Dificid

The recommended dose of fidaxomicin is 200 mg taken every 12 hours for 10 days. Fidaxomicin may be taken with or without food.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important that Dificid be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Fidaxomicin must be taken for the recommended duration of treatment, even if you are feeling better. This will reduce the chances of having any remaining bacteria grow back, which could cause another infection that could be harder to treat.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Dificid at room temperature, protect it from direct light and heat, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause anemia (low red blood cells); it may cause stomach ache; it may cause nausea and vomiting; it may lower your white blood cell count, which can lead to fever, chills, sore throat or infections - if you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

200 mg
Each white-to-off-white, film-coated, oblong tablet, debossed with "FDX" on one side and "200" on the other, contains 200 mg of fidaxomicin. Nonmedicinal ingredients: core tablets: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene, magnesium stearate, sodium starch glycolate; coating: polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, talc, polyethylene glycol, lecithin (soy).

Do not take Dificid if you are allergic to fidaxomicin or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between fidaxomicin and any of the following:

• Cyclosporine
• Digoxin
• sodium picosulfate

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Dificid. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Dificid.

Intestinal problems: The safety of fidaxomicin has not been established for people with inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis). Talk to your doctor if you have inflammatory bowel disease because it may increase the risk of side effects.

Kidney Disease: If you have severe kidney disease or if your kidney function is severely reduced, discuss with your doctor how Dificid may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Dificid, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver disease: If you have severe liver disease or if your liver function is severely reduced, discuss with your doctor how Dificid may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Dificid, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Pregnancy: The safety of using fidaxomicin during pregnancy has not been established. Dificid should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Dificid, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if fidaxomicin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Dificid, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using fidaxomicin has not been established for children younger than 18 years of age.

This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Generally, a treatment with this medication lasts several days. Take it for the entire time prescribed in order to achieve the medication's full benefit. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication may be taken with or without food.