Linzowel Adverse Reactions

The adverse effects most frequently reported in patients receiving Linezolid include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, metallic taste, headache, insomnia, constipation, rashes, dizziness, fever, oral and vaginal candidiasis, and abnormal liver function tests. Lactic acidosis has been reported. There have been rare reports of bullous skin eruptions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Peripheral and optic neuropathy, sometimes progressing to loss of vision, have occurred rarely, mainly in patients receiving Linezolid for more than 28 days. Visual blurring has been reported in some patients who received less than 28 days of treatment. Reversible myelosuppresson including anemia, leukopenia, pancytopenia and, in particular, thrombocytopenia has been reported and blood counts should be monitored weekly in patients receiving Linezolid. Patients particularly at risk are those who have received Linezolid for more than 10 to 14 days, who are receiving other bone marrow suppressant drugs, or who have pre-existing myelosuppression or severe renal impairment.
Effects on blood: Reversible myelosuppression with red cell hypoplasia occurred in 3 patients treated with Linezolid.
Features of the myelosuppression were considered by some to be similar to those associated with chloramphenicol, although this was disputed by the manufacturers. There have been reports of thrombocytopenia occurring at a higher incidence than that reported by the manufacturers in one study, 6 of 19 patients who had been treated with Linezolid developed thrombocytopenia while another found that it occurred in 23 of 48 patients who had received the drug for more than 45 days.
Effects on the nervous system: Linezolid treated patient with new visual symptoms should be evaluated promptly and referred to an ophthalmologist if necessary regular monitoring is advised in all patients who may require treatment for more than 28 days.