Ceftazidime Injection

Uses

Ceftazidime injection is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria including pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract (lung) infections; meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and other brain and spinal cord infections; and abdominal (stomach area), skin, blood, bone, joint, female genital tract, and urinary tract infections. Ceftazidime injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.

Antibiotics such as ceftazidime injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Side Effects Of Ceftazidime Injection

Ceftazidime injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding near the place where cefuroxime was injected
  • diarrhea

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking ceftazidime 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
  • swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • hoarseness
  • rash
  • itching
  • peeling, blistering, or shedding skin
  • seizures
  • a return of fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection

Ceftazidime injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

Warnings & Precautions

Before taking ceftazidime injection:

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ceftazidime, other cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cefdinir, cefditoren (Spectracef), cefepime (Maxipime), cefixime (Suprax), cefotaxime (Claforan), cefotetan, cefoxitin (Mefoxin), cefpodoxime, cefprozil, ceftaroline (Teflaro), 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 ceftazidime 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 any of the following: amikacin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin (Neo-Fradin), 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 had recent surgery or trauma; or have or ever had diabetes; cancer; heart failure; gastrointestinal disease (GI; affecting the stomach or intestines), especially colitis (a condition that causes swelling in the lining of the colon [large intestine]); or liver or kidney disease.
  • you should know that ceftazidime injection decreases the effectiveness of some oral contraceptives (‘birth control pills). You will need to use another form of birth control while taking this medication. Talk to your doctor about other ways to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medication.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking ceftazidime injection, call your doctor.

Ceftazidime Injection Dosage

Ceftazidime injection comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid and given intravenously (into a vein) or intramuscularly (into a muscle). Ceftazidime injection is also available as a premixed product to be injected intravenously. It is usually given every 8 or 12 hours until 2 days after all signs and symptoms of the infection have disappeared.

You may receive the injection in a hospital or you may administer the medication at home. If you will be receiving ceftazidime 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 this medication. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.

Take ceftazidime injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop taking ceftazidime 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 ceftazidime injection.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking ceftazidime injection.

If you are diabetic and test your urine for sugar, use Clinistix or TesTape (not Clinitest) to test your urine while taking this medication.

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about ceftazidime injection.

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.