Warnings/PrecautionsTell your doctor your medical history, especially of: high blood pressure (hypertension), blood disorders (low blood counts), chronic infection, any allergies you may have. Tell your doctor if you have had diarrhea and stomach pain while taking other antibiotics. This may be a symptom of a different infection (pseudomembranous colitis) that requires another medication. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: apraclonidine, brimonidine, bethanidine, bupropion, buspirone, carbamazepine, dextromethorphan, entacapone, herbal products (e.g., ma huang), indoramin, meperidine, papaverine, sibutramine, SSRI antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, citalopram), sympathomimetics (e.g., methylphenidate, ephedrine), tolcapone, tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, doxepin), "triptans" (e.g., sumatriptan, zolmitriptan). If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting zyvox. Before using this medication, tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use especially: other antibiotics, other drugs which can depress the bone marrow (e.g., cancer chemotherapy), other MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Avoid these products while taking this medication. Ask your pharmacist for additional information. Limit your tyramine intake while using this medication and for 2 days after stopping treatment. Also avoid foods or drinks with high tyramine content during use because the combination may cause a serious rise in your blood pressure. Foods high in tyramine include those that may change as a result of aging, fermentation, pickling, or smoking. The tyramine content of any protein-rich food (meats, fish and dairy products) may increase if stored for long periods or improperly refrigerated. Some foods high in tyramine include aged cheeses (0 to 15mg per ounce); fermented or air-dried meats (0.1 to 8mg per ounce); sauerkraut (8mg per 8 ounces); soy sauce (5mg per 1 teaspoon); tap beers (4mg per 12 ounces); red wines (0 to 6mg per 8 ounces). Total intake of tyramine should be less than 100mg per meal. Tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you notice symptoms of high blood pressure such as fast or pounding heartbeat, vomiting, sweating or headache, chest pain, sudden vision changes, one-sided weakness or slurred speech. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor, pharmacist or dietician) for more information, including recommendations for your diet. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
