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Tequin Teqpaq Side Effects

Generic name: gatifloxacin

Note: This document contains side effect information about gatifloxacin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Tequin Teqpaq.

Applies to gatifloxacin: intravenous solution, oral tablet.

Warning

You should not take gatifloxacin if you have diabetes.

Before taking gatifloxacin, tell your doctor if you have a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome” or other heart rhythm disorder, especially if you are being treated with one of these medications: quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute), disopyramide (Norpace), bretylium (Bretylol), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procan SR), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), or sotalol (Betapace).

If you take any of the following medicines, take them at least 4 hours after you take gatifloxacin: an antacid that contains magnesium or aluminum; vitamin or mineral supplements that contain zinc, magnesium or iron; or didanosine chewable/buffered tablets or pediatric powder for oral solution (ddI, Videx, Videx Pediatric).

There are many other drugs that can affect gatifloxacin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Take this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Gatifloxacin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Gatifloxacin can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun. Call your doctor if you have severe sunburn, redness, itching, rash, or swelling after exposure to the sun.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using gatifloxacin (the active ingredient contained in Tequin Teqpaq) and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

Continue using gatifloxacin and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to gatifloxacin: intravenous solution, oral tablet.

General

Gatifloxacin (the active ingredient contained in Tequin Teqpaq) has been generally well tolerated with most adverse events reported as mild to moderate. Gatifloxacin was discontinued due to adverse reactions in 2.7% of over 5,000 treated patients.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antimicrobial treatment.

An increased duration therapy may increase the risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). A long-term care facility reported that 14 of 47 patients developed CDAD after an average 13.5-day duration of gatifloxacin (the active ingredient contained in Tequin Teqpaq) therapy. In contrast, the mean duration of therapy was 6.9 days in patients who did not develop CDAD. In this facility, a formulary change from levofloxacin to gatifloxacin was associated with a significantly higher rate of CDAD than with levofloxacin, and the rate decreased after the formulary was changed back to levofloxacin.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea (8%) and diarrhea (4%). Other gastrointestinal effects reported in 0.1% to 3% of patients include abdominal pain, anorexia, constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastritis, glossitis, mouth ulcer, oral moniliasis, stomatitis, and vomiting. Additional side effects reported in less than 0.1% of patients have included colitis, dysphagia, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gingivitis, halitosis, hematemesis, pseudomembranous colitis, rectal hemorrhage, pancreatitis, and taste loss. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with intestinal perforation.[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included dizziness (3%) and headache (3%). Insomnia, nervousness, paresthesia, somnolence, tremor, vasodilatation, and vertigo have been reported in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Additional nervous system side effects reported in less than 0.1% of patients include asthenia, ataxia, convulsion, hyperesthesia and migraine. Seizures and peripheral neuropathy have also been reported. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with possible exacerbation of myasthenia gravis and dysphasia.[Ref]

Generalized seizures preceded by myoclonus was reported in an 87-year-old woman after a dose of intravenous gatifloxacin.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included dry skin, rash, pruritus, and sweating in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Rarely reported side effects include maculopapular rash and vesiculobullous rash.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included allergic reactions, anaphylactic reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and angioneurotic edema. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with anaphylactoid reactions, shock, purpura, serum sickness, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, photosensitivity, and vesiculobullous eruption.[Ref]

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects reported in 0.1% to 3% of patients have included peripheral edema and thirst. Severe hyperglycemia, hyperosmolar nonketotic hyperglycemia, severe hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia coma, increased serum amylase, and electrolyte abnormalities have also been reported. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with acidosis and elevations in serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, and serum potassium.[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Gatifloxacin (the active ingredient contained in Tequin Teqpaq) was associated with 8 cases of torsade de pointes reported to the FDA between 1996 and 2001. Four cases of torsade de pointes or ventricular fibrillation (including 2 fatalities) have also been reported.[Ref]

Cardiovascular side effects have included palpitation and hypertension in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Bradycardia, cyanosis, edema, substernal chest pain, and tachycardia have been reported in less than 0.1% of patients. Prolongation of the QTc interval, syncope, torsade de pointes, and hypotension have also been reported.[Ref]

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects have included diabetes mellitus (less than 0.1%) and blood glucose disturbances, in some cases severe and/or life-threatening. Elderly patients may be at a greater risk of developing hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.[Ref]

In patients with Type II diabetes, increases in serum insulin and decreases in serum glucose have been reported. Hypoglycemia, in some cases severe, has occurred in patients being treated with oral hypoglycemic agents, usually within 1 to 3 days of initiating gatifloxacin therapy. Three elderly patients developed severe hypoglycemia that did not respond to intravenous dextrose until the gatifloxacin was stopped. Hyperglycemia, including nonketotic hyperglycemic coma, has occurred in diabetic patients and previously undiagnosed diabetics, usually within 4 to 10 days of initiating therapy.

Symptomatic and/or severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia have also been reported in nondiabetic patients, usually after 3 days of therapy. Fatal hyperglycemia has been reported in two elderly nondiabetic patients.

As of 2002, 10 cases of severe hyperglycemia have been reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (age range 53 to 98 years); 6 patients had no history of diabetes. As of 2003, 19 cases of hypoglycemia and 7 cases of hyperglycemia were reported in Canada. It has been suggested that hyperglycemia may be related to high drug exposure in patients with age-associated renal dysfunction.

Hyperglycemia (blood glucose 607 mg/L) occurred in a nondiabetic 64-year-old woman after 3 days of gatifloxacin 400 mg/day intravenously. Her serum creatinine upon initiation of therapy was 2.3 mg/dL.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included vaginitis (6%), breast pain (less than 0.1%), dysuria (0.1% to 3%), hematuria (0.1% to 3%), and metrorrhagia (less than 0.1%). Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with albuminuria, candiduria, crystalluria, cylindruria, hematuria, and vaginal candidiasis.[Ref]

Local

Local injection site reactions have been reported in 5% of patients receiving intravenous gatifloxacin (the active ingredient contained in Tequin Teqpaq) [Ref]

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects reported in less than 0.1% of patients have included ecchymosis, epistaxis, and neutropenia. Increased INR/prothrombin time and thrombocytopenia have also been reported. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with agranulocytosis.[Ref]

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included abnormal vision and eye pain in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Ptosis, eye photosensitivity, and photophobia have been reported in less than 0.1% of patients. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with nystagmus, cataracts, and multiple punctate lenticular opacities.[Ref]

Other

Nonspecific side effects have included back pain, chest pain, chills, face edema, and fever in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Other side effects reported in less than 0.1% of patients include alcohol intolerance, cheilitis, generalized edema, lymphadenopathy, mouth edema, and tongue edema. False positive results on urine drug screens for opiates have also been reported.[Ref]

Tinnitus and taste perversion have been reported in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Ear pain and parosmia (distortion of odor quality) have been reported in less than 0.1% of patients.[Ref]

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects reported in 0.1% to 3% of patients have included dyspnea and pharyngitis. Other respiratory side effects reported in less than 0.1% of patients include asthma (bronchospasm) and hyperventilation. Hemoptysis has also been reported. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with hiccough.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included arthralgia and leg cramp in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Arthritis, bone pain, hypertonia, myalgia, myasthenia, and neck pain have been reported in less than 0.1% of patients. Tendon rupture has also been reported.[Ref]

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included abnormal dreams, agitation, anxiety, and confusion in 0.1% to 3% of patients. Abnormal thinking, depersonalization, depression, euphoria, hallucination, hostility, panic attack, paranoia, psychosis, and stress have been reported in less than 0.1%. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with manic reactions.[Ref]

Hepatic

A 76-year-old male developed symptoms of hepatocellular necrosis, including jaundice and significantly elevated ALT, AST, INR, APTT, and ammonia concentrations, after a 10-day course of oral gatifloxacin (the active ingredient contained in Tequin Teqpaq) A liver biopsy showed micronodular cirrhosis with intranodular hepatocellular necrosis. He died of multiple organ failure 25 days later.

A 44-year-old woman developed signs of hepatitis after taking oral gatifloxacin for 5 days, including nausea, lethargy, abdominal pain, jaundice, icterus, eosinophilia, and elevated liver function tests (including bilirubin peaking at 9.4 mg/dL). A liver biopsy showed acute hepatitis with eosinophilic infiltrates.[Ref]

Hepatic side effects have included increased ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin in less than 1% of patients. Hepatitis, cholestasis with concomitant pancreatitis, and fulminant hepatic failure have also been reported. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with hepatic necrosis.[Ref]

Renal

Renal side effects have included abnormal renal function, including acute renal failure. Quinolone class antibiotics have been associated with renal calculi.[Ref]

References

1. Product Information. Tequin (gatifloxacin). Bristol-Myers Squibb. 2001;PROD.

2. Cheung O, Chopra K, Yu T, Nalesnik MA, Amin S, Shakil AO. Gatifloxacin-induced hepatotoxicity and acute pancreatitis. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140:73-4.

3. Gaynes R, Rimland D, Killum E, et al. Outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection in a long-term care facility: association with gatifloxacin use. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;38:640-5.

4. Keam SJ, Croom KF, Keating GM. Gatifloxacin: A Review of its Use in the Treatment of Bacterial Infections in the US. Drugs. 2005;65:695-724.

5. Yip C, Lee AJ. Gatifloxacin-induced hyperglycemia: a case report and summary of the current literature. Clin Ther. 2006;28:1857-66.

6. Marinella MA. Myoclonus and generalized seizures associated with gatifloxacin treatment. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:2261-2.

7. Mohan N, Menon K, Rao PG. Oral gatifloxacin-induced ataxia. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2002;59:1894.

8. Quigley CA, Lederman JR. Possible gatifloxacin-induced seizure. Ann Pharmacother. 2004;38:235-7.

9. Reeves RR. Exacerbation of psychotic symptoms associated with gatifloxacin. Psychosomatics. 2007;48:87.

10. Gajjar DA, LaCreta FP, Kollia GD, et al. Effect of multiple-dose gatifloxacin or ciprofloxacin on glucose homeostasis and insulin production in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus maintained with diet and exercise. Pharmacotherapy. 2000;20 (6 Pt 2):s76-86.

11. Baker SE, Hangii MC. Possible gatifloxacin-induced hypoglycemia. Ann Pharmacother. 2002;36:1722-6.

12. Happe MR, Mulhall BP, Maydonovitch CL, Holtzmuller KC. Gatifloxacin-induced hyperglycemia. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141:968-9.

13. Greenberg AL, Decerbo M, Fan J. Gatifloxacin therapy associated with hypoglycemia. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;40:1210-1.

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16. Frothingham R. Glucose homeostasis abnormalities associated with use of gatifloxacin. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41:1269-76.

17. Stading JA, Chock AW, Skrabal MZ, Faulkner MA. Development of diabetes after gatifloxacin therapy. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2005;62:2293-5.

18. Bhasin R, Arce FC, Pasmantier R. Hypoglycemia associated with the use of gatifloxacin. Am J Med Sci. 2005;330:250-3.

19. Park-Wyllie LY, Juurlink DN, Kopp A, et al. Outpatient gatifloxacin therapy and dysglycemia in older adults. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:1352-61.

20. Yadav V, Deopujari K. Gatifloxacin and dysglycemia in older adults. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:2725-6; author reply 2725-6.

21. Zvonar R. Gatifloxacin-induced dysglycemia. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2006;63:2087-2092.

22. Lodise T, Graves J, Miller C, Mohr JF, Lomaestro B, Smith RP. Effects of gatifloxacin and levofloxacin on rates of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia among elderly hospitalized patients. Pharmacotherapy. 2007;27:1498-505.

23. Laplante KL, Mersfelder TL, Ward KE, Quilliam BJ. Prevalence of and risk factors for dysglycemia in patients receiving gatifloxacin and levofloxacin in an outpatient setting. Pharmacotherapy. 2008;28:82-9.

24. Frothingham R. Rates of torsades de pointes associated with ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin. Pharmacotherapy. 2001;21:1468-72.

25. Bertino JS Jr, Owens RC Jr, Carnes TD, Iannini PB. Gatifloxacin-associated corrected QT interval prolongation, torsades de pointes, and ventricular fibrillation in patients with known risk factors. Clin Infect Dis. 2002;34:861-3.

26. Owens RC Jr, Ambrose PG. Torsades de pointes associated with fluoroquinolones. Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22:663-8; discussion 668-72.

27. Ansari SR, Chopra N. Gatifloxacin and Prolonged QT Interval. Am J Med Sci. 2004;327:55-6.

28. Pathak RD, Tran TH, Burshell AL. A case of dopamine agonists inhibiting pancreatic polypeptide secretion from an islet cell tumor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89:581-4.

29. Berger RE. Rates of torsades de pointes associated with ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin. J Urol. 2005;174:165.

30. Owens RC Jr, Nolin TD. Antimicrobial-Associated QT Interval Prolongation: Pointes of Interest. Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43:1603-1611.

31. Ambrose PG, Bhavnani SM, Cirincione BB, Piedmonte M, Grasela TH. Gatifloxacin and the elderly: pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic rationale for a potential age-related dose reduction. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2003.

32. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia with fluoroquinolones. Med Lett Drugs Ther. 2003;45:64.

33. Donaldson AR, Vandiver JR, Finch CK. Possible gatifloxacin-induced hyperglycemia. Ann Pharmacother. 2004;38:602-5.

34. Straley CM, Cecil EJ, Herriman MP. Gatifloxacin interference with opiate urine drug screen. Pharmacotherapy. 2006;26:435-9.

35. Gupta V, Rizvi W, Dar KA, Bhargava R, Kumar A. Haemoptysis associated with gatifloxacin in a 27 year old male asthmatic--a case report. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2008;66:148-9.

36. Satyanarayana S, Campbell B. Gatifloxacin-induced delirium and psychosis in an elderly demented woman. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54:871.

37. Palmer TR. Delirium was likely due to multiple factors, rather than gatifloxacin induced. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54:1802.

38. Henann NE, Zambie MF. Gatifloxacin-associated acute hepatitis. Pharmacotherapy. 2001;21:1579-82.

39. Coleman CI, Spencer JV, Chung JO, Reddy P. Possible gatifloxacin-induced fulminant hepatic failure. Ann Pharmacother. 2002;36:1162-7.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.