Linezolid (Zyvox) — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies

Retail (no-insurance) prices we found for Linezolid range up to about $614.85 depending on pharmacy, form, and quantity. With a free pharmacy discount card, the lowest price we found was $29.64. Your actual price depends on the exact strength, quantity, and pharmacy — see the tables above.

Based on the oral tablet/capsule prices in our data, Canada was cheaper for Linezolid — as low as $2.12/pill in the US versus $1.38/pill in Canada, a difference of about 35%. This compares the single lowest price found on each side, not necessarily the same exact strength.

Yes — our pricing data includes at least one generic listing for Linezolid. Generics contain the same active ingredient and are typically the lowest-cost option; check the price tables above for the generic rows specifically.

Linezolid belongs to the oxazolidinones class of antibiotics. WHO classifies it as an 'Reserve' antibiotic under its AWaRe stewardship framework.

Linezolid (Zyvox) is reserved for serious infections caused by bacteria that have become resistant to more commonly used antibiotics — most notably MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus). It's used for serious skin and soft-tissue infections and pneumonia when one of these resistant organisms is suspected or confirmed — not prescribed as a general first choice for routine infections.

It belongs to its own antibiotic class, the oxazolidinones, which work in a genuinely different way from penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones. That novel mechanism is exactly why it still works against bacteria that have evolved resistance to those older drug classes — and exactly why the WHO classifies it as a "Reserve" antibiotic, meaning it's meant to be held back for cases that truly need it. Using it more broadly than necessary would speed up resistance developing to one of the few remaining reliable options for these infections, which is part of why it's not handed out casually.

Linezolid has weak, reversible activity as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) — a mechanism shared with an older class of antidepressants. That's not why it works as an antibiotic, but it means linezolid can interact with anything else that raises serotonin levels in the body, potentially causing too much serotonin to build up — a reaction called serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening.

Medications that raise this risk include SSRIs and SNRIs (common antidepressants like sertraline, escitalopram, and venlafaxine), tricyclic antidepressants, other MAOIs, triptans (for migraines), and certain opioids, particularly tramadol and meperidine. This is exactly why your prescriber needs your complete medication list — including anything for depression, anxiety, or migraines — before starting linezolid; in many cases, the other medication needs to be paused or an alternative antibiotic chosen instead.

Watch for agitation, confusion, a fast heart rate, high fever, muscle rigidity or twitching, and sweating — these can develop within hours of starting linezolid if there's an interacting medication on board, and need emergency evaluation, not a wait-and-see approach.

Because of linezolid's weak MAOI activity, large amounts of tyramine — a compound found in aged, fermented, and cured foods — can theoretically trigger a spike in blood pressure. The foods most concentrated in tyramine are aged cheeses (like blue cheese or aged cheddar), cured or smoked meats, tap or unpasteurized beer, red wine in large quantities, soy sauce and other fermented soy products, and sauerkraut.

In practice, moderate amounts during a typical short linezolid course (most treatment runs 10 to 28 days) aren't usually a major practical concern the way they would be for someone on a long-term MAOI antidepressant — but it's reasonable to avoid large quantities of these foods and drinks while you're on it, and to ask your prescriber or pharmacist if you're unsure about something specific. Watch for a sudden headache, a racing heart, or a spike in blood pressure symptoms after eating, and mention it to your provider if it happens.

Linezolid is usually prescribed for the shortest course that will clear the infection, and for good reason: two of its more serious risks become meaningfully more likely the longer you're on it.

Low blood counts (myelosuppression). Linezolid can suppress bone marrow function, lowering red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. This shows up as fatigue, unusual paleness, more frequent infections, or easy bruising and bleeding. Anyone on linezolid for more than two weeks typically needs regular blood count monitoring — ask your provider what schedule they're using for you.

Nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or weakness, usually in the hands or feet) and, less commonly, optic neuropathy (blurred vision, changes in color vision, or vision loss) have both been linked to extended linezolid use. Peripheral neuropathy doesn't always fully resolve after stopping the drug, which is why any new numbness, tingling, or vision change during treatment is worth reporting right away rather than waiting to see if it passes.

If your course is being extended beyond the initial plan, it's a reasonable moment to ask your provider how they're monitoring for these specific risks.

Take linezolid exactly as prescribed, with or without food, at evenly spaced intervals — typically every 12 hours. If you're on the oral suspension, shake it gently (not vigorously) before measuring each dose. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue your regular schedule; don't double up.

Before starting, make sure your prescriber has your complete medication list, including antidepressants, migraine medications, over-the-counter cold and allergy products (some contain pseudoephedrine, which linezolid can interact with), and any supplements. Finish the entire course as prescribed — stopping early risks the infection returning and contributes to resistance, which matters more than usual with a reserve-class antibiotic like this one.

Report any of the following promptly rather than waiting for your next appointment: signs of serotonin syndrome (agitation, fever, rapid heartbeat, muscle rigidity, confusion), unusual bruising or bleeding, new numbness or tingling, vision changes, or unusual fatigue with rapid breathing (a rare but serious sign of lactic acidosis).