Cephalothin injection

What is cephalothin injection?

CEPHALOTHIN (Keflin®) was a cephalosporin antibiotic useful in preventing infection during surgery and treating many kinds of infections of the blood, bone or joints, respiratory tract, skin, and urinary tract.

NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the United States.

What should my health care professional know before I receive cephalothin?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding problems

• diarrhea

• kidney disease

• stomach or intestinal problems (especially colitis)

• other chronic illness

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cephalothin, other cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillin, penicillamine, other foods, dyes or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Cephalothin injection is for infusion into a vein or for direct injection into a muscle. A health care professional will administer this product to you. You will need to complete a specific course of treatment with this antibiotic; you should not stop receiving this antibiotic unless you have been directed to do so by your health care provider.

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, try to have it administered to you 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 cephalothin?

• some other antibiotics

• diuretics ("water pills")

• probenecid

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 cephalothin?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not begin to improve in a few days. If you develop an allergic reaction (rash, itching, problems breathing) tell your prescriber or health care professional. You may also be allergic to penicillins and other antibiotics.

If you are diabetic and use urine testing to check for sugar in the urine, you may get a false-positive result. 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.

What side effects may I notice from receiving cephalothin?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• difficulty breathing, wheezing

• fever or chills, sore throat

• pain or difficulty passing urine

• pain or changes in the skin at the infusion site or site of cephalothin injection

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe or watery diarrhea

• skin rash, itching

• stomach pain or cramps

• swollen or tender joints

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• 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):

• changes in the taste of foods or drinks

• diarrhea

• fatigue

• genital or anal irritation

• decrease in appetite

• nausea, vomiting

Where can I keep my medicine?

This medicine is most often given in a hospital, clinic, or other health care setting. Occasionally cephalothin infusions are sent home with persons who will receive their treatments by a nurse at home.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the dry powder for injection at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). After dilution, cephalothin intravenous solutions can be kept at room temperature for 12 hours. If refrigerated at 5°C (41°F), cephalothin intravenous piggybacks may be kept for up to 96 hours. These storage requirements only apply if the diluent is one recommended by the manufacturer. The solution should not be used if cloudy or if it contains particles.