Cefazolin injection

What is cefazolin injection?

CEFAZOLIN (Ancef®, Kefzol®) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It treats many kinds of infections of the skin, bone, heart, blood, respiratory tract, sinuses, ear, and urinary tract. Given before surgery, cefazolin is also useful in preventing infection during surgery. Generic cefazolin injections are available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive cefazolin?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding problems

• diarrhea

• kidney disease

• stomach or intestinal problems (especially colitis)

• other chronic illness

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cefazolin, other cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillin, penicillamine, other foods, dyes or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Cefazolin injection is for infusion into a vein. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not use your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop using except on your prescriber's advice.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, use only that dose. Do not use double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with cefazolin?

• other antibiotics

• probenecid

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking cefazolin?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not begin to improve in a few days. If you develop an allergic reaction tell your prescriber or health care professional. You may also be allergic to penicillins and other antibiotics.

If you are diabetic you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.

If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.

What side effects may I notice from receiving cefazolin?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• difficulty breathing, wheezing

• fever or chills, sore throat

• pain or difficulty passing urine

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe or watery diarrhea

• skin rash, itching

• stomach pain or cramps

• swollen joints

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusual weakness or tiredness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea

• genital or anal irritation

• loss of appetite

• nausea, vomiting

Let your prescriber or health care professional know about these side effects if they do not go away, or if they annoy you.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the dry powder for injection at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). After dilution this product can be kept at room temperature for 24 hours or in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F) for 96 hours. Commercially frozen solutions can be stored at —20 degrees C (—4 degrees F) for up to 12 weeks. Once this product is thawed, do not refreeze. The thawed product can be stored at room temperature for 48 hours or in a refrigerator for 10 days. These storage requirements only apply if the diluent is one recommended by the manufacturer. Do not refrigerate or freeze Add-Vantage vials after reconstitution.