• Canadian Brand Names: Chloromycetin®;Chloromycetin® Succinate;Diochloram®;Pentamycetin®
• Mexican Brand Names: Cloramfeni Ofteno;Cloran;Clordil;Exacol;Oftadil;Westenicol
• Pharmacologic Category: Antibiotic, Miscellaneous

• This medicine is used to prevent or treat a variety of bacterial infections.
• Chloramphenicol works to injure the bacteria and fight the infection.

How to take

• This medicine is given as a shot into a vein.

Missed Dose

• Call healthcare provider for instructions.

Storage

• This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.

Warnings

• Chloramphenicol may cause blood problems. This may result in a greater chance of infection, bleeding problems, or slow healing. Be careful when using regular toothbrushes, floss, or dental picks; bleeding from gums may occur. Your healthcare provider may need to check blood work while you are taking this medicine.

Avoid

• If you have an allergy to chloramphenicol or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Bone marrow disease, liver disease, low blood cell count, or poor kidney function.
• If you have G6PD deficiency.

Precautions

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

Side Effects

• Abnormal taste. This is usually reversible.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea. Yogurt, Bifidobacterium bifidum, or Lactobacillus acidophilus may help. These products are available at health food stores or in some pharmacies.
• Anemia, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count can rarely occur.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
• For females, vaginal yeast infection. Report itching or discharge.
• A small number of people may develop low blood pressure or increased acid in the blood.

Monitoring

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

Contact a healthcare provider

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Severe diarrhea, even after medicine is stopped.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

General Statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada return any unused drugs back to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th for more facts about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

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