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Before Using
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group 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.
Pediatric
Many cephalosporins have been tested in children and, in effective doses, have not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than they do in adults. However, there are some cephalosporins that have not been tested in children up to 12 years of age.
Geriatric
Cephalosporins have been used in the elderly, and they are not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than they do in younger adults.
Pregnancy
Studies have not been done in humans. However, most cephalosporins have not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies. Studies in rabbits have shown that cefoxitin may increase the risk of miscarriages and cause other problems. Before taking a cephalosporin, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breastfeeding
It is not known if cefditoren passes into breast milk. Most cephalosporins pass into breast milk, usually in small amounts. However, cephalosporins have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. Mothers who are taking a cephalosporin and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Drug Interactions
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Calcium Acetate
- Calcium Chloride
- Calcium Gluceptate
- Calcium Gluconate
- Lactated Ringer's Solution
- Ringer's Solution
Using medicines in this class 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.
- Heparin
Other Interactions
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. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use your medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.
- Ethanol
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Bleeding problems, history of (cefamandole, cefditoren, cefoperazone, and cefotetan only)—These medicines may increase the chance of bleeding.
- Carnitine, low levels—Cefditoren may cause carnitine levels to decrease further.
- Kidney disease—Some cephalosporins need to be given at a lower dose to people with kidney disease. Cefuroxime may increase the chance of kidney damage.
- Liver disease (cefoperazone and cefuroxime)—Cefoperazone needs to be given at a lower dose to people with liver disease. Condition may be worsened by cefuroxime use.
- Phenylketonuria—Cefprozil oral suspension contains phenylalanine.
- Poor nutritional status—These may be worsened by cefuroxime and you may need to have vitamin K.
- Stomach or gastrointestinal disease, history of (especially colitis, including colitis caused by antibiotics, or enteritis)—Cephalosporins may cause colitis in some patients.
