| drug name | Linezolid |
| classification | Oxazolidinone Antibacterial |
| pharmacokinetics | | absorption | Well absorbed orally, peak plasma concentrations typically reached within 1-2 hours of oral administration. Absorption may be affected by food. | | distribution | Distributes widely throughout body tissues and fluids, including the central nervous system. Concentrations in tissues often exceed those in plasma. | | metabolism | Metabolized to a lesser extent, primarily by non-hepatic pathways. | | excretion | Excreted primarily unchanged in the urine. Renal impairment can affect clearance. |
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| suggested dosage | | adult | 600 mg orally every 12 hours. | | renal impairment | Dosage adjustments are necessary based on creatinine clearance. Consult with a healthcare professional for specific dosage recommendations. | | weight | Dosage is not typically weight-dependent but is still dependent on renal function. |
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| indications | | 1 | Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) | | 2 | Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) | | 3 | Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) | | 4 | Intra-abdominal infections | | 5 | Bacteremia and other serious infections. | | 6 | Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections |
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| safety in pregnancy | Limited data on human use, especially in the first trimester. Risks and benefits should be carefully weighed by the prescribing physician, and its use during pregnancy should only be considered if necessary and the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. |
| safety in breastfeeding | Linezolid may be present in breast milk. The potential benefits and risks should be considered by the mother and healthcare provider, and consultation with a healthcare professional is recommended. |
| side effects | | 1 | Nausea, vomiting | | 2 | Diarrhea | | 3 | Headache | | 4 | Peripheral neuropathy (especially with prolonged use) | | 5 | Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) | | 6 | Myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression) | | 7 | Activation of latent tuberculosis | | 8 | Depression | | 9 | Seizures | | 10 | Neurological dysfunction | | 11 | Liver dysfunction | | 12 | Hypotension | | 13 | Pain |
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| alternatives | |
| contraindications | | 1 | Known hypersensitivity to linezolid or other oxazolidinones. | | 2 | Concurrent use with MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) due to potentially life-threatening hypertensive crisis. |
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| interactions | | 1 | MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) - absolutely contraindicated | | 2 | Methylene blue - potentiates thrombocytopenia | | 3 | Alcohol - caution with use due to potential central nervous system effects. |
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| warnings and precautions | | 1 | Monitor complete blood count (CBC) periodically during treatment, especially during the first few months of therapy. | | 2 | Careful monitoring for neurotoxicity, especially with prolonged therapy. | | 3 | Caution in patients with a history of renal or hepatic dysfunction. | | 4 | Advise patients to inform their healthcare provider about any other medications they are taking. | | 5 | Possible activation of latent tuberculosis. Patients with a history of tuberculosis should be monitored. |
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| additional information | | special notes | Linezolid is a bacteriostatic antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis. Careful dosage adjustments are often needed due to renal excretion and the risk of side effects. | | mechanism of action | Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis at a unique site. Effective against a broad range of Gram-positive bacteria. | | administration | Oral or intravenous administration. |
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| patient information | | age | 25 years old | | weight | 70 kg | | specific considerations | General precautions for any patient group apply. Monitoring for side effects is important, particularly for neurological effects, as patients of this age have a higher likelihood of experiencing potential neurological issues |
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