What is Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide)?
Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) is in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) fights bacteria in your body.
Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections affecting the skin and respiratory system. Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) is also used together with other medicines to treat stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.
Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Roxar?
Do not use Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) if you are also using any of the drugs listed below. They can interact with Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) and cause life-threatening heart rhythm disorders:
- astemizole (Hismanal);
- cisapride (Propulsid);
- ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray);
- pimozide (Orap); or
- terfenadine (Seldane).
Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) is usually given for 7 to 14 days (or longer when treating stomach ulcer). Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide)?
Do not use this medication if you are alleric to Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) or to similar medicines such as azithromycin (Zithromax), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) (Rulid, Surlid), or telithromycin (Ketek). Do not use Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) if you are also using any of the drugs listed below. They can interact with Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) and cause life-threatening heart rhythm disorders:
- astemizole (Hismanal);
- cisapride (Propulsid);
- ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray);
- pimozide (Orap); or
- terfenadine (Seldane).
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
- porphyria; or
- a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use clarithcomyin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) 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. Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 6 months of age.
How should I take Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide)
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) tablets and oral supension (liquid) can be taken with or without food.
Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) extended-release tablets (Biaxin XL) should be taken with food Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Shake the oral suspension well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) is usually given for 7 to 14 days (or longer when treating stomach ulcer). Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not keep the oral liquid in a refrigerator.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Symptoms of a Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
What should I avoid while taking Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide)?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.
Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- uneven heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath;
- diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
- nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or
- problems with your hearing.
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
- mild stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach;
- unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth;
- tooth discoloration;
- dizziness, headache, anxiety, confusion;
- skin rash; or
- vaginal itching or discharge.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide)?
Before taking Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide), tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- cilostazol (Pletal);
- bromocriptine (Parlodel);
- omeprazole (Prilosec);
- fluconazole (Diflucan);
- ranitidine bismuth citrate (Tritec);
- rifabutin (Mycobutin);
- sildenafil (Viagra);
- theophylline (Respbid, Theo-Dur, Theoclear, Theochron, Uniphyl);
- cholesterol-lowering medicines such as lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), or cerivastatin (Baycol);
- drugs that weaken your immune system, such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf), or steroids;
- heart rhythm medicine such as digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), disopyramide (Norpace), or quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute);
- HIV medicines such as ritonavir (Norvir) or zidovudine (Retrovir);
- a sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), or triazolam (Halcion); or
- seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Roxithromycin (Roxar or Rulide), or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
What is the shelf life of the pills?
- The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
