Cephradine, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: cephalosporin antibiotic

Generic and brand names: cephradine, injection

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection to treat infections caused by bacteria. It is a kind of antibiotic called a cephalosporin. It does not cure viral infections such as colds and the flu. This medicine may also be used before, during, and after surgery to decrease the risk of infection.

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

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• colitis
• kidney 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?

You must receive all injections prescribed or the infection may return. If you are not staying in the hospital while you get these injections, keep all your appointments for injections and blood tests.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe another antibiotic to be taken by mouth to complete your treatment. If so, follow your healthcare provider's instructions for taking the medicine. Take it for as long as your healthcare provider prescribes, even if you feel better.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause diarrhea. Severe watery and bloody diarrhea may be a sign of a life-threatening condition. If you develop severe diarrhea while taking this medicine or even as late as two or more months after the last dose of this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not take medicine to treat diarrhea without your provider's approval.

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

You may develop a different infection while you are taking this medicine. Report any signs of infection to your healthcare provider.

Do not have any vaccines (such as for typhoid) without getting your healthcare provider's approval first. This medicine may affect how well vaccines work.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect urine sugar test results. Talk to your healthcare provider about urine and blood sugar tests while you are taking this medicine.

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): Fever; yellowish skin or eyes; severe or constant diarrhea; bloody or black tarry stools; bloody urine; joint pain that starts after the injection; trouble swallowing; numbness.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea, loss of appetite, gas, dizziness, headache, confusion, fatigue, drowsiness, pain or redness at the injection site, white patches on your tongue or throat, vaginal itching.

What products might interact with this medicine?

Drinking alcohol with or up to 72 hours after receiving shots of cephalosporin medicine may cause severe vomiting, flushing, or throbbing in your neck and head.

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:

• aminoglycoside antibiotics such as kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Mycifradin), streptomycin, gentamicin (Garamycin), and tobramycin (Nebcin)
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), torsemide (Demadex), or bumetanide (Bumex)
• medicines that prevent or treat blood clots such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin
• probenecid (Benemid)

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.

____________________________________________________

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.

Developed by RelayHealth
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.