Blujepa
Blujepa (gepotidacin) is an antibiotic pill used to treat certain common infections, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and gonorrhea in some people 12 years and older. It's the first antibiotic in a new class that works differently from others. The dose is taken twice a day for 5 days for a UTI, or as two high doses 12 hours apart for gonorrhea. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.
What is Blujepa (gepotidacin)?
What is Blujepa (gepotidacin) used for?
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women and girls 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kg (88 lbs)
- Uncomplicated urinary and genital gonorrhea in people 12 years and older who weigh at least 45 kg (99 lbs) when other treatment options aren't available
How Blujepa (gepotidacin) works
Blujepa (gepotidacin) is a triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic. It works by blocking two important enzymes (proteins) that certain bacteria need to grow and survive.
Drug facts
Side effects of Blujepa (gepotidacin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
UTI:
- Diarrhea (16%)
- Nausea (9%)
- Stomach pain (4%)
- Passing gas (3%)
- Headache (2%)
- Soft stool (2%)
- Dizziness (2%)
- Vomiting (2%)
- Vaginal yeast infection (1%)
Gonorrhea:
- Diarrhea (49%)
- Nausea (24%)
- Stomach pain (8%)
- Vomiting (6%)
- Passing gas (6%)
- Dizziness (5%)
- Soft stool (5%)
- Headache (3%)
- Tiredness (3%)
- Sweating (2%)
Less Common Side Effects
UTI:
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Feeling faint
- Slurred speech
- Muscle spasms
- Hot flush
- Fast heart rate
- Blurred vision
- Tiredness
- Rash
- Sweating
Gonorrhea:
- Rash
- Fast heart rate
- Slurred speech
- Feeling faint or fainting
- Muscle spasms
- Joint pain
- Hot flush
- Bloating
- Blurred vision
- Drooling
Blujepa (gepotidacin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Abnormal heart rhythm (QT prolongation): fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, feeling faint, passing out
- Infectious (C. difficile-related) diarrhea: diarrhea that doesn't go away, watery diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, stomach cramps
- Acetylcholine build up: slurred speech, muscle spasms, feeling faint, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, more saliva in the mouth, more sweating
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, rash, swelling in the face or throat, feeling faint or dizzy
More on Blujepa (gepotidacin) side effects
The following Blujepa (gepotidacin) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Increased saliva or tears, increased sweating, stomach cramping, diarrhea, small pupils, unusual weakness or fatigue, slow heartbeat
- Seizures
- Severe diarrhea, fever
- Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Blujepa (gepotidacin)
Pros
- Only need to take it for a short amount of time
- Might work better for some people when other treatments haven’t helped
- Approved for adults and children as young as 12 years old
Cons
- Commonly causes diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain
- Interacts with many medications
- Not recommended for people with serious kidney or liver problems
Pharmacist tips for Blujepa (gepotidacin)
- It's a good idea to take Blujepa (gepotidacin) after a meal to help lower the chance of stomach-related side effects like diarrhea and stomach pain.
- Take all of your Blujepa (gepotidacin) doses. Don't stop taking it even if you start to feel better. Stopping too soon could cause the infection to come back or become harder to treat.
- Get medical help right away if you develop watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, tiredness, or stomach cramps anytime during treatment or after stopping Blujepa (gepotidacin). These could be signs of C. difficile-related diarrhea, which needs treatment right away.
- Blujepa (gepotidacin) can affect your heart rhythm. Get medical help and call your prescriber if you feel faint, have fast or skipped heartbeats, or lose consciousness.
- Side effects from Blujepa (gepotidacin) can include slurred speech, dizziness, muscle spasms, nausea, and sweating. Let your prescriber know if you have these symptoms or if you have conditions or take medications that affect your nervous system.
- Share a list of all medications and supplements with your prescriber because Blujepa (gepotidacin) can interact with many common medications.
Common questions about Blujepa (gepotidacin)
Yes. Blujepa (gepotidacin) became available during the second half of 2025.
Blujepa (gepotidacin) was approved by the FDA to treat uncomplicated UTI for women and girls 12 years and older in March 2025. It was later approved to treat urinary and genital gonorrhea for people 12 years and older in December 2025.
For uncomplicated UTIs, studies showed that Blujepa (gepotidacin) worked as well as or even better than nitrofurantoin. For gonorrhea, studies showed that Blujepa (gepotidacin) worked as well as ceftriaxone and azithromycin used together.
There isn't enough information to know if Blujepa (gepotidacin) is safe to take during pregnancy. If you find out that you're pregnant while taking this medication, contact a healthcare professional right away. It's recommended to enroll in a pregnancy registry to help track the safety of this medication for you and your baby by calling 1‑888‑825‑5249.
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Risks and warnings for Blujepa (gepotidacin)
Blujepa (gepotidacin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation)
- Risk factors: Heart problems | Taking other medications that can cause QT prolongation | Taking medications that raise levels of Blujepa (gepotidacin) | Kidney problems | Liver problems | Electrolyte imbalance
Blujepa (gepotidacin) can affect your heart rhythm by causing a condition called QT prolongation, which can be serious or even life-threatening. Your risk is higher if you have heart problems or take other medications that can cause heart rhythm problems. Some medications also interact with Blujepa (gepotidacin) to cause it to build up in your body, increasing this risk. Be sure to tell your prescriber about your full medical history and all medications you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements. If you feel a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or feeling faint while taking Blujepa (gepotidacin), call 911 right away.
Build-up of acetylcholine
- Risk factors: Taking medications that affect acetylcholine | Certain medical conditions
Blujepa (gepotidacin) can cause a chemical in your nervous system called acetylcholine to build up. This can lead to side effects like diarrhea, more sweating, more saliva in your mouth, slurred speech, and muscle spasms. In rare cases, it can cause slow heart rate, seizures, breathing problems, or fainting. Tell your prescriber if you experience any of these symptoms.
Because Blujepa (gepotidacin) raises acetylcholine levels, it can interfere with other medications that also affect this chemical. For example, it can exaggerate effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (medications used for Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis, and more). It can also cause anticholinergic medications to not work as well. Some examples of anticholinergic medications include ipratropium, benztropine, and dicyclomine. Make sure to tell your care team about all medications and supplements you take, so they can check for possible interactions.
Severe allergic reactions
Blujepa (gepotidacin) can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Get medical attention right away if you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction such as a rash, swelling in your face or throat, or trouble breathing.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
Although rare, Blujepa (gepotidacin) can raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), which can lead to severe diarrhea. Antibiotics like Blujepa (gepotidacin) can change the normal bacteria in your gut, allowing C. diff to overgrow and cause infection. This type of infection can happen during treatment or even up to 2 months after stopping the antibiotic.
If you develop diarrhea while taking Blujepa (gepotidacin), especially if it's severe or doesn't go away, tell your healthcare team right away. It's important to know the difference between mild diarrhea (a common side effect) and this type of infectious diarrhea. C. diff-related diarrhea can cause watery diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, stomach cramps. If you have these symptoms, get medical help right away to be tested and treated.
Blujepa (gepotidacin) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750mg of | 8 tablets | $735.85 | $91.98 |
Typical dosage for Blujepa (gepotidacin)
- UTI: The typical dose is 1,500 mg (two 750 mg tablets) by mouth twice a day for 5 days.
- Gonorrhea: The typical dose is 3,000 mg (four 750 mg tablets) by mouth, followed by another 3,000 mg (four 750 mg tablets) about 12 hours later.
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How much does Blujepa (gepotidacin) cost?
$735.85
What are alternatives to Blujepa (gepotidacin)?
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