LINEZOLID SANDOZ FILM COATED TABLET 600MG [SIN14946P]

Product Info

LINEZOLID SANDOZ FILM COATED TABLET 600MG

[SIN14946P]

4.1 Therapeutic indications
Linezolid Sandoz is indicated for the treatment of adults and adolescents (12 years and older) with the following infections caused by susceptible strains of Gram-positive bacteria only. Linezolid is not indicated for the treatment of Gram-negative infections. Specific Gram-negative therapy is required if a concomitant Gram-negative pathogen is documented or suspected (see sections 4.4 and 5.1 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information).

• Community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-sensitive strains only), including cases with concurrent bacteremia, or Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive strains only).

• Nosocomial pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant strains) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-sensitive strains only).

• Uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive strains only) or Streptococcus pyogenes.

• Complicated skin and soft tissue infections, caused by Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant strains), Streptococcus pyogenes or Streptococcus agalactiae.

• Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infections including cases with concurrent bacteremia.

Linezolid should not be initiated as a first line therapy for community-acquired pneumonia or uncomplicated skin infection, but may be considered if resistant strains are suspected or proven or in presence of drug allergy.

4.2 Posology and method of administration
Patients whose therapy is started with linezolid injection may be switched to linezolid tablets with no dosage adjustment.

Elderly patients
No dose adjustment is required.

Patients with renal insufficiency
No dose adjustment is required (see section 5.2 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information).

Patients with severe renal insufficiency (i.e. CL_CR < 30 ml/min): No dose adjustment is required. Due to the unknown clinical significance of higher exposure (up to 10-fold) to the two primary metabolites of linezolid in patients with severe renal insufficiency, linezolid should be used with special caution in these patients and only when the anticipated benefit is considered to outweigh the theoretical risk.

As approximately 30% of a linezolid dose is removed during 3 hours of hemodialysis, linezolid should be given after dialysis in patients receiving such treatment. The primary metabolites of linezolid are removed to some extent by hemodialysis, but the concentrations of these metabolites are still considerably higher following dialysis than those observed in patients with normal renal function or mild to moderate renal insufficiency.

Therefore, linezolid should be used with special caution in patients with severe renal insufficiency who are undergoing dialysis and only when the anticipated benefit is considered to outweigh the theoretical risk.

To date, there is no experience of linezolid administration to patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or alternative treatments for renal failure (other than hemodialysis).

Patients with hepatic insufficiency
No dose adjustment is required. However, there are limited clinical data and it is recommended that linezolid should be used in such patients only when the anticipated benefit is considered to outweigh the theoretical risk (see section 5.2 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information).

Method of administration
The recommended linezolid dose should be administered orally every 12 hours.
Route of administration: Oral use.
The film-coated tablets may be taken with or without food.
The film-coated tablets should be swallowed whole with some water.

4.3 Contraindications
Linezolid is contraindicated in patients who have previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to linezolid or any of the other product components.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Linezolid should not be used in patients taking any medicinal product which inhibits monoamine oxidases A or B (e.g. phenelzine, isocarboxazid) or within two weeks of taking any such medicinal product.

Potential Interactions Producing Elevation of Blood Pressure
Unless patients are monitored for potential increases in blood pressure, linezolid should not be administered to patients with uncontrolled hypertension, pheochromocytoma, thyrotoxicosis and/or patients taking any of the following types of medications: directly and indirectly acting sympathomimetic agents (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine), vasopressive agents (e.g., epinephrine, norepinephrine), dopaminergic agents (e.g., dopamine, dobutamine) (see section 4.5 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information).

Potential Serotonergic Interactions
Unless patients are carefully observed for signs and/or symptoms of serotonin syndrome, linezolid should not be administered to patients with carcinoid syndrome and/or patients taking any of the following medications: serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists (triptans), meperidine or buspirone (see section 4.5 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information).