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Brand Names: Tygacil

Generic Name: tigecycline (Pronunciation: tye ge SYE kleen)

• What is tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• What are the possible side effects of tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• What is the most important information I should know about tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• How should I use tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Tygacil)?
• What happens if I overdose (Tygacil)?
• What should I avoid while using tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• What other drugs will affect tigecycline (Tygacil)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is tigecycline (Tygacil)?

Tigecycline is a tetracycline-like antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.

Tigecycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections of the skin or the digestive system.

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

What are the possible side effects of tigecycline (Tygacil)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using tigecycline and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• severe headache, pain behind your eyes, ringing or throbbing in your ears, problems with vision, and nausea or vomiting;
• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
• feeling like you might pass out; or
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia);
• increased sweating; or
• vaginal yeast infection.

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 is the most important information I should know about tigecycline (Tygacil)?

Do not use this medication if you are pregnant. Babies born to mothers who use tigecycline during late pregnancy can have permanent tooth discoloration. Do not use tigecycline without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Tigecycline can make birth control pills less effective. Use a second method of birth control while you are using tigecycline to keep from getting pregnant.

It is not known whether tigecycline passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Children younger than 8 years old should not use tigecycline. Tigecycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration.

Before using tigecycline, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or if you are allergic to antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).

Tigecycline is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. You may need to use the medication for as long as 2 weeks. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Tigecycline will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Tigecycline can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.