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| Other drug names: | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9 |
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| Contents of this page: | |
Your doctor has ordered gatifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, to help treat your infection. The medication will be added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for at least 60 minutes once a day.
Gatifloxacin kills bacteria that cause infections, including certain types of gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease) and certain lung, sinus, skin, and urinary tract infections.
Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory, and to tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during your treatment. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection you have and on how your infection and symptoms respond to the medication.
Before administering gatifloxacin,
Before you administer gatifloxacin, look at the solution closely. It should be free of floating material. Gently squeeze the bag or observe the solution container to make sure there are no leaks. Do not use the solution if it contains particles, or if the bag or container leaks. Use a new solution, but show the damaged one to your health care provider. It is important that you use your medication exactly as directed. Do not skip doses, stop your treatment, or change your dosing schedule for any reason without talking to your health care provider. If you stop your treatment early or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.
Your health care provider may tell you to stop your infusion if you have a mechanical problem (such as a blockage in the tubing, needle, or catheter); if you have to stop an infusion, call your health care provider immediately so your treatment can continue.
This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms.
You may experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while you are using this medication. Your doctor will tell you what you should do if you develop hypoglycemia. He or she may tell you to check your blood sugar; eat or drink a food or beverage that contains sugar, such as hard candy or fruit juice; or get medical care. Follow these directions carefully if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia:
If hypoglycemia is not treated, severe symptoms may develop. Be sure that your family, friends, and other people who spend time with you know that if you have any of the following symptoms, they should get medical treatment for you immediately.
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):
If high blood sugar is not treated, a serious, life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could develop. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the these symptoms:
Gatifloxacin may cause side effects. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your health care provider immediately:
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
Your health care provider will probably tell you to store your medication in the refrigerator or at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Do not freeze gatifloxacin. Your health care provider may give you directions for allowing your medication to warm to room temperature before use. Your health care provider will tell you how and when you should throw away any unused medication and will probably mark this date on your medication container. Talk to your health care provider for more information on how to store your medication. Ask your health care provider if you do not understand the directions or if you have any questions.
Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
If you are receiving gatifloxacin in your vein,, you need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your vein ). If you experience any of these symptoms near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:
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Last Revised -
07/01/2006
Last Reviewed -
08/01/2007
The MedMaster™ Patient Drug Information database provides information copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2008. All Rights Reserved.
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Page last updated: 17 April 2008 |