Ketek

Generic Name: telithromycin (tel ith row MY sin)
Brand Names: Ketek, Ketek Pak

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Ketek 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 Ketek if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap), or if you have a muscle disorder called myasthenia gravis.

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

Take Ketek 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. Ketek will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

What is Ketek?

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

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

Ketek may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Ketek?

Do not take Ketek if you are allergic to telithromycin, or if you have:

myasthenia gravis;
if you are also taking cisapride (Propulsid) or pimozide (Orap); or
if you have a history of liver problems caused by telithromycin or similar antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., PCE, Erythrocin), azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), troleandomycin (TAO), or dirithromycin (Dynabac).

Before taking Ketek, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

kidney disease;
liver disease;
myasthenia gravis (a nerve and muscle disorder);
low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood;
a heart rhythm disorder; or
a family history of Long-QT syndrome.

If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to use Ketek or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Ketek passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Ketek?

Take Ketek exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take Ketek for longer than your doctor has prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

Ketek can be taken with or without food.

Ketek is usually taken once a day. Try to take Ketek at about the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Ketek is not expected to cause overdose symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking Ketek?

Ketek can cause blurred vision, double vision, or trouble focusing. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

If you also use theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Respbid, Elixophyllin, others), avoid using it within 1 hour before or after you take Ketek.

What are the possible side effects of Ketek?

Ketek 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 Ketek 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.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Talk with your doctor if you have any of these side effects:

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

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.

What other drugs will affect Ketek?

Before taking Ketek, tell your doctor if you are also using any of the following drugs:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
cholesterol-lowering medicine such as simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor);
ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Cafatine, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (Migranal, D.H.E. 45);
a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), temazepam (Restoril);
itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
heart rhythm medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Pronestyl, Procanbid), dofetilide (Tikosyn);
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);
seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal);
metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL);
tacrolimus (Prograf) or sirolimus (Rapamune);
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); or
digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Ketek, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Ketek. 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.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about Ketek written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Telithromycin is available with a prescription under the brand name Ketek. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Ketek 400mg - oval, light orange, film-coated tablets

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Click here for more information on Ketek from the manufacturer.