What is the most important information I should know about cefazolin?
Cefazolin can cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to an antibiotic, especially penicillin.
What is cefazolin?
Cefazolin is a cephalosporin (SEF a low spor in) antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections, including severe or life-threatening forms.
Cefazolin is sometimes given before and after surgery to prevent infection.
Cefazolin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using cefazolin?
Cefazolin can cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactions. You should not use this medicine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic, such as:
- cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefadroxil, cefdinir, cefoxitin, cefprozil, ceftriaxone, cephalexin, Keflex, Omnicef, and others;
- avibactam, relebactam, sulbactam, tazobactam, vaborbactam, and others; or
- amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin, Moxatag), ampicillin, dicloxacillin, oxacillin, penicillin, and others.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- an allergy to any drug (especially penicillin);
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- seizures;
- intestinal problems, such as colitis;
- diabetes; or
- an allergy to corn.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.
How is cefazolin given?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Cefazolin is injected into a vein.
This medicine must be given slowly over 30 minutes.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand how to use an injection.
Cefazolin may need to be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it. Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Call your pharmacist if the medicine has changed colors or has particles in it.
Do not reuse a needle or syringe. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Keep using this medicine even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses could make your infection resistant to medication. Cefazolin will not treat a viral infection (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 cefazolin.
Store unmixed cefazolin at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not freeze.
Cefazolin mixed with a diluent can be stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours, or in a refrigerator for up to 7 days.
If cefazolin is frozen when you receive it, thaw the medicine at room temperature (do not use heat).
After thawing, you may store cefazolin at room temperature for up to 48 hours, or in a refrigerator for 30 days. Do not refreeze the medicine once it has been thawed.
Carefully follow all mixing and storage instructions for this medicine.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of cefazolin.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause a seizure.
What should I avoid while using cefazolin?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.
What are the possible side effects of cefazolin?
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).
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);
- white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
- fever, swollen glands, itching, joint pain, or not feeling well;
- a seizure; or
-
liver problems --upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- headache;
- pain where the medicine was injected;
- rash; or
- an allergic reaction.
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.
What other drugs will affect cefazolin?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially probenecid.
Other drugs may affect cefazolin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about cefazolin.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum 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.
Copyright 1996-2022 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 11/9/2021.
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