Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Ketek, Ketek Pak

Generic Name: telithromycin (Pronunciation: tel IT roe MYE sin)

• What is telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What are the possible side effects of telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What is the most important information I should know about telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• How should I take telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What happens if I overdose (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What should I avoid while taking telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• What other drugs will affect telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?

Telithromycin is in a group of drugs called antibiotics. Telithromycin helps the body fight infection that is caused by bacteria.

Telithromycin is used to treat bacterial infections in the lungs and sinuses.

Telithromycin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?

Telithromycin may cause sudden and serious liver damage. In rare cases, liver failure can develop and may cause death. Stop using the medication and call your doctor right away if you have nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Stop using telithromycin and 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.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• irregular heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• problems with vision (difficulty focusing, drooping eyelid);
• muscle pain or weakness;
• trouble swallowing; or
• loss of balance, coordination, or ability to climb stairs or rise from a chair.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• headache; or
• dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about telithromycin (Ketek, Ketek Pak)?

Telithromycin may cause sudden and serious liver damage. In rare cases, liver failure can develop and may cause death. Stop using the medication and call your doctor right away if you have nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Do not take telithromycin if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap), or if you have a muscle disorder called myasthenia gravis.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction or liver problems caused by telithromycin or similar antibiotics such as erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), troleandomycin (TAO), or dirithromycin (Dynabac).

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