The U.S. FDA approved ceftriaxone on 04/20/2005. This medicine is used to bacterial infection.

This medicine is prescribed to treat a range of bacterial infections, including those affecting the brain (meningitis), lungs, middle ear, abdomen and abdominal wall (peritonitis), urinary tract and kidneys, bones and joints, skin or soft tissues, and blood-related infections. Additionally, this medicine can be given to sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and syphilis, helps when people with low immunity get infections and fever, treats chest infections in adults with chronic bronchitis, fights Lyme disease from tick bites in both adults and children, including newborns aged 15 days or older, and prevents infections during surgeries.

The medicine will be administered to you by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. It is usually administered in the vein (intravenous) or in the muscle (intramuscular). Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and frequency based on your disease condition and other factors.

The common side effects that are experienced while you are on the treatment with ceftriaxone are decreased white blood cells and platelets, loose stools or diarrhea, abnormal blood tests result for liver functions and rash. Report your doctor immediately, if you experience severe skin reactions (rapid rash with blisters or skin peeling), Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, skin rash), high body temperature, liver enzyme elevations, blood abnormalities (eosinophilia), enlarged lymph nodes and other body organs involvement, drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS or drug hypersensitivity syndrome).

Do not take Ceftriaxone if you are allergic to Ceftriaxone, other beta-blockers, or any of its ingredients. Do not use this medicine if you have experienced a severe allergic reaction to penicillin or similar antibiotics (cephalosporins, carbapenems, or monobactams) or if you are allergic to lidocaine and are receiving the medicine as a muscle injection. Such reactions may include throat or facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, rapid hand, feet, or ankle swelling, and a sudden, severe rash. Always consult your healthcare provider before use.  This medicine should not be administered intravenously to premature babies or newborns up to 28 days old who have specific blood issues, jaundice, or are receiving a calcium-containing product. Do not drive or use machinery if Ceftriaxone makes you feel dizzy. If you experience dizziness, talk to your doctor.

Before consuming Ceftriaxone, inform your doctor if you have recently used or will use calcium-containing products, experienced diarrhea after taking antibiotics, had gut issues like colitis, liver or kidney concerns, gallstones, kidney stones, low sodium diet, or a history of symptoms like rash, skin blistering, fever, flu-like symptoms, liver enzyme increases, or enlarged lymph nodes in response to medications.

If you are prescribed this medicine for an extended period, regular blood or urine tests might be necessary. This medication can impact the results of urine sugar tests and a blood test called the Coombs test. When undergoing tests, ensure you inform the person collecting the sample about your Ceftriaxone use. If you're diabetic or require blood sugar monitoring, specific glucose monitoring systems may not provide accurate readings while on this medicine. Check the usage instructions and consult your doctor or pharmacist for alternative testing methods if necessary.

Before starting the treatment, inform your doctor about all the underlying medical conditions. Notify your doctor if you experience any serious side effects after taking Ceftriaxone. Contact your doctor for more information. It is highly advised not to skip the dose schedules as it may decrease the drug's effectiveness and increase the chance of bacteria developing resistance. It is generally suggested to complete the full treatment schedule as your doctor prescribes.

1. Wockhardt UK Ltd, Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC), [Revised on June 2022] [Accessed on 18th August 2023],106653-12.pdf (medicines.org.uk)
2. Roche Laboratories Inc, US Food and Drug Administration, [Accessed on 18th August 2023] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/0550585s063lbl.pdf
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Penicillins, cephalosporins, and other beta-lactam antibiotics, 12th edition, 2011, 1499.
4. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Beta-lactam antibiotics, 7th edition, 2013, 727.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice, it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.