Ceftazidime

Ceftazidime is a prescription medication used for the treatment of bacterial infections, including bone and joint infections, gynecologic and intra-abdominal infections, pulmonary infection, meningitis, mild skin or skin structure infections, urinary tract infections, life-threatening infections, and infections caused by susceptible organisms.

• Ceftazidime is available under the following different brand names: Fortaz, Tazicef, Tazidime

Dosages of Ceftazidime:

Adult and pediatric dosage

• Injectable solution
  • 20mg/mL
  • 40mg/mL
• Powder for injection
  • 500mg
  • 1g
  • 2g
  • 6g

Bone and Joint Infections

• 2g IV every 12 hours

Gynecologic and Intra-abdominal infections

• 2g IV every 8 hours for 4-7 days

Pulmonary Infection

• 30-50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours; not to exceed 6g/day

Meningitis

• 2g IV every 8 hours

Mild Skin or Skin Structure Infections

• 0.5-1 g IV or IM every 8 hours

Urinary Tract Infections

• Complicated: 500 mg IV or IM every 8-12 hours
• Uncomplicated: 250 mg IV or IM every 12 hours

Life-Threatening Infections

• Especially in immunocompromised patients
• 2g IV every 8 hours

Infections caused by Susceptible Organisms

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 1 month of age: safety and efficacy not established
• Children 1 month-12 years of age: 30-50 mg/kg IV every 8 hours; not to exceed 6 g/day (higher end of dosing range reserved for patients with immunocompromise, meningitis, or cystic fibrosis
• Children older than 12 years of age: 1-2 g IV every 8 hours

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”.

Common side effects of Ceftazidime include:

• pain, swelling, burning, or irritation around the IV needle, 
• nausea, 
• vomiting, 
• diarrhea, 
• stomach pain, and 
• vaginal itching or discharge

Serious side effects of Ceftazidime include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• severe stomach pain, 
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody, 
• confusion, 
• problems with speech or memory, 
• seizure, 
• cold feeling, 
• discoloration, and
• skin changes in fingers

Rare side effects of Ceftazidime include:

• none 

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.  Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first

• Ceftazidime has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Ceftazidime has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • BCG vaccine live
  • cholera vaccine
  • typhoid vaccine live
• Ceftazidime has moderate interactions with the following drugs:
  • bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens
  • dienogest/estradiol valerate
  • estradiol
  • estropipate
  • ethinylestradiol
  • levonorgestrel oral/ethinylestradiol/ferrous bisglycinate
  • probenecid
  • sodium picosulfate/magnesium oxide/anhydrous citric acid
  • voclosporin
  • warfarin
• Ceftazidime has minor interactions with at least 12 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects.  Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drugs interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use.  Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist.  Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns.

Contraindications

• Documented hypersensitivity to drug or components

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ceftazidime?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ceftazidime?”

Cautions

• High and prolonged serum ceftazidime concentrations can occur from usual dosages in patients with transient or persistent reduction of urinary output because of renal insufficiency; elevated levels in these patients can lead to, seizures, nonconvulsive status epilepticus encephalopathy, coma, asterixis, neuromuscular excitability, and myoclonia
• Elevated international normalized ratio (INR) has been reported in patients with nutritional deficiency, prolonged treatment, or renal or hepatic disease
• Use with caution in patients with a history of seizure disorder (especially in renal impairment, where drug levels may increase significantly)
• Modify dose in renal impairment
• Use with caution in patients with a history of penicillin allergy
• Bacterial or fungal overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms may occur with prolonged or repeated therapy

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use may be acceptable during pregnancy.  
• The drug is excreted in breast milk; use with caution