Ticarcillin-Clavulanate

Ticarcillin/Clavulanate is a combination prescription medication used to treat symptoms of bacterial infections such as septicemia, lower respiratory infections, bone and joint infections, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, and gynecologic infections.

• Ticarcillin/Clavulanate is available under the following different brand names: Timentin

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injection, powder for reconstitution

• (3g/100mg)/vial
• (30g/1g)/bulk vial

Ready-to-use IV solution

• (3g/100mg)/100mL

Septicemia

Adult dosage

• 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hours

Lower Respiratory Infections

Adult dosage

• 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hours

Bone & Joint Infections

Adult dosage

• 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hours

Skin & Skin Structure Infections

Adult dosage

• 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hours

Urinary Tract Infections

Adult dosage

• 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hours

Intra-abdominal Infections

Adult dosage

• 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hours

Gynecologic Infections

Adult dosage

• Dose based on ticarcillin component
• Moderate: 200 mg/kg/day IV divided every 4-6 hours 
• Severe: 300 mg/kg/day IV divided every 4 hours

Infections

Pediatric dosage

• Dose based on ticarcillin component
• Less than 3 months: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children weighing below 60 kg and above3 months: 200-300 mg/kg/day IV divided q4-6hr; not to exceed 24 g/day
• Children above 60 kg: As adults; 3.1 g IV every 4-6 hour

Neonates

• (less than 7 days old, weighing below 2 kg) OR (more than 7 days old, weighing below 1.2 kg): 150 mg/kg/day IV divided every 12 hours
• (less than 7 days old, weighing above 2 kg) OR (more than 7 days old, 1.2-2 kg): 225 mg/kg/day IV divided every 8 hours
• More than 7 days old, weighing above 2 kg: 300 mg/kg/day IV divided every 8 hours

Cystic Fibrosis

Pediatric dosage

• 300-600 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided every 6 hours; not to exceed 24 g/day

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

Common side effects of Ticarcillin/Clavulanate include:

• mild diarrhea
• gas
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• joint or muscle pain
• headache
• skin rash or itching
• injection site reactions (pain, swelling, or burning)
• vaginal yeast infection (itching or discharge).

Serious side effects of Ticarcillin/Clavulanate include:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• watery or bloody diarrhea,
• blood in the urine,
• feeling an urgent need to urinate,
• painful or difficult urination,
• easy bruising,
• unusual bleeding,
• unusual weakness,
• dry mouth,
• increased thirst,
• confusion,
• increased urination,
• muscle pain or weakness,
• fast heart rate,
• lightheadedness,
• fainting,
• fever,
• chills,
• body aches,
• fever,
• sore throat,
• headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash,
• chest pain, and
• seizures.

Rare side effects of Ticarcillin/Clavulanate include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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.

• Ticarcillin/Clavulanate has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Ticarcillin/Clavulanate has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • BCG vaccine live
  • cholera vaccine
  • demeclocycline
  • doxycycline
  • minocycline
  • mycophenolate
  • omadacycline
  • oxytetracycline
  • pexidartinib
  • pretomanid
  • probenecid
• Ticarcillin/Clavulanate has moderate interactions with at least 59 other drugs.
• Ticarcillin/Clavulanate has minor interactions with at least 22 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about 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 or concerns.

Contraindications

• Allergy to penicillins or other beta-lactam antibacterials (eg, cephalosporins, imipenem)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ticarcillin/Clavulanate?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ticarcillin/Clavulanate?”

Cautions

• Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions reported
• Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea was reported with the use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including ticarcillin
• Seizures were reported when the dose exceeded, especially in presence of renal impairment
• Risk of a bleeding complication
• Potential for microbial overgrowth or bacterial resistance
• Laboratory tests: High urine concentrations of ticarcillin may produce false-positive protein reactions; Clavulanate may cause a nonspecific binding of IgG and albumin by RBC leading to a false-positive Coombs test
• Hypokalemia reported
• Monitor renal, hepatic, and hematologic function

Pregnancy and Lactation

• May be acceptable during pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Excreted into breast milk at low concentrations; use caution