Cefazolin (injection route)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the use of cefazolin injection in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 10 years of age before, during, or after surgery to prevent infections.

Because of cefazolin's toxicity, use in newborns and premature babies is not recommended.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefazolin injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving cefazolin injection.

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Rifampin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Warfarin

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergy to cephalosporins, beta-lactams, or penicillins, history of—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

• Diarrhea or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Undernourished condition or
• Seizures—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Rare

• Bluish color
• changes in skin color
• pain
• swelling of the foot or leg
• tenderness

Incidence not known

• Back, leg, or stomach pains
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• blood in the stools
• bloody or cloudy urine
• chest pain or tightness
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• cloudy urine
• cough
• coughing up blood
• dark urine
• decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
• decreased frequency or amount of urine
• diarrhea
• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• difficult or painful urination
• difficulty with breathing or swallowing
• dizziness
• excessive muscle tone
• fast heartbeat
• feeling of discomfort
• fever
• general body swelling
• headache
• hives, itching, rash
• increased blood pressure
• increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• increased thirst
• inflammation of the joints
• itching of the vagina or genital area
• joint or muscle pain
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite
• lower back or side pain
• muscle aches, stiffness, tension, or tightness
• nausea or vomiting
• nosebleeds
• pain during sexual intercourse
• pain, warmth, or burning in the fingers, toes, and legs
• pale skin
• paralysis
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• problems with vision or hearing
• prolonged bleeding from cuts
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• red or black, tarry stools
• red or dark brown urine
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• restlessness
• seizures
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• stomach cramps or tenderness
• sudden decrease in the amount of urine
• swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
• swollen or painful glands
• thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
• trouble sitting still
• troubled breathing
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight loss
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• vomiting
• vomiting of blood
• weight gain
• yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
• redness of the skin
• sore mouth or tongue
• weight loss
• welts
• white patches in the mouth, tongue, or throat