Cefoxitin

Cefoxitin is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections, including lung, urinary tract, abdomen, blood, skin, bone, joint, and gynecological infections. Cefoxitin belongs to a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics, which work to stop the growth of bacteria in the body.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of cefoxitin include irritation at the site of injection, rash, fever, and diarrhea.

Cefoxitin is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections, including lung, urinary tract, abdomen, blood, skin, bone, joint, and gynecological infections.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Cefoxitin may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Mefoxin

Serious side effects have been reported with cefoxitin. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of cefoxitin include irritation at the site of injection, rash, fever, and diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of cefoxitin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• aminoglycosides such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), and tobramycin (Nebcin)
• probenecid (Probalan, Benemid)
• methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex)
• birth control pills

This is not a complete list of cefoxitin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with cefoxitin including:

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Signs of a hypersensitivity reaction, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • fainting
  • rash
• diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics, and it usually ends when the antibacterial is discontinued. Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as 2 or more months after having taken their last dose of the antibacterial. If diarrhea is severe or lasts more than 2 or 3 days, contact your doctor, as this may be a sign of an infection of the bowels.
• superinfection: Cefoxitin should not be used for extended periods. Prolonged use can lead to the growth of dangerous organisms that are resistant or unresponsive to this medication. Take cefoxitin for the duration prescribed by your doctor.

Do not take cefoxitin if you:

• are allergic to cefoxitin or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to similar antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins)

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of cefoxitin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking cefoxitin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to cefoxitin or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to similar antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins)
• have any other type of allergy
• have gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) problems, especially colitis
• have kidney problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Cefoxitin falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with cefoxitin. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Cefoxitin has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from cefoxitin, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of cefoxitin. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take cefoxitin exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Take cefoxitin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The cefoxitin dose your doctor recommends will be based on:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your kidney function
• your weight
• your age

The recommended dose range for cefoxitin in adults is 0.5 to 12 grams once a day or divided into daily doses (reason for use and kidney function).

The recommended dose range for cefoxitin in children is 30 mg/kg per day to 12 grams per day, typically divided into daily doses (depending on reason for use and kidney function).

Cefoxitin is usually administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting making it unlikely for an overdose to occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store at or below -20°C (-4°F).
• Thaw at room temperature, 25°C (77°F), or under refrigeration, 2-8°C (36-46°F).
• DO NOT FORCE THAW BY IMMERSION IN WATER BATHS OR BY MICROWAVE IRRADIATION.
• Thawed solution is stable for 21 days under refrigeration or 24 hours at room temperature. Do not refreeze. Protect from light.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.