📋 Indications & Clinical Dosage
*Pneumonia, complicated skin and soft-tissue infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, when other antibacterials cannot be used:*
ORAL: Adult & Children above 12 yrs: 600 mg every 12 hours usually for 10-14 days; max. duration of treatment 28 days; Children birth-11 yr: 10 mg/kg every 8 hr for 10-14 days.
BY IV INF: Adult: 600 mg every 12 hours.
*Lower Respiratory Infection:*
ORAL: Adults & Children above 12 yr: 600 mg every 12 hr for 10-14 days.
Children birth-11 yr: 10 mg/kg orally every 8 hr.
💊 Mode of Administration
Administer IV infusion over 30-120 min. Do not mix or infuse with other medications.
⚠️ Precautions & Warnings
Elderly (increased risk of blood disorders), history of seizures, unless close observation and blood pressure monitoring possible; linezolid should be avoided in uncontrolled hypertension, phaeochromocytoma, carcinoid tumour, thyrotoxicosis, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, or acute confusional states. Patients should avoid consuming large amounts of tyramine-rich foods (such as mature cheese, yeast extracts, undistilled alcoholic beverages, and fermentedsoya bean products)
🔄 Drug Interactions
Adrenergic agents, tramadol. Linezolid is a reversible, non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), should not be given with another MAOI or within 2 weeks of stopping another MAOI. Unless close observation and blood pressure monitoring is possible, avoid in those receiving SSRIs, 5HT1 agonists, tricyclic antidepressants, sympathomimetics, dopaminergics, buspirone, pethidineand possibly other opioid analgesics
⚠️ Adverse Reactions / Side Effects
Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, eosinophilia, headache, nausea, taste disturbances, vomiting, blurred vision, constipation, diaphoresis, dizziness, dry mouth, dyspepsia, electrolyte disturbances, fatigue, fever, gastritis, glossitis, hypertension, hypoaesthesia, insomnia, leucopenia, pancreatitis, paraesthesia, polyuria, pruritus, rash, stomatitis, thirst, thrombocytopenia, tinnitus, tongue & tooth discoloration, anaemia, antibiotic-associated colitis, convulsions, hyponatraemia, lactic acidosis, optic neuropathy (on prolonged therapy), pancytopenia, peripheral neuropathy (on prolonged therapy), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis. Rare: Renal failure, tachycardia, transient ischaemic attacks
🤰 Pregnancy & Lactation Safety
Pregnancy Risk:
Caution advised, use only if potential benefit outweighs risk
Lactation / Breastfeeding:
Caution advised, avoid
🧪 Compatibility & Storage Stability
Compatibility: Stable in D5W, NS, LR.
Y-site administration: See drug to drug IV Compatibility chart
Stability & Storage: Store at 25C (77F); excursions are permitted between 15C-30C (59F-86F). Protect from light. Keep the infusion bags in the overwrap until ready to use. Protect from freezing.