Rocephin (Ceftriaxone) and its effects on infections management

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Rocephin is the brand name of ceftriaxone sodium, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that’s used to fight bacteria in your body. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1984. Rocephin is manufactured by Roche, and several companies manufacturer the generic form. Rocephin is administered through a vein (IV) or through a shot (muscle injection).

Uses

It is used to treat:

Severe or life-threatening forms of bacterial infections such as meningitis

Lower respiratory tract or urinary tract infections

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Uncomplicated gonorrhea

Ear or skin infections

Bacterial septicemia, bone, and joint infections

Intra-abdominal infections

Surgical patients to prevent serious infections during an operation

Caution and Warnings

Please know that rocephin cannot be used to treat the common cold, flu, or any other viral infection.

Do not give any calcium-containing products by vein to a newborn under one month of age if the infant is also being given Rocephin. Doing so could cause serious damage to the baby’s vital organs.

It is also not recommended for newborns with high bilirubin levels.

Before starting rocephin, it is important that you determine whether you might be allergic to it or similar antibiotics including:

Cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin)

Cefprozil (Cefzil)

Cefaclor (Raniclor)

Cefazolin (Ancef)

Cefadroxil (Duricef)

Cefditoren (Spectracef)

Cefpodoxime (Vantin)

Ceftibuten (Cedax)

Cephalexin (Keflex)

Cephradine (Velosef)

Cefdinir (Omnicef)

If you’re allergic to penicillin, it’s possible that you will have an allergic reaction to Rocephin.

Never use this medication if there is any chance of an allergic reaction without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist first.

A few months after you receive the last shot of Rocephin you may get diarrhea or colitis.

If you get diarrhea while taking this medicine and you notice that it is watery or contains blood, call your doctor right away. Do not stop taking any medication without first speaking to your physician.

You might also develop hemolytic anemia, which destroys your red blood cells and could affect your blood’s clotting time. Your doctor may monitor your blood clotting time while you’re using this drug.

Taking Rocephin could also cause gallbladder problems, which are usually temporary and reverse once treatment ends. Your pancreas might also become inflamed (pancreatitis), especially in you have underlying biliary problems.

Never stop taking Rocephin until you have completed your entire dosing regimen. Quitting or stopping prematurely could put you at risk of a serious or life-threatening infection that might be resistant to antibiotics.

To help your doctor decide if Rocephin is right for you, it is important that you give him/her a complete medical history, including the following conditions:

Liver disease

Kidney disease

Gallbladder disease

Diabetes

Stomach or intestinal disorder

Colitis

Inflamed colon

Anemia

You should also tell your doctor about any blood clotting problems as well as whether you are malnourished.

Rocephin and Pregnancy

It remains unknown how Rocephin affects pregnant women, as such it is extremely important that you let your doctor know if you are pregnant or might become pregnant while on this medication.

If you take this medication while breastfeeding it will pass into your breast milk, so be

sure to let your doctor know if you plan to breastfeed while using Rocephin.

Side Effects

All drugs has both positive and negative effects, some of the more common problems associated with rocephin include swelling, redness, pain, or soreness at the injection site, loss of appetite, vomiting, headache, diarrhea or nausea, pounding or irregular heartbeat, seizures, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or changes in urination, bruising or bleeding more easily, chest pain, trouble breathing, mood changes like confusion, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Dosage

It’s very important that Rocephin is taken in the exact amounts and duration prescribed to avoid developing a new illness that is resistant to antibiotics.

It is possible that you might be shown how to inject the drug yourself so that you can do it at home.

Do not inject yourself unless you know how to do it, and be sure to dispose of the needles and other used items properly.

Never mix Rocephin in the same injection with other antibiotics, or with any diluent that contains calcium. If you are injecting other drugs, be sure to flush the catheter thoroughly before using a new medicine.