Details

Cefotaxime is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It works by fighting bacteria in your body. Cefotaxime is used to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening forms. Cefotaxime is also used to prevent infections in people having surgery. To make sure cefotaxime is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: an allergy to penicillin kidney disease liver disease a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis diabetes a heart rhythm disorder or if you also take furosemide. Cefotaxime can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Typical Uses

Cefotaxime is an antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. This medication is known as a cephalosporin antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This medication is given by injection into a muscle or vein as directed by your doctor. If given by injection into a vein, inject the drug slowly over at least 3 minutes to avoid possible serious side effects (such as irregular heartbeat). Continue to use cefotaxime until the full prescribed treatment period is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of cefotaxime include severe stomach pain, diarrhoea that is watery or bloody skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness seizure (black-out or convulsions) or severe skin reaction-fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling. Cefotaxime may also cause pain, irritation, or a hard lump where the injection was given fever or itching or mild skin rash.

Drug Interactions

• Cefotaxime+amikacin- Amikacin can sometimes cause kidney damage and using it with a cephalosporin antibiotic like cefotaxime may increase that risk. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

• Cefotaxime+bumetanide- Cephalosporin antibiotics like cefotaxime can occasionally cause kidney problems, and using it with bumetanide may increase that risk. The interaction is more likely to occur when the cephalosporin is given at high doses by injection into the vein or when it is given to the elderly or individuals with pre-existing kidney function impairment.

• Cefotaxime+furosemide- Cephalosporin antibiotics like cefotaxime can occasionally cause kidney problems, and using it with furosemide may increase that risk. The interaction is more likely to occur when the cephalosporin is given at high doses by injection into the vein or when it is given to the elderly or individuals with pre-existing kidney function impairment.

• Cefotaxime+kanamycin- Kanamycin can sometimes cause kidney damage and using it with a cephalosporin antibiotic like cefotaxime may increase that risk. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Mechanism of action

Cefotaxime belongs to group of medicines called third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics. It kills the bacteria by interrupting the bacterial cell wall (outer coating of bacteria) formation. As a result, the bacterial cell wall is weakened and ruptured, thereby killing the bacteria.

Pregnancy Category : B