Package leaflet: Information for the user • any diuretic medicine (“water tablets”) e.g.

(“water tablets”) e.g. Stop taking cefotaxime and tell your doctor immediately
furosemide if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Cefotaxime 500mg, 1g Powder for solution for
• another antibiotic e.g. chloramphenicol or • Reddish non-elevated, target-like or circular
injection or infusion patches on the trunk, often with central blisters, skin
aminoglycoside antibiotics
peeling, ulcers of mouth, throat, nose, genitals and
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking • probenecid (for gout) eyes. These serious skin rashes can be preceded by
this medicine. fever and flu-like symptoms (Stevens-Johnson
Please tell your doctor if you are taking, or have recently syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
taken, any other medicines including any that you may • Widespread rash, high body temperature and
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or have bought without a prescription. enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome or drug
your pharmacist.
hypersensitivity syndrome).
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not Pregnancy and breast-feeding
• A red, scaly widespread rash with bumps under
pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are
the skin and blisters accompanied by fever. The
symptoms are the same as yours. breastfeeding, you must tell your doctor before you are
symptoms usually appear at the initiation of
• If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice given this medicine.
treatment (acute generalised exanthematous
any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell pustulosis).
your doctor or your pharmacist. Driving and using machines
If you are given high doses of cefotaxime, you may feel
As with other antibiotics, some people find they have an
The name of your medicine is “Cefotaxime powder for dizzy/drowsy or fall asleep or experience convulsions (fits)
allergy to it. Tell your doctor immediately if any of the
solution for injection or infusion” (referred to as or unusual body movements. If this happens, you should
following rare symptoms occur: • Sudden wheeziness and
Cefotaxime Injection throughout this leaflet). not drive or operate machinery.
tightness of chest

Important information about some of the ingredients of • Swelling of eyelids, face, lips or throat
WHAT CEFOTAXIME INJECTION IS AND WHAT IT IS USED
FOR Cefotaxime injection • Skin lumps or “hives” (nettle rash)
Cefotaxime Injection contains approximately 50mg (2.2
mmol) of sodium per 1g dose. This should be taken into
• Severe skin rashes with itching
Cefotaxime is an antibiotic. It belongs to a group of
antibiotics that are called cephalosporins. These types of consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet. Tell • Serious illness with blistering of the skin,
your doctor or nurse if you are on a low sodium diet. mouth, eyes and genitals
antibiotic are similar to penicillin.
• Loss of consciousness, abnormal movements or
Cefotaxime kills bacteria and it can be used to treat convulsions (fits)
infections of the: HOW CEFOTAXIME INJECTION IS GIVEN
Antibiotic treatment can affect the normal bacteria in the
• Kidneys and bladder
Cefotaxime Injection is supplied as a powder so before it gut, causing new infection (colitis). You should tell your
• Blood (septicaemia) can be given it must be diluted and made into a solution. doctor immediately if you develop diarrhoea.
• Skin and flesh immediately under the skin Your doctor or nurse normally does this. They will inject
this directly into a vein (intravenous) or muscle The following side effects may occur in some patients
• Bones
(intramuscular). It may also be given by an intravenous treated with Cefotaxime injection. Tell your doctor if any
• Heart valves infusion (“drip”). become troublesome:
• Brain (meningitis)
Your doctor will decide how much you need and how often Very common side effects (probably affecting more than 1
• Abdomen (peritonitis)
the injections should be given. in 10 people)
• Some sexually transmitted infections The usual doses are given below but doctors may prescribe
(gonorrhoea) different doses depending on the severity and type of your
• pain at the injection site
infection, your weight, your age and how well your kidneys
It can also be used to prevent and treat infections following are working. Uncommon side effects (probably affecting less than 1 in
surgical operations. 100 patients)
Treatment with Cefotaxime injection is usually continued • reduction in blood platelets which increases risk
BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN CEFOTAXIME INJECTION for 2-3 days after you start to recover from your illness or of bruising or bleeding
after your operation. • reduction in number of white blood cells which
You should not be given Cefotaxime injection if: makes infections more likely
• Adults and children over 12 years old:
you are allergic (hypersensitive) to cefotaxime • increase in number of white blood cells
The usual dose is 1 g every twelve hours. In some patients
• you are allergic to any similar antibiotics (known where infections are severe, the doctor may give a higher • fever
as “cephalosporins”) dose up to 12g every day. • increase in liver enzymes and/or bilirubin
• you have ever had a serious allergic reaction For the treatment of gonorrhoea, a single 500mg dose is
• kidney problems
when given penicillin or similar antibiotics usually given.
To prevent an infection after surgery, 1 -2 g is given before • skin rash, itching, ‘hives’ (nettle rash)
• you are allergic to lidocaine
the operation. A second dose may be needed after the • difficulty breathing
• you have ever developed a severe skin rash or operation.
skin peeling, blistering and/or mouth sores after • convulsions (fits)
taking cefotaxime or other cephalosporins.
Infants and children up to 12 years old: • diarrhoea
Tell your doctor or nurse if any of the above apply to you. The usual daily dose is 50 mg to 100 mg Cefotaxime per • redness and swelling at injection site
kilogram of their bodyweight. This is usually split into 2
Before you are given Cefotaxime injection doses each day. Severely ill children may receive up to 200 Side effects occurring with unknown frequency
You must tell the doctor or nurse if any of the following mg per kg bodyweight daily (to a maximum of 6 g daily),
apply to you: • secondary infections
split into 3 separate doses.
• you have a history of allergies or asthma • serious allergic reactions which may cause
Young babies (newborn): difficulty in breathing or dizziness
• you are on a low sodium diet
The daily dose should not normally exceed 50 mg • serious allergic reaction which causes swelling
• you have a heart or kidney disorder Cefotaxime per kg of their bodyweight. of the face or throat
• you are having any blood or urine tests • difficulty in breathing or wheezing
• you have a history of gastro-intestinal problems Patients with kidney problems:
Lower doses may be given if you have severe kidney • headache
e.g. colitis, which causes diarrhoea containing blood.
problems. Patients on dialysis machines will be monitored • dizziness
Serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, for the correct dose. • loss of consciousness, abnormal movements
toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia • feeling sick (nausea)
and systemic symptoms (DRESS), acute generalized If you think you have missed an injection
exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported in This is unlikely as you will probably receive this medicine in • being sick (vomiting)
association with cefotaxime treatment. Stop using hospital. If you think you have missed a dose, speak to your • stomach pains
cefotaxime and seek medical attention immediately if you doctor or nurse.
notice any of the symptoms related to these serious skin
• diarrhoea containing blood
reactions described in section 4. If you have been given more of this medicine than you • inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
should • skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow
Taking other medicines This is unlikely to happen but if it does, the doctor will treat (jaundice)
Tell the doctor or nurse if you are taking any of the any symptoms that follow.
following medicines: • painful joints

• the contraceptive pill (in which case you will POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS • irregular heart rhythm
need to take extra contraceptive precautions such • inflammation of the kidneys which may cause
as using a condom) Like all medicines, Cefotaxime Injection can cause side dark discolouration of urine, cloudy/bloody urine, or
effects, although not everybody gets them. any change in your urine output.