Thursday May 03, 2007
Linezolid and side-effects

Thrombocytopenia could be multifactorial in ICU. One of the relatively new cause is Linezolid (Zyvox). But thrombocytopenia with Zyvox usually doesn't occur upto 10 days after the initiation of treatment and reported in upto 32% of patients. Relatively overall its mild, reversible and due to myelosuppression. there is no evidence for anti-platelet or interference with platelet function. Patients with low pre-treatment platelet values have increase risk of thrombocytopenia 6.

Other side-effects include leukopenia, transient elevations of liver transaminases 4 and mild to moderate anemia 5. Cases have been reported of LINEZOLID-INDUCED LACTIC ACIDOSIS 7, 8.


References: click to get abstract/article

1. Hematologic Effects of Linezolid: Summary of Clinical Experience - Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, August 2002, p. 2723-2726, Vol. 46, No. 8
2. Linezolid and reversible myelosuppression. - JAMA 285:1291
3. Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of linezolid for treatment of resistant Gram-positive infections in cancer patients with neutropenia - Annals of Oncology 14:795-801, 2003
4. Zyvox (linezolid) package insert. Pharmacia & Upjohn
5. Linezolid-Induced Anemia and Thrombocytopenia - Pharmacotherapy 22(1):109-112, 2002
6. Linezolid: low pre-treatment platelet values could increase the risk of thrombocytopenia - Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2005 56(2):440-441;
7. LINEZOLID-INDUCED LACTIC ACIDOSIS - Linezolid-induced lactic acidosis. N Eng J Med, 2003; 348 :86 -7.
8. Does Linezolid Cause Lactic Acidosis by Inhibiting Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis? Clinical Infectious Disease2005; 40 :e113 -6