Oxazolidinones are a class of antibiotics used to treat serious infections, often after other antibiotics have been ineffective.
Oxazolidinones include the following:
Oxazolidinones work by preventing bacteria from producing proteins they need to grow and multiply.
Oxazolidinones
Drug | Common Uses | Some Potential Side Effects |
|---|---|---|
Serious infections caused by susceptible gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]), Streptococcus | Nausea and diarrhea Headache Anemia and low white blood cell and platelet counts Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy) Visual disturbances Serotonin syndrome (confusion, agitation, tremors, or coma) in some people who have growths that sometimes produce excessive amounts of hormone-like substances (such as serotonin) or take selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, monamine oxidase inhibitors, or some other drugs that affect serotonin levels | |
Complicated skin infections due to susceptible bacteria, including MRSA | Gastrointestinal upset Headache Anemia and a low white blood cell count |
(See also Overview of Antibiotics.)
