Uses
Ceftriaxone injection is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease), pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the female reproductive organs that may cause infertility), meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), and infections of the lungs, ears, skin, urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and abdomen. Ceftriaxone injection is also sometimes given before certain types of surgery to prevent infections that may develop after the operation. Ceftriaxone injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.
Antibiotics such as this 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 Ceftriaxone Injection
Ceftriaxone injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- pain, tenderness, hardness, or warmth in the place where ceftriaxone was injected
- pale skin, weakness, or shortness of breath when exercising
- diarrhea
Some side effects of ceftriaxone injection can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- rash
- bloody, or watery stools, stomach cramps, or fever during treatment or for up to two or more months after stopping treatment
- stomach tenderness, pain, or bloating
- nausea and vomiting
- heartburn
- chest pain
- severe pain in the side and back below the ribs
- painful urination
- decreased urination
- urinating more often than usual
- pink, brown, red, cloudy, or bad-smelling urine
- swelling in legs and feet
- a return of fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
- peeling, blistering, or shedding skin
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- swelling of the throat or tongue
- seizures
Ceftriaxone injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before using ceftriaxone injection:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ceftriaxone; carbapenem antibiotics; 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), ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz), ceftibuten (Cedax),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 the 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 with ceftriaxone injection. Be sure to mention any of the following: chloramphenicol, and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
- tell your doctor if your child was born prematurely or is younger than 4 weeks of age. Your doctor may not want your baby to receive ceftriaxone injection.
- tell your doctor if you or if you have or have ever had any kind of allergies, problems with your digestive system especially colitis (inflammation of the large intestine), malnutrition (you do not eat or cannot digest the nutrients needed for good health), problems with your vitamin K levels, or kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using ceftriaxone injection, call your doctor.
Ceftriaxone Injection Dosage
- Ceftriaxone injection comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid, or as a premixed product, to be injected intravenously (into a vein) over a period of 30 or 60 minutes. The medication can also be given intramuscularly (into a muscle). It is sometimes given as a single dose and sometimes given once or twice a day for 4-14 days, depending on the type of infection being treated.
- You may receive ceftriaxone injection in a hospital or doctor’s office, or you may administer the medication at home. If you will be receiving ceftriaxone 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 your treatment with ceftriaxone injection. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.
- If you will be using more than one dose of the medication, use it until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop using ceftriaxone 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 ceftriaxone injection.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking ceftriaxone 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.
Ceftriaxone injection may interfere with certain home blood glucose tests. If you test your blood glucose levels, check the instructions of your blood glucose monitoring system to see if ceftriaxone injection will affect your system. You may need to use a different method to test your glucose levels while you are receiving ceftriaxone 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.
