Is the antibiotic Ketek safe?
Ketek (KEE tek ) or telithromycin tablets is a ketolide
antibiotic. Telithromycin kills certain bacteria or stops its growth.
Ketek kills many of the types of bacteria infections that are found in the
lungs, sinus, and throat. Ketek will not work for colds, flu, or other viral
infections. Since Ketek is rather new on the market, there is no generic
equivalent.
Ketek come in film-coated tablets that are light orange, oval, and imprinted
with H3647 on one side and 400 on the other side. Each Ketek tablet contains 400
mg of the active drug, telithromycin.
What are serious Ketek side effects?
Report these Ketek side effects to your health care professional as soon as
possible:
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difficulty breathing
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fainting spells
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jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes)
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redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the
mouth
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severe or watery diarrhea or persistent diarrhea
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skin rash, itching
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swelling of tongue or throat
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vision problems such as blurred vision, difficulty focusing, and objects
doubled
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vomiting
Ketek side effects that usually do not require medical attention are:
diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and nausea. However, do report the above Ketek
side effects to your healthcare professional if they continue or become
bothersome. It sounds as those the Ketek side effects are more threatening than
the real symptoms.
Worldwide adverse post-marketing Ketek experiences reported:
Allergic reactions: Face edema (facial
swelling), rare reports of severe angioedema (swelling below the surface of the
skin) and anaphylaxis (a sudden and possibly potentially fatal, systemic
allergic reaction that can involve various areas of the body).
Cardiovascular reactions: atrial arrhythmias
(fibrillation)
Liver and biliary reactions: Hepatic
dysfunction, including increased liver enzymes, and and/or cholestatic
hepatitis, with or without jaundice, has been infrequently reported with Ketek.
Musculoskeletal reactions: Muscle cramps,
rare reports of myasthenia gravis (condition in which the body's immune system
fights itself causing problems with the nerves that provide communication to the
muscles resulting in muscle weakness).
Gastrointestinal reactions: Abdominal
distension, stomach upset, flatulence, constipation, watery bowel movements
Before being prescribed Ketek, notify your healthcare professional if you have
the following conditions:
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diarrhea
-
heart disease
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irregular heart beat or abnormal heart beat
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kidney disease
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liver disease
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low blood potassium (hypokalemia) or magnesium (hypomagnesemia)
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myasthenia gravis
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stomach problems (especially colitis)
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other chronic illness
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are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
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breast feeding
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an unusual or allergic reaction to telithromycin or macrolide antibiotics
(such as erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, or dirithromycin)
-
allergic reactions to foods, dyes, or preservatives
Do you need help with serious Ketek liver injury side
effects? Consult an expert Ketek law firm for a free consultation.
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