Claforan

Generic name: Cefotaxime
Drug class: Third generation cephalosporins

Usage of Claforan

Claforan is a cephalosporin (SEF a low spor in) antibiotic.

Claforan is used to treat many kinds of bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening forms. This medicine is also used to prevent infection in people having certain types of surgery.

Claforan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Claforan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Claforan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);

burning, irritation, or skin changes where the injection was given;

dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

a seizure;

fever, chills, tiredness; or

easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet.

Common side effects of Claforan may include:

pain, bruising, swelling, or other irritation where the injection was given;

diarrhea;

fever; or

rash, itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Claforan

You should not use Claforan if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any type of cephalosporin antibiotic (cefdinir, cefalexin, Keflex, Omnicef, and others).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

an allergy to penicillin;

kidney disease;

liver disease;

a stomach or intestinal disorder such as colitis;

diabetes; or

heart problems.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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How to use Claforan

Claforan is injected into a muscle, or given as an infusion into a vein.

A healthcare provider will give you this injection when Claforan is used to prevent infection from surgery.

A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself to treat an infection.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand all instructions.

Claforan must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it. You may need to further dilute the mixed medicine before injecting your dose. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medication.

Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

Use Claforan for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Claforan will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Claforan.

Store the unmixed medicine at cool room temperature (not above 77 degrees F).

Mixed medicine must be used within a certain number of hours or days, depending on the type of diluent used in the mixture. Carefully follow all mixing and storage instructions for Claforan.

After mixing Claforan with a diluent, you may need to store the mixture in a refrigerator and use it within a certain number of days.

Warnings

You should not use Claforan if you are allergic to Claforan or another cephalosporin antibiotic (cefdinir, cefalexin, Keflex, Omnicef, and others).

What other drugs will affect Claforan

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

another injected antibiotic; or

a diuretic or "water pill."

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Claforan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.