Gatifloxacin (Oral)

Gatifloxacin (By Mouth)

Gatifloxacin (ga-ti-FLOKS-a-sin)

Treats infections that are caused by bacteria. This medicine is a fluoroquinolone (floor-oh-KWIN-oh-lone) antibiotic.

Brand Name(s):

Tequin, Tequin Teq-Paqs
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to gatifloxacin or to similar medicines such as ciprofloxacin (Ciproreg;), enoxacin (Penetrexreg;), levofloxacin (Levaquinreg;), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin™), moxifloxacin (Aveloxreg;), norfloxacin (Noroxinreg;), ofloxacin (Floxinreg;), or trovafloxacin (Trovanreg;). This medicine should not be given to children.

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to. Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.
  
• You may take your medicine with food or milk. To help prevent kidney problems, drink extra fluids while you are using this medicine.
  
• Never share your medicine with anyone.
  

If a dose is missed::

• If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
  

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
  
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
  
• Keep this medicine away from children
  

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using arsenic trioxide (Trisenoxreg;), blood thinners (Coumadinreg;), dofetilide (Tikosynreg;), erythromycin, Lanoxinreg;, probenecid, theophylline, diabetes medicine taken by mouth (such as glyburide, Amarylreg;, Actos™, Avandiareg;, Glucotrolreg;, Glucophagereg;), medicine for depression or mental illness (such as amitriptyline, imipramine, Haldolreg;, Prozacreg;, Mellarilreg;, Serentilreg;, Geodon™), pain or arthritis medicine (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, Advilreg;, Relafenreg;), or medicines to treat abnormal heart rhythm such as (amiodarone, bretylium, disopyramide, quinidine, ibutilide, procainamide, or sotalol).