Linezolid is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.

Linezolid is used to treat different types of bacterial infections, such pneumonia, skin infections, and infections that are resistant to other antibiotics.

Linezolid may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use linezolid if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

Many drugs can interact with linezolid. Before using linezolid, tell your doctor about all other medications you use. You may need to stop using certain medicines before using linezolid (in some cases for up to 5 weeks before you start linezolid). During your treatment with linezolid, do not start or stop using any other medications unless your doctor tells you to.

You should not use linezolid if you have untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure, a carcinoid tumor, adrenal gland tumor, or a severely overactive thyroid.

If you take an antidepressant or psychiatric medication, call your doctor right away if you have signs of a serious drug interaction, including: confusion, memory problems, feeling hyperactive (mentally or physically), loss of coordination, muscle twitching, shivering, sweating, diarrhea, and/or fever.

Eating tyramine while you are using linezolid can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels. Avoid foods that have a high level of tyramine, such as aged cheeses or meats, pickled or fermented meats, smoked or air-dried meats, sauerkraut, soy sauce, tap beer, red wine, or any meat, cheese, or other protein-based food that has been improperly stored.

Do not use linezolid if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

Many drugs can interact with linezolid. Before using linezolid, tell your doctor about all other medications you use. You may need to stop using certain medicines before using linezolid (in some cases for up to 5 weeks before you start linezolid). However, do not stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice.

• meperidine (Demerol);

• diet pills, stimulants, cold or allergy medicines, ADHD medication;

• migraine or cluster headache medication such as almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), or zolmitriptan (Zomig);

• medication to treat Parkinson's disease or restless leg syndrome, such as carbidopa or levodopa (Lodosyn, Parcopa, Sinemet), pramipexole (Mirapex), or ropinorole (Requip);

• an "SSRI" antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);

• an "SNRI" antidepressant such as venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), or duloxetine (Cymbalta);

• a "tricyclic" antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or trimipramine (Surmontil); or

• other medications used to treat depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban, Aplenzin), buspirone (BuSpar), maprotiline (Ludiomil), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone, trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro), or vilazodone (Viibryd).

You should not use linezolid if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

• a carcinoid tumor;

• pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor); or

• a severe thyroid disorder.

To make sure you can safely use linezolid, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• a history of high blood pressure;

• epilepsy or a history of seizures;

• a thyroid disorder;

• kidney or liver disease; or

• bone marrow suppression or a weak immune system.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether linezolid is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether linezolid passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

The liquid form may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of linezolid if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).