Before taking gemifloxacin,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to gemifloxacin or any other quinolone or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), delafloxacin (Baxdela), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), and ofloxacin; any other medications; or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in gemifloxacin preparations. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); certain antidepressants; antipsychotics (medications to treat mental illness); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.); diuretics ('water pills'); erythromycin (E.E.S., Eryc, Erythrocin, others); hormone replacement therapy; insulin or other medications to treat diabetes such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl, in Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), tolazamide, and tolbutamide; certain medications for irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), procainamide, quinidine (in Nuedexta), and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine, Sotylize); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); or probenecid (Probalan in Col-Probenecid). Your doctor will need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
if you are taking antacids containing aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide (Maalox, Mylanta, others); or certain medications such as didanosine (Videx) solution; or vitamin or mineral supplements that contain iron, magnesium, or zinc, take gemifloxacin at least 2 hours before or 3 hours after you take these medications.
if you are taking sucralfate (Carafate), take it at least 2 hours after you take gemifloxacin.
tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death). Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a slow or irregular heartbeat, a heart attack, an aortic aneurysm (swelling of the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body), high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in the blood vessels), Marfan syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect the heart, eyes, blood vessels and bones), or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a genetic condition that can affect skin, joints, or blood vessels). Also, tell your doctor if you have a low level of potassium or magnesium in your blood.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking gemifloxacin, call your doctor.
do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how this medication affects you.
plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (sunlamps or tanning beds) and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Gemifloxacin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet light. If your skin becomes reddened, swollen, or blistered, like a bad sunburn, call your doctor.