Linezolid
Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic for serious gram-positive infections such as hospital pneumonia, complicated skin infections and some blood infections, sold here as Zyvox 600mg tablets.
What linezolid treats
Linezolid is an antibiotic for gram-positive bacteria, the group that includes MRSA (meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci). It is used for infections that other antibiotics may not clear: pneumonia picked up in hospital, complicated skin and soft-tissue infections, and infections that have reached the bloodstream. Illnesses like these are treated in hospital, and a blood infection can develop into sepsis, the body's extreme reaction to an infection. The linezolid sold here is Zyvox 600mg tablets.
How it works
Bacteria make their proteins on ribosomes, and linezolid attaches to the ribosome before the protein chain has even begun. That is earlier than macrolides and similar antibiotics step in, so bacteria that have learned to resist those drugs can still be vulnerable to linezolid. With no new protein being made, the bacteria cannot grow or repair themselves, the infection stops spreading, and the body's defences clear the remainder.
Taking the tablets
The usual adult dose is 600mg every 12 hours — one tablet in the morning, one in the evening — with or without food. Swallow them whole with water. Finish the whole course even if you feel better after a few days, because a partly treated infection can come back. Hospitals also use linezolid as an oral liquid and as a drip when tablets are not an option. Keep the blister strip somewhere dry and out of the sun.
A few combinations need care. Linezolid is not taken with MAOI antidepressants, and pairing it with an SSRI, an SNRI or a nasal decongestant can cause serotonin syndrome (agitation, shivering, sweating, a racing heartbeat) or a sharp rise in blood pressure.
Side effects
Diarrhoea, nausea, headache and a metallic taste are the ones people mention most, and some notice a sore or discoloured tongue. A handful of effects are more serious. The blood count can fall, which may show as unusual bruising, nosebleeds or a sore throat with fever. Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and eyesight changes such as blurred vision, have been reported with courses lasting more than a few weeks. Rarely, an allergic reaction is severe, with swelling of the lips or throat and difficulty breathing, and that needs emergency treatment.
The Zyvox 600mg tablet
Zyvox 600mg is the strength used for most adult infections, and it is the only linezolid product in the shop's antibiotics category. Tablets are the form sold here; the liquid and drip versions stay in hospitals.
Sources
- Linezolid: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Sepsis - NHS — NHS
Where can I order Linezolid for delivery in Hong Kong?
Linezolid can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong, listed here as generic Zyvox tablets in 600mg. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free, and if that is not possible the order is refunded.
What is the price of Linezolid?
Zyvox is priced per pack: its page lists every strength and pack size with the current price in HKD or your chosen currency.
Do I need a prescription to order Linezolid?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order linezolid. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for linezolid?
Zyvox is a brand name of linezolid, which is also sold as Linox. Here, linezolid can be bought online as generic Zyvox. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long is a course of linezolid?
Most courses last 10 to 14 days. Infections in the blood, bone or heart valves are sometimes treated for several weeks, and stubborn infections can run longer still. Whatever the length, the tablets work best when the whole course is taken rather than stopped once symptoms ease.
Can I eat cheese or drink beer with linezolid?
Small amounts are fine. Linezolid mildly blocks monoamine oxidase, the enzyme that breaks down tyramine from food, so a large helping of tyramine-rich food can push blood pressure up. Matured cheese, cured or fermented meats, soy sauce, sauerkraut and draught beer are the foods to limit while you take the course.
Is Zyvox the same as linezolid?
Linezolid is the active ingredient; Zyvox is the brand name the medicine was first marketed under. A Zyvox tablet contains linezolid and nothing else active, and the 600mg strength is taken twice a day.
Does linezolid work for a cold or flu?
No. Linezolid only acts on certain gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA and VRE, and it has no effect on the viruses that cause colds, flu and most sore throats. That is why it is kept for infections that are harder to treat rather than used routinely.
What should I do if I miss a dose of linezolid?
Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, as long as your next dose is still a few hours off. If the two would land close together, take one and leave the other. Never take two tablets at once to make up for a missed dose.