Uses
Cefoxitin injection is used to treat infections caused by bacteria including pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract (lung) infections; and urinary tract, abdominal (stomach area), female reproductive organs, blood, bone, joint, and skin infections. Cefoxitin injection may also be used before and during surgery, in order to prevent the patient from getting an infection. Cefoxitin injection is in a class of medications called cephamycin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.
Antibiotics such as cefoxitin injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
Side Effects Of Cefoxitin Injection
Cefoxitin injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- pale skin, weakness, or shortness of breath when exercising
- pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding near the place where cefoxitin was injected
- diarrhea
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms stop taking cefoxitin injection and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- watery or bloody stools, stomach cramps, or fever during treatment or for up to two or more months after stopping treatment
- flushing
- rash
- peeling, blistering, or shedding skin
- itching
- hives
- yellow skin or eyes
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- hoarseness
- decreased urination
- swelling in legs and feet
- a return of fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
Cefoxitin injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking cefoxitin injection:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cefoxitin, cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefaclor, cefadroxil,cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cefdinir, cefditoren (Spectracef), cefepime (Maxipime), cefixime (Suprax), cefotaxime (Claforan), cefotetan, cefpodoxime, cefprozil, ceftaroline (Teflaro), ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz), ceftibuten (Cedax), ceftriaxone (Rocephin), cefuroxime (Zinacef), and cephalexin (Keflex); penicillin antibiotics; or any other medications. Also, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in cefoxitin injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin (Neo-Fradin), probenecid (Probalan), streptomycin, and tobramycin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any kind of allergies, myasthenia gravis (a disorder of the nervous system that causes muscle weakness), gastrointestinal disease (GI; affecting the stomach or intestines), especially colitis (a condition that causes swelling in the lining of the colon [large intestine]), or kidney disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking cefoxitin injection, call your doctor.
Cefoxitin Injection Dosage
Cefoxitin injection comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein). Cefoxitin injection is also available as a premixed product to be injected intravenously. It is usually given every six or eight hours. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection you have and how your body responds to the medication.
You may receive cefoxitin injection in a hospital or you may administer the medication at home. If you will be receiving cefoxitin injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you how to use the medication. Be sure that you understand these directions, and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions.
You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with cefoxitin injection. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.
Use cefoxitin injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop using cefoxitin injection too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to cefoxitin injection.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking cefoxitin injection.
If you are diabetic and test your urine for glucose, use Clinistix or TesTape (not Clinitest) to test your urine for sugar while taking this medication.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
