Cefepime Side Effects

Warning

The FDA has issued a drug safety communication where patients taking cefepime have a risk of seizure which didn't receive dosage adjustments for kidney impairment.

Severe side effects:

Bloody stools
Fever
Severe allergic reactions such as rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, unusual hoarseness.
Mood or mental changes such as coma, confusion, fainting, or hallucinations
Muscle twitching
Red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin
Seizures
Severe diarrhea
Severe nausea or vomiting
Severe pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
Stomach pain/cramps
Unusual bruising or bleeding
Unusual tiredness
Vaginal irritation or discharge
White patches in the mouth
Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Common side effects:

Redness;
Mild pain;
Swelling at the injection site
Mild diarrhea

Warnings & Recalls for Cefepime

Warnings

Do not use cefepime if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or is damaged in any way.

Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not reuse any of the materials and ask your healthcare provider how to properly dispose of these materials after use.

Use cefepime with caution on the elderly who may be more sensitive to it's effects.

Do not use cefepime if you are allergic to any ingredient that is in cefepime or allergic to cephalosporins, penicillins, or other beta-lactam antibiotics.

Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions that may interact with cefepime.

If you're allergic to any foods, medicines or any other substances.
If there is any nonprescription or prescription medicine, dietary supplement or herbal preparation.
If you have any bowel or stomach problems, kidney or liver problems, blood clotting problems, or poor nutrition.

Some medicines may interact with cefepime so make sure to inform your doctor if you are on any sort of medication especially the following because of there is a risk of toxic effects on the kidneys may be increased:

Aminoglycosides
cefaclor (Raniclor)
cefadroxil (Duricef)
cefazolin (Ancef)
cefdinir (Omnicef)
cefditoren (Spectracef)
cefpodoxime (Vantin)
cefprozil (Cefzil)
ceftibuten (Cedax)
cefuroxime (Ceftin)
cephalexin (Klefex)
cephradine (Velosef)
Diuretics

Family planning:
The FDA categorizes cefepime a pregnancy category B because the medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby but be sure to inform your doctor as soon as possible if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Cefepime should not be used while breastfeeding because the medication can pass into breast milk. Be sure to inform your doctor before beginning treatment if you are nursing. An infant that is consuming 1000 mL of human milk a day may receive 0.5 mg of cefepime per day as the medicine is transferred in small doses through the breast-milk.

Cefepime Treatment and Use

What is Cefepime?

Cefepime is a drug that is used to treat certain bacterial infections.

How does Cefepime work?

It is a cephalosporin antibiotic that works by killing sensitive bacteria such as moderate to severe nosocomial pneumonia, and infections caused by multi-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is particularly powerful against Enterobacteriaceae. Cefepime is a fourth generation cephalosporin antibiotic that was first developed in 1994. The drug is usually administered at your doctors office, hospital or clinic by injection.

Dosage information

If you are prescribed cefepime to use at home a health care provider will first teach you how to properly use. Make sure to follow the procedures as the health care provider instructed. It’s important to use the full course of treatment, so continual use is encouraged even if you feel better after a couple of days.

The medicine is injected into a muscle or a vein through an IV. You will be shown how to inject yourself at home, however do not self-inject until you fully understand who to do the injection and properly dispose of used, syringes, needles, IV tubing, and other possible items that are used to inject the medicine. Cefepime must be mixed with a diluent that comes in liquid form and if you are self-injecting and make sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medication. Prepare dosage in a syringe only when you are ready to give yourself the injection and do not use the medication if it chages colors or has particles in it. Be sure to call your doctor for a new prescription. You may store the mixture in the refrigerator once you mix the cefepime with a diluent, but it should be used within 7 days. Do not freeze the mixture.

Other Names for Cefepime

Brand Name:

Maxipime