News
Public Communication - Health Canada Endorsed Important Safety Information on Ketek(telithromycin)
Sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., in consultation with Health Canada, would like to inform Canadian consumers of important new changes regarding the antibiotic KETEK(R) (telithromycin).
"Do not take the antibiotic KETEK(R) to treat bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis or pharyngitis (sore throat)."
Upon review of the available safety information, including reported cases of severe liver problems, Health Canada has determined that the antibiotic KETEK(R) should no longer be prescribed or used to treat bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis/pharyngitis (sore throat). If you are prescribed KETEK(R) for any of these conditions, ask your doctor about using other antibiotics instead.
KETEK(R) can still be used to treat community-acquired pneumonia ("CAP"). Before taking KETEK(R), discuss the possible side effects with your doctor, such as liver injury, fainting and difficulty seeing properly.
You should not take KETEK(R) if you have myasthenia gravis (a disease involving muscle weakness) or if you have had jaundice, hepatitis, or other signs of liver injury while or after taking KETEK(R) or macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin (Biaxin(R)), azithromycin (Zithromax(TM)) or
erythromycin).
Complete product information will be available in the official Canadian Product Monograph for KETEK(R) (see Part III: CONSUMER INFORMATION). The revised Product Monograph will be posted at www.sanofi-aventis.ca as soon as it is available.