Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Avelox

Descriptions


Moxifloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It is also used to treat and prevent plague (including pneumonic and septicemic plague).

Moxifloxacin belongs to the class of medicines known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of moxifloxacin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of moxifloxacin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart or kidney problems, or develop severe tendon problems (including tendon rupture), which may require caution in patients receiving moxifloxacin.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Bepridil
  • Cisapride
  • Dronedarone
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Mesoridazine
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acarbose
  • Adagrasib
  • Albiglutide
  • Alfuzosin
  • Alogliptin
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Anagrelide
  • Apomorphine
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Asenapine
  • Astemizole
  • Atazanavir
  • Azithromycin
  • Bedaquiline
  • Betamethasone
  • Budesonide
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Buserelin
  • Canagliflozin
  • Ceritinib
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlorpropamide
  • Cholera Vaccine, Live
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Corticotropin
  • Cortisone
  • Cosyntropin
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dapagliflozin
  • Dasatinib
  • Deflazacort
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxepin
  • Droperidol
  • Dulaglutide
  • Ebastine
  • Efavirenz
  • Empagliflozin
  • Encorafenib
  • Entrectinib
  • Eribulin
  • Ertugliflozin
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Etrasimod
  • Exenatide
  • Famotidine
  • Felbamate
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Fluconazole
  • Fludrocortisone
  • Fluocortolone
  • Fluoxetine
  • Formoterol
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fostemsavir
  • Galantamine
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Glasdegib
  • Glimepiride
  • Glipizide
  • Glyburide
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Histrelin
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Hydroquinidine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibutilide
  • Iloperidone
  • Imipramine
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
  • Insulin Bovine
  • Insulin Degludec
  • Insulin Detemir
  • Insulin Glulisine
  • Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lapatinib
  • Lefamulin
  • Lenvatinib
  • Leuprolide
  • Levofloxacin
  • Linagliptin
  • Liraglutide
  • Lixisenatide
  • Lofexidine
  • Lumefantrine
  • Macimorelin
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Mefloquine
  • Metformin
  • Methadone
  • Methotrexate
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Metronidazole
  • Mifepristone
  • Miglitol
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mizolastine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Nafarelin
  • Nateglinide
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nilotinib
  • Norfloxacin
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Ondansetron
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Ozanimod
  • Pacritinib
  • Paliperidone
  • Panobinostat
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Pentamidine
  • Perphenazine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pioglitazone
  • Pipamperone
  • Pitolisant
  • Ponesimod
  • Porfimer
  • Posaconazole
  • Pramlintide
  • Prednisolone
  • Prednisone
  • Primidone
  • Probucol
  • Procainamide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Ranolazine
  • Rasagiline
  • Relugolix
  • Repaglinide
  • Ribociclib
  • Rilpivirine
  • Risperidone
  • Ritonavir
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Saxagliptin
  • Selpercatinib
  • Semaglutide
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Siponimod
  • Sitagliptin
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Solifenacin
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Sulpiride
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tamoxifen
  • Telaprevir
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Tolazamide
  • Tolbutamide
  • Tolterodine
  • Toremifene
  • Trazodone
  • Triamcinolone
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilanterol
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Voglibose
  • Voriconazole
  • Vorinostat
  • Warfarin
  • Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
  • Aluminum Hydroxide
  • Aluminum Phosphate
  • Aminolevulinic Acid
  • Didanosine
  • Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
  • Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
  • Iron
  • Lanthanum Carbonate
  • Magaldrate
  • Magnesium Carbonate
  • Magnesium Hydroxide
  • Magnesium Oxide
  • Magnesium Trisilicate
  • Rifampin
  • Sucralfate
  • Zinc

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Aortic aneurysm (bulge in the wall of the largest artery) or
  • Diabetes or
  • Diarrhea or
  • Heart disease or
  • Heart rhythm problems (eg, bradycardia, prolonged QT interval), or family history of or
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood), uncorrected or
  • Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood), uncorrected or
  • Mental illness, history of or
  • Seizures (epilepsy), or history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Brain disease (eg, hardening of the arteries) or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease (including cirrhosis) or
  • Organ transplant (eg, heart, kidney, or lung), history of or
  • Tendon disorder (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), history of—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.
  • Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness), or history of—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not split, crush or chew it. This medicine may be taken with or without food.

Take this medicine at the same time each day.

Drink plenty of fluids with this medicine to help prevent some unwanted effects.

If you are taking aluminum or magnesium-containing antacids, iron supplements, multivitamins, didanosine (Videx®), sucralfate (Carafate®), or zinc, do not take them at the same time that you take this medicine. It is best to take these medicines at least 4 hours before or 8 hours after taking moxifloxacin. These medicines may keep moxifloxacin from working properly.

Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For infections:
      • Adults—400 milligrams (mg) once every 24 hours.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss a dose and it is 8 hours or more until your next dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, and then go back to your regular schedule. If you miss a dose and it is less than 8 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses of this medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests are needed to check for any unwanted effects.

If you have low potassium levels in the blood, moxifloxacin may increase your risk of having a fast, slow or irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness, or fainting spells. If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you take this medicine.

Serious side effects can occur during treatment with this medicine and can sometimes occur without warning. Possible warning signs include black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, bloody or cloudy urine, chills, decreased urination, diarrhea, fever, joint or muscle pain, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, severe stomach pain, skin rash, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual weight gain, or yellow skin or eyes. Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any of these warning signs.

Moxifloxacin may lower the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. To help with these problems, avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

Moxifloxacin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without checking first with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Moxifloxacin may rarely cause inflammation (tendinitis) or tearing of a tendon (the cord that attaches muscles to bones). This can occur while you are taking the medicine or after you finish taking it. The risk of having tendon problems may be increased if you are over 60 years of age, are using steroid medicines (eg, dexamethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, or Medrol®), have severe kidney problems, have a history of tendon problems (eg, rheumatoid arthritis), or if you have received an organ transplant (eg, heart, kidney, or lung). Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden pain or swelling in a tendon after exercise (eg, ankle, back of the knee or leg, shoulder, elbow, or wrist), bruise more easily after an injury, or are unable to bear weight or move the affected area. Refrain from exercise until your doctor says otherwise.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions (seizures), feeling anxious, confused, or depressed, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, severe headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual thoughts or behaviors.

This medicine may increase your risk for aortic aneurysm (bulge in the wall of the largest artery). Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden chest, stomach, or back pain, trouble breathing, cough, or hoarseness.

Moxifloxacin may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Some people who take moxifloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn, or skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration. When you begin using this medicine:

  • Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM, if possible.
  • Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
  • Apply a sun block product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some people may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
  • Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor right away.

For diabetic patients: This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

  1. Black, tarry stools
  2. bleeding gums
  3. blisters
  4. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
  5. blood in the urine or stools
  6. blurred vision
  7. bone pain
  8. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  9. chest pain or tightness
  10. chills
  11. clay-colored stools
  12. cough
  13. crying
  14. dark urine
  15. deep or fast breathing with dizziness
  16. diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
  17. difficult or labored breathing
  18. difficulty with moving
  19. difficulty with swallowing
  20. discouragement
  21. dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  22. dry mouth
  23. excessive muscle tone
  24. fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  25. feeling of unreality
  26. feeling of warmth or heat
  27. feeling sad or empty
  28. fever
  29. fruit-like breath odor
  30. headache
  31. increased hunger
  32. increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  33. increased thirst
  34. increased urination
  35. irregular heartbeat, recurrent
  36. irritability
  37. itching, skin rash
  38. joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
  39. lack of coordination
  40. loss of appetite
  41. loss of interest or pleasure
  42. lower back, side, or stomach pain
  43. mood or mental changes
  44. muscle cramps, pains, stiffness, tension, or tightness
  45. nausea
  46. nervousness
  47. noisy breathing
  48. numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth
  49. pain in the pelvis
  50. pain, warmth, or burning in the fingers, toes, and legs
  51. painful or difficult urination
  52. pale skin
  53. pinpoint red spots on the skin
  54. pounding in the ears
  55. problems with speech or speaking
  56. problems with vision or hearing
  57. quick to react or overreact emotionally
  58. rapid weight gain
  59. rapidly changing moods
  60. redness or other discoloration of the skin
  61. restlessness
  62. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
  63. seizures
  64. sensation of the skin burning
  65. sense of detachment from self or body
  66. severe sunburn
  67. shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  68. sore throat
  69. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  70. stomach cramps or tenderness
  71. sweating
  72. swelling of the feet or lower legs
  73. swelling or puffiness of the face
  74. swollen glands
  75. thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
  76. tingling of the hands or feet
  77. trouble concentrating
  78. trouble sleeping
  79. unexplained weight loss
  80. unpleasant breath odor
  81. unusual bleeding or bruising
  82. unusual tiredness or weakness
  83. vomiting
  84. vomiting of blood
  85. white patches in the mouth or on the tongue
  86. yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

  1. Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  2. burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
  3. change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
  4. difficulty with chewing or talking
  5. double vision
  6. drooping eyelids
  7. eye pain
  8. general feeling of tiredness or weakness
  9. hives
  10. hoarseness
  11. irregular or slow heart rate
  12. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
  13. light-colored stools
  14. loss of consciousness
  15. muscle weakness
  16. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  17. red, irritated eyes
  18. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  19. severe headache
  20. severe tiredness
  21. stomach pain, continuing
  22. unsteadiness or awkwardness
  23. unusual behavior, including disorientation to time or place, failure to recognize people, hyperactivity, or restlessness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

  1. Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
  2. belching
  3. burning feeling in the chest or stomach
  4. change in sense of smell
  5. change in taste
  6. changes in vision
  7. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  8. difficulty having a bowel movement
  9. excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
  10. fear or nervousness
  11. feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
  12. full feeling
  13. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  14. hearing loss
  15. heartburn
  16. impaired vision
  17. indigestion
  18. itching of the vagina or genital area
  19. lack or loss of strength
  20. loss of memory
  21. pain during sexual intercourse
  22. passing of gas
  23. problems with memory
  24. redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
  25. sensation of spinning
  26. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
  27. sore mouth or tongue
  28. stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.