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Ceftriaxone - Uses - Dosages - Side Effects - Precautions

Ceftriaxone: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Ceftriaxone?

Ceftriaxone belongs to a category of medicines called ‘cephalosporin antibiotics’, used to treat bacterial infections in the body such as the middle ear, the respiratory, and urinary tract.
The drug works in two ways – inhibiting the growth of bacteria or killing it.
Ceftriaxone is used to treat bacterial infections and will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.
Please consult with your doctor or pharmacist for details.

What are the uses of Ceftriaxone?

Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic used to treat several kinds of bacterial infections in the body, such as the middle ear, respiratory tract, skin, soft tissue, and urinary tract.
It is also used to treat severe or life-threatening forms, such as bacterial sepsis and bacterial meningitis.
Ceftriaxone is sometimes administered before certain types of surgery to prevent infections.
However, this medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

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What are the side effects of Ceftriaxone?

Common side effects include:

  • Chills.
  • Cough.
  • Sore throat.
  • Fever.
  • Difficulty in urination.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Swollen glands.
  • Unusual bleeding.
  • Bruising.
  • Fatigue.
  • Black tarry stools.

The rarer side effects include:

  • Diarrhea.
  • Headache.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Excessive thirst.
  • Itching.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Skin rash.
  • Bloating.
  • Abdominal cramps.
  • Back, leg, or stomach pains.
  • Difficulty breathing and swallowing.
  • Racing heartbeat.
  • General body swelling.

Contact a healthcare professional if any side effects persist.

What is Ceftriaxone

Uses of Ceftriaxone

Side effects of Ceftriaxone

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Ceftriaxone

1. How does Ceftriaxone work?

Ceftriaxone is a type of antibiotic called cephalosporin, which interferes with the formation of bacterial cell walls. Ceftriaxone selectively and irreversibly weakens the bonds that hold the bacterial cell wall together. As a result, holes appear in the cell walls, which kills the bacteria causing the infection.

2. Why take azithromycin and Ceftriaxone together?

In some cases, doctors use Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone for treatment as they work well together to manage both infection and inflammation. With using high doses of Azithromycin alone, there is an increased risk of developing Azithromycin resistance. Using it in combination with Ceftriaxone can help reduce that risk.

3. Can you drink alcohol after Ceftriaxone injection?

It is usually recommended you do not mix alcohol and medication. In the case of Ceftriaxone, doctors advise that you do not drink alcohol for up to 48 hours after the dose. Doctors recommend avoiding alcohol while taking several drugs as it may exacerbate the risk of side effects.

4. Does Ceftriaxone cure chlamydia?

Ceftriaxone does not cure chlamydia. The two most commonly prescribed antibiotics for chlamydia are Azithromycin and Doxycycline. When cephalosporins (the class of drugs that Ceftriaxone belongs to) are used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease and chlamydia is suspected, antichlamydial medication needs to be used.

5. Is Ceftriaxone a safe drug?

Ceftriaxone is a safe drug used to treat many bacterial infections. However, there are several conditions for which the drug cannot be used. For instance, Ceftriaxone cannot be used if you are allergic to cephalosporin-based antibiotics; or on a child without a doctor's advice.

6. Is Ceftriaxone safe in the first trimester of pregnancy?

The U.S Food and Drug Administration lists Ceftriaxone as a pregnancy Category B medicine, which means it is to be used only in instances where benefits to the expecting mother outweigh risks to the unborn child. To date, the effects of the drug have not been studied in pregnant women.

7. Is Ceftriaxone safe in liver disease?

Parenteral cephalosporins (the class of drugs that Ceftriaxone belongs to) are widely used in medicine for infections and can be given to people with advanced liver disease. Dose modifications are primarily required for renal insufficiency. Prescriptions are needed from doctors to use Ceftriaxone, so do consult a healthcare professional about the drug.

8. Where do you inject Ceftriaxone?

Ceftriaxone is injected into a muscle (intramuscular) or a vein (intravenous). These injections should be injected well within the bulk of a relatively large muscle, and not more than 1 g should be injected at one site. Ceftriaxone can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional.

9. What type of antibiotic is Ceftriaxone?

Ceftriaxone belongs to a category of cephalosporin antibiotics, which kill or inhibit bacteria growth. Ceftriaxone is a third-generation antibiotic and comes under the β-lactam family of antibiotics. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and is available as a generic medication.

10. Who should not take Ceftriaxone?

Ceftriaxone is not recommended for those who have ever had an allergic reaction to penicillin or cephalosporin-type antibiotics. It is also not suitable for premature babies or full-term babies under four weeks with jaundice, high levels of bilirubin or low albumin levels in their blood, or who need intravenous calcium treatment.

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Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.