lincomycin

What is the most important information I should know about lincomycin?

What is lincomycin?

Lincomycin is an antibiotic that is used to treat severe bacterial infections in people who cannot use penicillin antibiotics.

Lincomycin is used only for a severe infection. This medicine will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving lincomycin?

Before you receive lincomycin, tell your doctor if you have a history of intestinal disorder such as ulcerative colitis.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• asthma;
• an intestinal disorder such as colitis;
• severe allergies; or
• liver or kidney disease.

How is lincomycin given?

Lincomycin is injected into a muscle, or as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give your first dose and may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

When injected into a vein, lincomycin must be given slowly, and the infusion can take at least 1 hour to complete.

Lincomycin is sometimes given as an injection into your eye. Your doctor will use a medicine to numb your eye before giving you the injection. You will receive this injection in your doctor's office or other clinic setting.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Lincomycin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using lincomycin.

Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while receiving lincomycin?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine. Stopping the diarrhea can make an intestinal infection worse.

What are the possible side effects of lincomycin?

Antibiotic medicine can cause overgrowth of normally harmless bacteria in the intestines. This can lead to an infection that causes mild to severe diarrhea, even months after your last antibiotic dose. If left untreated this condition can lead to life-threatening intestinal problems.

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);
• little or no urination;
• blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Older adults and those who are ill or debilitated may be more sensitive to the effects of diarrhea caused by this medication.

Common side effects include:

• diarrhea, stomach pain;
• nausea, vomiting, swollen or painful tongue;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• mild itching or rash;
• ringing in your ears; 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 other drugs will affect lincomycin?

Other drugs may affect lincomycin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about lincomycin.

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.

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