Gemifloxacin
About
Gemifloxacin belongs to a class of drugs known as antibiotics, primarily used to treat or prevent certain infections caused by bacteria. It is used to treat nose, throat, urinary tract infections, lungs (pneumonia), skin, and soft tissues. A bacterial infection is a condition in which bacteria grow in the body and cause infection. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly.
Gemifloxacin contains an antibiotic medicine, Gemifloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It works by killing bacteria (bactericidal) that cause infections and prevents the division of bacterial cells. It also inhibits the repairing of bacterial cells. Altogether, it kills bacteria and treats the infection.
Take Gemifloxacin as prescribed by your doctor. Depending upon your medical condition, you are advised to take Gemifloxacin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Sometimes, you may experience a rash, vomiting, headache, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea, and abnormal liver function tests. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor. You should immediately contact a doctor if you experience any allergic reaction symptoms such as rashes, itching, swelling, shortness of breath, etc.
Do not take Gemifloxacin if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to Gemifloxacin. Taking Gemifloxacin may increase the chances of developing tendinitis or have a tendon rupture. Taking Gemifloxacin may worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness disorder) and cause severe difficulty breathing or death. Dairy products should be avoided along with Gemifloxacin. And also, exposure to sunlight should be avoided while taking Gemifloxacin as it may cause increased phototoxicity or photosensitivity.
Uses of Gemifloxacin
Medicinal Benefits
Gemifloxacin belongs to a class of drugs known as antibiotics, containing Gemifloxacin, primarily used to treat or prevent certain infections caused by bacteria. It is used to treat nose, throat, urinary tract infections, lungs (pneumonia), skin, and soft tissues. It works by killing bacteria (bactericidal) that cause infections and prevents the division of bacterial cells. It also inhibits the repairing of bacterial cells. Altogether, it kills bacteria and treats the infection.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Gemifloxacin
- Rash
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Abnormal liver function tests
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Gemifloxacin if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to Gemifloxacin. Taking Gemifloxacin may increase the chances of developing tendinitis (swelling of a fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle) or having a tendon rupture (tearing of a fibrous tissue that connects a bone to a muscle). Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had a kidney or liver disease, heart, or lung transplant, rheumatoid arthritis, seizures (fits), epilepsy or if you participate in regular physical activity. Gemifloxacin should only be used if a safer antibiotic does not cure the infection. Taking Gemifloxacin may worsen muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis (a nervous system disorder that causes muscle weakness) and cause severe difficulty breathing or death. Dairy products should be avoided along with Gemifloxacin. And also, exposure to sunlight should be avoided while taking Gemifloxacin as it may cause increased phototoxicity or photosensitivity. Patients with epilepsy and irregular heartbeat (especially a condition known as QT prolongation) should tell their doctor before taking Gemifloxacin.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Disease Interactions: Gemifloxacin is known to interact in patients with kidney or liver disease, heart, or lung transplant, rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function), seizures, epilepsy, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, myasthenia gravis (a muscle disorder), low level of potassium or magnesium in the blood.
Drug-Food Interactions: Gemifloxacin interacts with dairy products (like milk or yoghurt) or calcium-fortified juices alone.
Drug-drug interactions: Gemifloxacin is known to interact with a diuretic (furosemide), insulin or other anti-diabetic medications (chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, tolazamide, tolbutamide), blood thinners (warfarin, coumadin), pain killers (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, celecoxib), a steroid medicine (prednisone, methylprednisolone), anti-gout medicine (probenecid).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAlcohol is not known to cause any unpleasant side effects if taken along with Gemifloxacin. But intake of alcohol with Gemifloxacin may damage your liver. So intake of Gemifloxacin should be avoided with Gemifloxacin.
Pregnancy
cautionGemifloxacin is a pregnancy Category C medicine. It is not known whether Gemifloxacin will affect pregnant women or fetus or not. Hence, the intake of Gemifloxacin should be avoided if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant as it may harm the baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionGemifloxacin is excreted in human milk. But the amount of Gemifloxacin absorbed by the nursing infant is unknown. So, it should not be taken while breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionGemifloxacin can affect alertness and coordination. So, operating machinery which requires concentration should be avoided.
Liver
cautionGemifloxacin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may have to adjust the dose if there are symptoms of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark-coloured urine, or yellowing of skin/eye.
Kidney
cautionGemifloxacin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
cautionThe safety and efficacy of Gemifloxacin are not studied in children below the age of 18 years.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, or chocolate. Gemifloxacin may increase nervousness, sleeplessness and anxiety caused by caffeine.
- Probiotics should be taken after taking the full course of Gemifloxacin to restore some healthy bacteria in the intestines that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like yoghurt, cheese, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi can help restore the intestine's good bacteria.
- Include more fibre-enriched food in your diet, as it can be easily digested by gut bacteria, which helps stimulate their growth. Thus, fibre-rich foods may help restore healthy gut bacteria after antibiotics. Whole grains like whole-grain bread and brown rice should be included in your diet. Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids daily while taking Gemifloxacin.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages with Gemifloxacin as they can make you dehydrated and may affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the Gemifloxacin in fighting off infections.
Special Advise
- Regularly monitor your liver enzymes while taking Gemifloxacin.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial Infection: A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply, and infect our bodies. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms like fevers, chills, and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms comprising, commonly spherical, rod and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses like sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis. A few harmful bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Anyone can become infected with a bacterial infection. But, people with weak immune systems or taking immunosuppressive medicine can make you more prone to bacterial infection.
FAQs
Gemifloxacin belongs to a class of drugs known as antibiotics, containing Gemifloxacin, which works by killing bacteria (bactericidal) that cause infections and prevent bacterial cell division. It also inhibits the repairing of bacterial cells. Altogether, it kills bacteria and treats the infection.
Gemifloxacin makes your skin sensitive to sunlight, known as photosensitivity. So, prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light should be avoided. In case of emergency, you should always wear sunscreen before going out.
A common side effect of Gemifloxacin is diarrhoea, but you should complete your course. If diarrhoea persists and you observe blood in your stools, please visit your doctor.
No, Gemifloxacin should not be taken along with dairy products as it might affect the absorption and efficacy of Gemifloxacin. However, you can take it with a meal that includes these foods or drinks.
No. Gemifloxacin is an antibacterial medicine that acts only against bacterial infections and not against viral infections causing cold and flu. You should not take Gemifloxacin without prior consulting your doctor. Self-medication is dangerous and can lower the efficacy of Gemifloxacin, leading to antibiotic resistance.
No, a minimum gap of 2-3 hours should be maintained between the dose of Gemifloxacin and antacid as an antacid is known to decrease the absorption and effectiveness of Gemifloxacin.
Gemifloxacin is known to increase the risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. But, the elderly are at increase risk of getting it. So, only take Gemifloxacin if prescribed by a doctor in exact dose and duration.
