Ticarcillin injection

What is ticarcillin injection?

TICARCILLIN (Ticar®) is a penicillin antibiotic. Ticarcillin kills certain bacteria that cause infection, or stops their growth. It treats many kinds of infections including those of the skin, blood, stomach, respiratory tract, sinuses, and urinary tract. It also treats certain infections in women (gynecological infections). Generic ticarcillin injections are not yet available.

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

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

• asthma

• bleeding problems

• eczema

• heart problems

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• low potassium levels in the blood

• stomach problems (especially colitis)

• an unusual or allergic reaction to ticarcillin, other penicillins, cephalosporin antibiotics, imipenem, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Ticarcillin is for injection into a muscle or a vein, or for slow infusion into a vein. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Use your doses at regular intervals. 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.

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 ticarcillin?

• blood thinners

• certain antibiotics given by injection

• clavulanic acid

• methotrexate

• 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 ticarcillin?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve in 2 or 3 days.

If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.

If you get a skin rash, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.

If you are diabetic and taking large doses of ticarcillin, 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.

What side effects may I notice from receiving ticarcillin?

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

• dark yellow or brown urine

• difficulty breathing, wheezing

• fever or chills, sore throat

• muscle cramps

• pain, swelling and irritation at the injection site

• red spots on the skin

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

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe or watery diarrhea

• skin rash, itching

• unusual bleeding

• 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):

• diarrhea

• nausea, vomiting

• sore mouth

• stomach pain

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

After mixing the injection solution use at once for intramuscular injection. Intravenous injection solutions can be frozen or stored in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F). Follow manufacturers advice on storage of diluted solutions. Throw away any unused injection solutions.