What is it and how is it used?
Ketek is an antibiotic of the type macrolides. Antibiotics stop the growth of bacteria which cause infections.
Ketek is used to treat infections due to bacteria against which the medicine is active.
What do you have to consider before using it?
Do not take Ketek:
Take special care with Ketek:
If any of these apply to you, or if you are not sure, tell your doctor before taking Ketek. If you develop severe or prolonged or bloody diarrhoea during or after taking Ketek tablets, consult your doctor immediately since it may be necessary to interrupt the treatment. This may be a sign of bowel inflammation which can occur following treatment with antibiotics.
Ketek is not recommended for use in children and adolescents less than 12 years old.
Refer also to sections “Do not take Ketek”, “Taking other medicines” and “Driving and using machines”.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, as some of them could affect or be affected by Ketek.
These medicines must not be taken with Ketek:
It is important to tell your doctor if you are taking:
Taking Ketek with food and drink
Ketek may be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant do not take Ketek as the safety of this medicine in pregnancy is insufficiently established. If you are breast-feeding do not take Ketek.
Driving and using machines
Limit driving or other hazardous activities while taking Ketek. If you have vision problems, faint or experience confusion or hallucination while taking Ketek, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or engage in dangerous activities.
Taking Ketek may cause side effects such as visual disturbances, confusion or hallucination, which may reduce the capacity to carry out certain tasks. Rare cases of fainting (transient loss of consciousness), which may be preceded by a general feeling of being sick (e.g. nausea, stomach upsets) have been reported. These symptoms may appear as early as after the first dose of Ketek.
How is it used?
Your doctor will tell you how many Ketek tablets to take, at what time and for how long.
The usual duration of treatment is 5 days for infections of the throat, infections of the sinuses, chest infections in patients with long standing breathing difficulties and 7 to 10 days for pneumonia.
The recommended dose of Ketek for adults and children of 12 years and older is two tablets of 400 mg once daily (800 mg once daily).
If you have kidney problems (severe renal insufficiency) you should take alternating daily doses of 800 mg (two tablets of 400 mg) and 400 mg (one tablet of 400 mg), starting with the 800 mg dose.
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
It is best to take tablets at the same time each day. If possible take the tablets before going to bed,to reduce the potential impact of visual disturbances and loss of consciousness.
If you take more Ketek than you should
If you accidentally take one tablet too many, nothing is likely to happen. If you accidentally take several tablets too many, contact your doctor or pharmacist. If possible, take your tablets or the box with you to show the doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to take Ketek
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose skip the missed dose and take the next tablet at the usual time.
If you stop taking Ketek
Take the complete course of tablets prescribed by your doctor, even if you begin to feel better before you have finished them all. If you stop taking the tablets too soon, the infection may return, or your condition may get worse.
If you stop taking the tablets too soon you may also create a bacterial resistance to the medicine.
If you feel you are suffering from a side effect, tell a doctor immediately to get advice before taking the next dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What are possible side effects?
Like all medicines Ketek can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most of them are mild and transient, but very rare cases of serious adverse liver reactions and liver failure, including fatal cases, have been reported.
The side effects are described into the following frequencies
very common: affects more than 1 user in 10
common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100
uncommon: affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000
rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000
very rare: affects less than 1 user in 10,000
If you notice any of the following, stop taking Ketek and tell your doctor immediately:
The above serious side effects may require urgent medical attention.
The other side effects listed below are given with an estimation of the frequency with which they may occur with Ketek:
Very common side effects
Common side effects
Uncommon or rare side effects
Very rare side effects
Additional side effects (frequency unknown) which may occur with Ketek are:
If any of these undesirable effects are troublesome, severe, or do not wear off as treatment goes on, tell your doctor.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How should it be stored?
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not use Ketek after the expiry date which is stated on the pack.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
