Aztreonam, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: monobactam antibiotic

Generic and brand names: aztreonam, injection; Azactam

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shot) or IV infusion (slow drip through a needle) to treat certain types of infections.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine, especially an antibiotic
• kidney or liver disease.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly. The injections must be given regularly for several days, depending on the infection. Keep all your appointments.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic to take by mouth during or after the injections.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause or worsen diarrhea. If you develop severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than 2 or 3 days while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not treat yourself. Some diarrhea medicine will make your diarrhea worse. Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting; trouble urinating; redness, swelling, and warmth in your legs or arms; unexplained fever or rash.

Other: Pain at the injection site, mild diarrhea or nausea, vaginal discharge or irritation.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as cefotetan (Cefotan), cefoxitin (Mefoxin), loracarbef (Lorabid), meropenem (Merrem), tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobrex), gentamicin (Garamycin), amikacin (Amikin), vancomycin (Vancocin), and imipenem/cilastatin (Primaxin)
• probenecid (Benemid)

Be sure the healthcare provider who has prescribed shots of this medicine knows about all other medicines you are taking.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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