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What is cefoxitin injection?
Cefoxitin is in a group of drugs called cephalosporin (SEF a low spor in) antibiotics. It works by fighting bacteria in your body. Cefoxitin is used to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening forms. Cefoxitin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What are the possible side effects of cefoxitin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• swelling, pain, or irritation where the injection was given;

• skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;

• feeling light-headed, fainting;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• seizure (black-out or convulsions); or

• jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin).

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

• mild skin rash; or

• vaginal itching or discharge.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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How is cefoxitin given?
Cefoxitin is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be given instructions on how to inject your medicine at home. Do not use this medicine at home if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of needles and other items used in giving the medicine. Use the medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

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What is the most important information I should know about cefoxitin?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to cefoxitin, or to similar antibiotics, such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Cefzil, Duricef, Keflex, Omnicef, Spectracef, Suprax, and others. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially penicillin). Also tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, diabetes, heart failure, cancer, a stomach or intestinal disorder, or if you are malnourished. Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Cefoxitin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect cefoxitin?
Before using cefoxitin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: an antibiotic such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab), netilmicin (Netromycin), streptomycin, or tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use cefoxitin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment. There may be other drugs not listed that can affect cefoxitin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Cefoxitin has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Cefoxitin should only be given during pregnancy when need has been clearly established.

There are no reports of adverse side effects due to cefoxitin during human pregnancy. Data from its use immediately prior to abortion reveal that it crosses the placenta. In one case, a woman who was given cefoxitin 1 gram intravenously produced maternal and fetal serum levels of zero and 35.7 mcg per mL 4.25 hours after administration; in another case these levels were 10.5 mcg per mL and zero at 0.9 hours after administration. Data from the use of cefoxitin at term after doses of 1 or 2 gram intravenously or intramuscularly reveal umbilical cord levels up to 22 mcg per mL (11% to 90% of the maternal serum levels).

Cefoxitin is excreted into human milk in small amounts. Adverse effects in the nursing infant are unlikely. Cefoxitin is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering cefoxitin to nursing women.

Approximately 25 hours after a single, prophylactic dose of cefoxitin 2 to 4 grams intravenously was given to 18 women, only one sample in one patient at 19 hours post-dosing revealed detectable cefoxitin levels in milk (0.9 mcg per mL). This represents a miniscule dose to the nursing infant. Some experts, however, warn of the possibility of modification of neonatal gut flora, unknown direct side effects on the nursing infant, and interference with the interpretation of culture results in the evaluation of a suspected infection.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to cefoxitin or cephalosporins.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a cefoxitin overdose may seizure (convulsions).

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What should I discuss with my health care provider before using cefoxitin injection?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to cefoxitin, or to other cephalosporin antibiotics, such as: cefaclor (Ceclor); cefadroxil (Duricef); cefdinir (Omnicef); cefditoren (Spectracef); cefixime (Suprax); cefprozil (Cefzil); cefuroxime (Ceftin); cephalexin (Keflex); and others. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially penicillins), or if you have: kidney disease; liver disease; a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis;

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you have been diagnosed with a disease for which an antibiotic is needed, you must complete the prescribed course of treatment. Even if you start to feel better, do not skip any doses and remember to take the medication until it is all gone.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
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