flavored and constituted as 150
mL of a suspension, providing the equivalent of 100 mg of linezolid per each 5 mL.

Dosages of Zyvox are based on your age, condition and situation. Your doctor will tell you the
right dose of Zyvox for you to take. Do not change or alter your Zyvox dose without talking to
your doctor first.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with the Zyvox you should seek emergency help
immediately.

Ingredients in Zyvox

The main ingredient in Zyvox I.V. Injection, Zyvox Tablets, and
Zyvox for Oral Suspension linezolid. The Zyvox I.V. Injection also contains the inactive
ingredients sodium citrate, citric acid, and dextrose in an aqueous vehicle for intravenous
administration. The Zyvox tablets contain the inactive ingredients corn starch, microcrystalline
cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, hypromellose,
polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, and carnauba wax. The Oral-Suspension of Zyvox is orange
flavored, and contains the following inactive ingredients: sucrose, citric acid, sodium citrate,
microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium, aspartame, xanthan gum, mannitol,
sodium benzoate, colloidal silicon dioxide, sodium chloride, and flavors.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.