Xenleta

Based on clinical studies, your symptoms should start to improve within 3 to 5 days of starting Xenleta (lefamulin). The symptoms of pneumonia that the clinical study looked at were cough, the amount of phelgm you have, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Speak with your prescriber if you're not feeling better after several days of starting Xenleta (lefamulin). You might need to get tested for a fungal or viral infection, or you might simply just need a different antibiotic.

It takes about 2 days for most of Xenleta (lefamulin) to leave the body after one dose. This time frame is based on the medication's half-life, which is a measure of the time it takes to get rid of half the amount of medication from the body. Since the liver helps break down and get rid of the medication from the body, Xenleta (lefamulin) might stay longer in the body if you have liver problems.

Xenleta (lefamulin) is available as tablets that are taken by mouth on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal). Swallow tablets with a full glass (6 to 8 ounces) of water. Xenleta (lefamulin) also comes as an IV infusion that's typically used for people in the hospital who can't take the tablets. The antibiotic is infused through a vein over 1 hour.

Yes. It's important to share an updated medication list with your care team so they can check for drug interactions and adjust your treatment plan if needed. Certain medications can affect how much Xenleta (lefamulin) is in your body. Some medications, like verapamil and diltiazem, can raise the amount of Xenleta (lefamulin) in your body and raise the risk for side effects from the antibiotic. Other medications, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and other seizure medications, can lower the amount of Xenleta (lefamulin) and make the antibiotic work less well to treat your infection. Also, it's recommended to avoid medications that cause QT prolongation (a heart rhythm problem), like antipsychotics and certain antidepressants, because taking these medications with Xenleta (lefamulin) can put you at even higher risk for the heart rhythm problem.

No, Xenleta (lefamulin) isn't a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Instead, it's a newer type of antibiotic called pleuromutilin antibiotic. Fluoroquinolones and pleuromutilins work differently to kill bacteria. Fluoroquinolones stop bacteria from making their own genetic material (e.g., DNA), whereas pleuromutilins stop bacteria from making proteins they need to grow and survive. Fluoroquinolones are an older class of antibiotics that can be used for many different types of infections, whereas Xenleta (lefamulin) is only used for community-acquired pneumonia.

Xenleta (lefamulin) isn't recommended during pregnancy because it can potentially cause harm to your baby. As a precaution, people who can get pregnant should use a reliable form of birth control during treatment and for 2 days after the last dose if they're sexually active. If you accidentally take Xenleta (lefamulin) while pregnant, it's encouraged that you enroll in the manufacturer's surveillance program to help researchers learn more about the safety risks to you and your unborn baby. You can enroll in the program by calling 1-855-5NABRIVA.

It's not recommended that you breastfeed while you're taking Xenleta (lefamulin) and for 2 days after your last dose. It's not known whether the antibiotic can get into breast milk. But there's a possibility of serious side effects in your baby, such as heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation). The manufacturer recommends to pump and dump your breast milk while you're taking Xenleta (lefamulin) and for 2 days after your last dose. You can also ask a healthcare professional about other alternatives.