• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is ceftazidime injection?
Ceftazidime is in a group of drugs called cephalosporin (SEF a low spor in) antibiotics. It works by fighting bacteria in your body. Ceftazidime injection is used to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening forms. Ceftazidime may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What are the possible side effects of ceftazidime injection?

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;

• cold feeling, discoloration, or skin changes in your fingers;

• seizure (black-out or convulsions);

• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lip; or

• jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;

• headache, dizziness;

• numbness or tingly feeling; or

• vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use ceftazidime injection?
Ceftazidime is given as an injection into a muscle or a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be given instructions on how to use your injections 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, syringes, 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 ceftazidime injection?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ceftazidime, 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. Ceftazidime can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are taking birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. You may need to use another form of birth control during treatment with ceftazidime.

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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. If you are receiving this medication at a clinic, call your doctor if you miss an appointment for your injection.

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What other drugs will affect ceftazidime injection?
Before using ceftazidime, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin); diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix); or an antibiotic such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab), netilmicin (Netromycin), streptomycin, or tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi). This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with ceftazidime. 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?

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

One uncontrolled study of pregnant women between 19 and 21 weeks gestation has suggested that ceftazidime serum concentrations are approximately 50% those expected in nonpregnant women.

Ceftazidime is excreted into human milk in small amounts. Ceftazidime is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering ceftazidime to nursing women.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to ceftazidime or other 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. Overdose symptoms may include muscle stiffness, restless feeling, confusion, uncontrolled movement of the hands, seizure, and coma.

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What should I discuss with my health care provider before using ceftazidime injection?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ceftazidime, 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?
More Information

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