 When used for short periods , linezolid is a relatively safe drug . Common side effects of linezolid use ( those occurring in more than 1 % of people taking linezolid ) include diarrhea ( reported by 3 – 11 % of clinical trial participants ) , headache ( 1 – 11 % ) , nausea ( 3 – 10 % ) , vomiting ( 1 – 4 % ) , rash ( 2 % ) , constipation ( 2 % ) , altered taste perception ( 1 – 2 % ) , and discoloration of the tongue ( 0 @.@ 2 – 1 % ) . Fungal infections such as thrush and vaginal candidiasis may also occur as linezolid suppresses normal bacterial flora and opens a niche for fungi ( so @-@ called antibiotic candidiasis ) . Less common ( and potentially more serious ) adverse effects include allergic reactions , pancreatitis , and elevated transaminases , which may be a sign of liver damage . Unlike some antibiotics , such as erythromycin and the quinolones , linezolid has no effect on the QT interval , a measure of cardiac electrical conduction . Adverse effects in children are similar to those that occur in adults . 
