Zyvox Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Infection due to Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Faecium

Enterococci are a type of bacteria living in the digestive tract and on the skin. They are considered harmless to healthy people but may become a concern for those who are weak or those with long-term illnesses.

In some cases, these bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, such as vancomycin (and are thus called vancomycin-resistant enterococci).

These bacteria can cause wounds and infections in the intestines, and possibly the urinary tract. They are more difficult to treat, as they have developed resistance against many common antibiotics.

Diabetic Foot Infection due to Specific Bacteria

Diabetic patients often suffer from foot infections caused by gram-positive bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci). Infections may involve soft tissue or bones. Foot infections are the most common complication in diabetics and can require amputation.

To manage this risk, all diabetic patients should undergo annual foot examinations. Proper foot care, maintaining steady blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and the use of prescription footwear help to reduce the risk of complications.

Bacterial Skin Infections

A number of bacterial species can cause infections of the skin, involving symptoms like pain, swelling, and redness. The resulting infections may vary in terms of their severity. Some are common and easy to treat, while others may be more serious, requiring surgical intervention. Zyvox helps to treat skin infections caused by several species of gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus agalactiae).

Bacterial Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, manifesting in symptoms like fever, chills, chest pain, and a cough which produces mucus. Pneumonia is often classified according to where a patient acquired the disease-causing bacteria.

The most common type of bacterial pneumonia is community-acquired pneumonia. There is also hospital-acquired pneumonia which, as the name suggests, is acquired in a hospital or doctor’s office. This type of pneumonia is often more resistant to antibiotics and therefore more difficult to treat. Zyvox helps to treat pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus bacteria.

Anthrax Infections

Anthrax is an infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is commonly found in soil and can infect animals. The bacteria can be transmitted to humans through the improper handling of infected farm animals and eating undercooked meat. In humans, the bacteria can cause a number of infections, including infection of the blood, brain, and spinal cord.

Zyvox is also prescribed to patients with bone infections and pulmonary multi-resistant tuberculosis. In children, it may be used to treat fever whose source has not been identified.

Marketed Internationally as Zyvoxid or Zyvoxam

In some countries Zyvox is sold under the brand name Zyvoxid or  Zyvoxam.

Zyvox Active Ingredient

Generic Zyvox Alternative: Zyvox

Zyvox contains the active ingredient linezolid which treats infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. It is often prescribed in cases when other antibiotics have failed.

General Drug Information

What is Zyvox and What Is It Used For?

Zyvox is prescribed to treat serious, gram-positive bacterial infections. It does not work in infections caused by gram-negative bacteria or in viral infections, like the common cold and flu. Using any antibiotic when it is not needed can create antibiotic resistance and reduce its effectiveness in treating future infections.

Zyvox belongs to a class of drugs known as MAO inhibitors. It increases the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the body – like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Patients should take certain precautions while using MAO inhibitors in order to reduce the risk of negative side effects, as well as food and drug interactions.

Usage and Application

Zyvox should be taken exactly as prescribed by a doctor. The dosage depends on the patient’s medical condition and response to treatment. In children, the dosage is also based on age and weight.

Most patients are prescribed one oral dose every 12 hours. Some children may be prescribed the medication every eight hours.

Patients should use Zyvox regularly at evenly-spaced intervals. It is best if the doses are taken at the same time each day.

It is very important that the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms have disappeared. Stopping the medication may cause the infection to return, making it more difficult to treat.

Patients should inform their doctor in the event their conditions fails to improve or worsens.

Like other MAO inhibitors, Zyvox reduces the body’s ability to break down tyramine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body and is also found in certain foods. While taking Zyvox, patients should follow a special diet, limiting tyramine intake. Failure to do so may lead to a very serious high blood pressure reaction.

Patients should avoid foods and beverages high in tyramine, including aged cheese, preserved fish, or dried meat and sausages like salami or liverwurst.

The list also applies to all fermented foods, homemade or sourdough bread, and products containing large amounts of yeast (like bouillon cubes, powdered soup, and gravy).

Patients should also avoid broad or fava beans, as well as most soy products like tofu and soy sauce. Beverages with high amounts of tyramine include red wine, sherry, vermouth, and tap beers. Patients should consult their doctor or a dietician for the full list of foods which should be limited or avoided.

Considerations Before Taking Zyvox

Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss the possibility of allergic reactions to Zyvox.

It is vital to discuss the patient’s medical history, especially regarding high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, or seizures. The doctor should be notified if a patient has low counts of red or white blood cells and platelets. Patients also need to mention conditions such as pheochromocytoma and carcinoid syndrome.

Zyvox may cause dizziness. While taking this medication, patients should not drive, use machinery, or perform other tasks requiring alertness until the effects of the medication are known. Limit alcoholic beverages and discuss marijuana use with your doctor.

Zyvox may lower blood sugar, so diabetic patients must check blood sugar levels regularly and share their results with the treating physician. Patients should report symptoms such as shaking, sudden sweating, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, and tingling hands or feet.

These symptoms indicate low blood sugar levels. The treating physician may have to adjust a patient’s diabetes medication, exercise program, and/or diet.

Patients should not have any immunizations while taking Zyvox unless directed otherwise by their doctor. Those undergoing emergency treatment or dental procedures need to report all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and herbal products they are taking to their doctor or dentist.

Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of Zyvox treatment with their doctor. The medication should be used only when clearly needed.

It is not known whether Zyvox passes into breast milk.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Zyvox should take it as soon as they remember. If this happens near the time for the next dose, patients should skip the missed dose and proceed as usual. Patients should not double up on the dose in order to catch up.

Other Medications and Zyvox

Drug interactions may change the way Zyvox works and can increase the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss all medications and supplements they are taking with their doctor. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking this medication unless their physician advises them to do so.

A number of drugs may interact negatively with Zyvox. This is the case with diet pills and appetite suppressants such as diethylpropion, drugs for attention deficit disorder (atomoxetine, methylphenidate) and certain drugs for Parkinson's disease (entacapone, tolcapone, levodopa).

Further examples include:

• Glaucoma medication Iopidine Eye Drops
• Depression medications Wellbutrin and certain tricyclic depression medications (amitriptyline, doxepin, and maprotiline)
• Anxiety medication Buspar
• Anticonvulsant medication Tegretol
• Muscle spasm medication Flexeril
• Medications for certain neurological disorders (tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine, and the combination product dextromethorphan/quinidine)
• Hypertension medication Aldomet
• Tardive dyskinesia medication valbenazine
• Narcotic pain relievers (fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, and tapentadol)
• Certain supplements, like Tryptan and tyramine

Zyvox patients who take medications that increase serotonin levels should be aware of a risk of developing serotonin syndrome. These medications may include antidepressants like mirtazapine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine, and venlafaxine.

Some migraine medications such as rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan, may also increase this risk. The risk of developing serotonin syndrome is higher when the above medications are started or when doses are increased.

Taking street drugs (like MDMA or ecstasy) with Zyvox also increases the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. The same risk applies to patients who use the herb St. John’s wort.

Some products may interact negatively with Zyvox even when taken weeks before or after the antibiotic. Patients should alert their physician if they have been taking any of the above-listed products two weeks before or after taking Zyvox. The doctor should also be notified if patients have been taking fluoxetine five weeks before starting Zyvox treatment.

Taking Zyvox together with other MAO inhibitors may cause a serious and possibly fatal interaction. Patients should avoid all other MAO inhibitors during the course of Zyvox treatment. Examples of common MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken within two weeks of the start or end of Zyvox treatment. Patients should consult their treating physician about when to start or stop taking Zyvox in these circumstances.

When taken with Zyvox, some drugs increase the risk of extremely high blood pressure, known also as hypertensive crisis. Before starting treatment, patients should report whether they are using any such medicine.

The list includes herbal products (such as ephedra and ma huang), allergy medicines, and cold products (including decongestants such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine). Stimulants like amphetamines, ephedrine, and epinephrine have a similar effect.

Women who are using hormonal birth control should talk to their doctor about additional pregnancy prevention methods while undergoing Zyvox treatment.

Adverse Reactions

Most patients are able to use Zyvox safely without serious side effects.

Some patients may experience diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness. Patients should contact their doctor If any of these effects continue or worsen.

Serious side effects include deep or fast breathing, drowsiness, tiredness, persistent nausea or vomiting, numbness of the hands or feet, and easy bruising or bleeding. Seek immediate medical help in the event of symptoms, like muscle stiffness, increased sweating, agitation, confusion, and seizures.

Patients should also seek prompt help in the event of vision changes – blurred vision, change in color vision, or loss of vision.

In rare cases, Zyvox may cause a severe intestinal condition, known as Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. This condition is caused by a type of resistant bacteria and may occur during treatment or weeks or months after treatment.

Patients should notify their doctor immediately in the event of symptoms like persistent diarrhea, stomach pain or cramping, and blood or mucus in the stool. Avoid using anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications to handle the above symptoms as these products may exacerbate them.

Using Zyvox for prolonged or repeated periods of time may result in oral thrush or yeast infection. Patients should monitor for white patches in their mouth and – in females – changes in vaginal discharge.

This medication increases serotonin levels and may rarely cause a serious condition known as serotonin syndrome. The risk is higher for patients who also take other drugs which increase serotonin levels.

Patients should seek immediate medical help should they experience a fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, and unexplained fever. Additional symptoms of serotonin syndrome include severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, twitching muscles, and unusual agitation.

In rare cases, Zyvox may cause fatal hypertensive crisis. The risk is increased if patients are using certain additional drugs.

Symptoms of the hypertensive crisis include a severe headache, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, neck stiffness, severe nausea, and vomiting. Additional symptoms may manifest in sweating, clammy skin, widened pupils, vision changes (like double or blurred vision), and sudden sensitivity to light. Patients should seek immediate medical help in the event of these symptoms.

Serious allergic reactions to Zyvox are rare, yet patients should be aware of symptoms including rash, itching and swelling, severe dizziness, and trouble breathing.

How to Store Zyvox

Zyvox should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.

Unwanted medication should be disposed of properly and should not be poured into drains or flushed down the toilet. Patients should consult a pharmacist or their local waste disposal company to find out more about safe disposal methods.