Dificid (Fidaxomicin)

BEFORE you use DIFICID talk to your doctor or pharmacist:

• If you have severe kidney problems or severe liver problems
• If you have inflammatory bowel disease
• If you have any allergies to this drug or its ingredients or components of the container
• If you have a known allergy to other antibiotics
• If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. You should not take DIFICID if you are pregnant, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• If you are breastfeeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. It is not known whether fidaxomicin passes into breast milk.
• DIFICID should not be used in children or adolescents less than 18 years of age, as there is no information on the use in that population.

DIFICID may cause the following side effects:

• nausea, constipation, vomiting
• decreased appetite
• dizziness, headache
• dry mouth, altered taste (dysgeusia)
• bloated feeling, wind (flatulence)

DIFICID can cause abnormal blood test results (i.e., increased or abnormal liver enzymes). Your doctor will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.

Usual adult dose:

The recommended dose is one tablet (200 mg) twice daily (one tablet every 12 hours) for 10 days.

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. You can take DIFICID before, during or after meals.

Full course of medication should be completed as prescribed.

Overdose:

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed dose:

Take the tablet as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.