Tygacil

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Tygacil contains the active ingredient tigecycline. It is an antibiotic of the tetracycline class in the glycylcycline subcategory that works by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause infections. Your doctor has prescribed Tygacil because you have one of the following types of serious infections: infection of the skin, including those with resistant bacteria, or infection in the abdomen. For more information, see Section 1. Why am I being treated with Tygacil? in the full CMI.

You should not be given Tygacil if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Tygacil or an intolerance to lactose. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before treatment with Tygacil? in the full CMI.

Some medicines may interfere with Tygacil and affect how it works. A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

Tygacil is given through slow infusion “drip” into a vein by your doctor or nurse. More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is Tygacil given? in the full CMI.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know during treatment with Tygacil? in the full CMI.

Side effects of this medicine may include nausea; vomiting; diarrhoea; dizziness; headache; loss of appetite; stomach pain or heartburn; skin rash and itchiness; low sugar levels in blood which can cause blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, slurred speech and drowsiness; bleed or bruise more easily than normal; yellowing of the skin or eyeballs (jaundice); injection site reaction (pain, redness, inflammation, swelling); abscesses or other infections; abnormal healing; sepsis (rapid heart beat / fever); inflammation of the pancreas (severe upper stomach pain, often with nausea and vomiting); Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (a skin condition with severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals); pneumonia; bleeding following injury taking longer to clot; sudden swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue (allergic reactions).For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.

tigecycline

This leaflet provides important information about using Tygacil. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Tygacil.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

Tygacil contains the active ingredient tigecycline. It is an antibiotic of the tetracycline class in the glycylcycline subcategory that works by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause infections.

Your doctor has prescribed Tygacil because you have one of the following types of serious infections:

Tygacil will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing.

Your doctor should do blood tests before you start and regularly while you are having treatment with Tygacil.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

As with many medicines, Tygacil may harm your developing or breastfeeding baby. This may include permanent staining of the child's teeth.

There is no experience with the use of Tygacil in children under 18 years of age. Tygacil, like other tetracyclines, may cause enamel loss and staining in developing teeth.

There is no evidence that Tygacil is addictive.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Tygacil. These include:

Talk to your doctor about the need for an additional method of contraception while receiving Tygacil.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given Tygacil.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Tygacil.

Your doctor will decide what dose, and how long you will receive it. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as how well your liver is working.

Tygacil is given through slow infusion “drip” into a vein by your doctor or nurse over a period of 30 - 60 minutes every 12 hours.

It is very important that you continue to receive Tygacil for as long as your doctor prescribes it. Your doctor will decide how many days of treatment you need. How long you receive Tygacil will depend on how severe your infection is and how quickly you respond to treatment.

It is unlikely that you will receive an overdose of Tygacil because a trained nurse or doctor will give it.

Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you are concerned that you may have been given too much Tygacil.

Talk to your doctor or nurse immediately if you are concerned that you may have missed a dose.

Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.

Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.

These may be symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas.

If you are about to start any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given Tygacil.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are being given Tygacil.

Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor or consulting with a pharmacist.

Although antibiotics, including Tygacil, fight certain bacteria, other bacteria and fungi may continue to grow. Your doctor will check you for any possible infections and, if necessary, will give you treatment.

Tygacil may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness, or severe sunburn.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Tygacil affects you. Whilst it is unlikely that you will drive or operate machinery when having Tygacil, you need to be aware that Tygacil may cause side effects such as dizziness. This may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

No information is available.

Tygacil is stored in the pharmacy or on the hospital ward under the correct conditions.

The hospital staff will dispose of any leftover Tygacil.

Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are having Tygacil.

Tygacil is effective against certain serious infections for most people but it may have unwanted side effects in some.

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Some of these side effects (for example, abnormal blood test results including low level of protein/platelet in the blood, high levels of liver enzymes, high levels of enzyme found in the salivary glands/ pancreas and increase in blood urea nitrogen) can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Tygacil.

These are serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Therefore, you may need urgent medical attention.

Do not take any medicine for this diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in these lists.

Do not be alarmed by the lists of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

Each Tygacil vial contains 50 mg of tigecycline as the active ingredient.

Tygacil is an orange powder supplied in glass vials. Dissolving the powder in a sterile liquid makes a solution for injection. After mixing, the solution is a yellow to orange colour.

Aust R 147450

Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

Sydney NSW

Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229

www.pfizermedicalinformation.com.au 

This leaflet was prepared in June 2024.

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