Cefotetan injection
What is cefotetan injection?
CEFOTETAN (Cefotan®) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. Cefotetan kills bacteria that cause infection, or stops the growth of bacteria. Cefotetan treats many kinds of infections of the skin, bone, stomach, respiratory tract, sinuses, ear, and urinary tract. It also treats certain infections in women (gynecological infections). Generic cefotetan injections are not yet available.
What should my health care professional know before I use cefotetan?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
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bleeding problems
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kidney disease
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stomach or intestinal problems (especially colitis)
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other chronic illness
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an unusual or allergic reaction to cefotetan, penicillins, cephalosporin antibiotics, or other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
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pregnant or trying to get pregnant
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breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
Cefotetan is for injection into a muscle or infusion into a vein. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not use your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop using except on your prescriber's advice.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, use only that dose. Do not use double or extra doses.
What drug(s) may interact with cefotetan?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking cefotetan?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not begin to improve in a few days.
If you are diabetic you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.
If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
Avoid alcoholic drinks while you are using cefotetan and for two days afterwards. Alcohol may give you a headache, make you dizzy, feel sick, sweat and increase your heartbeat. Other medicines you get on prescription, or buy at the pharmacy may contain small amounts of alcohol.
What side effects may I notice from using cefotetan?
Elderly patients are more likely to get serious side effects from cefotetan.
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
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difficulty breathing, wheezing
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dizziness
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fever or chills, sore throat
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headache
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pain or difficulty passing urine
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redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
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seizures (convulsions)
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severe or watery diarrhea
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skin rash, itching
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swollen joints
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unusual bruising or bleeding
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unusual weakness or tiredness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
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diarrhea
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nausea, vomiting
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the dry powder for injection at a temperature below 22 degrees C (72 degrees F). Protect from light. After mixing according to manufacturer's directions use within 24 hours if kept at room temperature 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), or within 96 hours if kept in a refrigerator at 5 degrees C (41 degrees F). Store prefrozen injections in plastic containers below —20 degrees C (—4 degrees F). After thawing, use within 48 hours if kept at room temperature 25 degrees C (77 degrees F), or within 21 days if kept in a refrigerator at 5 degrees C (41 degrees F).