This is a
summary of the most important information about Tygacil. For
details, talk to your health care professional.
What
is Tygacil?
-
Tygacil is a
prescription antibiotic medicine injected into the vein for
adults who have complicated skin or intra-abdominal infections
caused by certain strains of bacteria.
- Sometimes
viruses, rather than bacteria, may infect the lungs and sinuses
(for example, the common cold). Tygacil, like all other
antibiotics, does not kill viruses.
-
Tygacil
is in the glycylcycline class of antibiotics.
-
Tygacil should only be
used to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected
to be caused by susceptible bacteria.
-
Tygacil
has not been studied in children under 18 years of age.
Who Should Not Be Given Tygacil?
Do not use Tygacil if
you are allergic to tigecycline or any of the ingredients in
Tygacil.
What are The Risks?
Tygacil is structurally similar to
tetracycline class antibiotics any may have similar side effects,
such as:
- Birth defects. Tygacil may cause birth
defects when administered to pregnant women.
Results of animal studies indicate that Tygacil crosses the
placenta and is found in fetal tissues. Decreased birth weights
and loss of pregnancy have been observed with Tygacil.
- Change
in tooth color. The use of Tygacil can cause a change in tooth
color that does not go away. Tygacil should not be used
during tooth development (last half of pregnancy and up until a
child is 8 years old) unless other drugs are not likely to be
effective or are contraindicated.
-
Pseudomembranous colitis.
Tygacil, like other antibiotic
medicines may cause pseudomembranous colitis. Tygacil can kill
the healthy bacteria in your intestines, causing an overgrowth
of bad bacteria in your colon that can range from mild to
life-threatening. Tell your doctor right away if you get
diarrhea.
- The most
common side effects with Tygacil are
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What
Should I Tell My Health Care Professional?
Before
you start using Tygacil, tell your health care provider if
you:
- are allergic to
tetracycline-type of antibiotics.
-
have severe liver problems.
Your doctor may need
to give you a lower dose of Tygacil.
-
are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant.
The effects on the unborn child are unknown.
-
are breast-feeding. It is not known if Tygacil passes into your
milk.
Are There Any Interactions With Drugs or Foods?
Tell your doctor
about all the medicines you are taking including prescription and
nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tygacil and certain other
medicines may affect each other in the way they work in your body.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you take:
-
warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner
-
birth control medications. Certain antibiotics
may decrease the effectiveness of birth control medications.
How
Am I Given Tygacil?
- Tygacil should only be used
to treat bacterial infections.
-
Tygacil is injected into your vein by your health
care professional.
- You must continue to take
Tygacil exactly as directed, even if you start to feel better
right after receiving it. Your doctor will decide how long you
need to take Tygacil. Skipping doses or not completing the full
course of therapy may decrease the effectiveness of the
treatment and increase the chances that bacteria will return and
not be treatable by Tygacil or other antibiotics in the future.
-
You will usually receive Tygacil for 5 to 14
days, depending on your condition and response to treatment.
Tygacil FDA
Approved 06/2005