Uses
SiCefuroxime 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); gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease); and skin, blood, bone, joint, and urinary tract infections. Cefuroxime injection may also be used before, during, and sometimes for a brief period after surgery in order to prevent the patient from getting an infection. Cefuroxime injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.
Antibiotics such as cefuroxime 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 Cefuroxime Injection
Cefuroxime injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- vaginal itching
- diarrhea
- pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding near the place where cefuroxime was injected
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking cefuroxime 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
- seizures
- rash
- hives
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- hoarseness
- decreased urination
- swelling in legs and feet
- peeling, blistering, or shedding skin
- a return of fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
- hearing loss, if you are being treated for meningitis
Cefuroxime injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking cefuroxime injection:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cefuroxime; 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), ceftriaxone (Rocephin), and cephalexin (Keflex); penicillin antibiotics; or any other medications. Also, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in cefuroxime 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, anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), chloramphenicol, 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, gastrointestinal disease (GI; affecting the stomach or intestines), especially ulcerative colitis (a condition that causes swelling in the lining of the colon [large intestine]), or kidney or liver disease.
- you should know that cefuroxime injection also 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 breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cefuroxime injection, call your doctor.
Cefuroxime Injection Dosage
Cefuroxime injection comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein) or intramuscularly (into a muscle). Cefuroxime injection is also available as a premixed product to be injected intravenously. It is usually given every six or eight hours for five to ten days.
You may receive cefuroxime injection in a hospital or you may administer the medication at home. If you will be receiving cefuroxime 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 cefuroxime injection. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.
Use cefuroxime injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop using cefuroxime 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 cefuroxime injection.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking cefuroxime 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.
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.
