Before taking moxifloxacin

Before taking moxifloxacin make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
• If you suffer from heart rhythm disturbances or other heart problems.
• If you have heart failure (a condition where the pumping action of the heart is reduced).
• If you have liver disease.
• If you have ever suffered from tendon or muscular problems.
• If you have ever had epilepsy or fits.
• If you have myasthenia gravis (a condition causing tired and weak muscles).
• If you are under 18 years of age or over 60 years of age.
• If you have ever had a mental health problem such as psychosis or depression.
• If you suffer from glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (a rare enzyme disorder).
• If you are taking any other medicines including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or to any other medicine.

How to take moxifloxacin

• Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
• Take moxifloxacin exactly as your doctor has told you. It is usually taken once each day.
• Try to take moxifloxacin at the same time each day to avoid missing any doses.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue as normal. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.
• Unless you have been told otherwise, you must complete the course of moxifloxacin otherwise the infection may come back.
• Swallow moxifloxacin tablets whole (not chewed or crushed) with a drink of water. They may be taken either before or after meals.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Do not take indigestion remedies or any medicines containing iron or zinc at the same time of day as moxifloxacin. Take any such remedies at least six hours before or six hours afterwards.
• If you are using hormonal contraception (the 'pill'), the current advice (January 2011) is that additional contraceptive precautions such as condoms are not required during a course of this antibiotic unless you are sick or have diarrhoea. If you need further advice, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
• Moxifloxacin may cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Avoid direct sunlight or use a suncream SPF factor 15 or higher until you know how your skin reacts. Do not use sunbeds.
• This antibiotic may stop the oral typhoid vaccine from working. If you are having any vaccinations, make sure the person treating you knows that you are taking this medicine.
• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with moxifloxacin.

Can moxifloxacin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

• Problems breathing.
• Unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• A severe skin rash.
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Any feelings of pain, burning, tingling, numbness or weakness.

If you experience any other worrying symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store moxifloxacin

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines

References

• Manufacturer's PIL, Avelox® 400 mg tablets, Bayer plc, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated October 2010.
• British National Formulary; 59th Edition (March 2010) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London.