Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime is a semi-synthetic antibiotic.

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Indications Cefotaxime

It is used to treat various infectious diseases. Among the pathologies affecting the respiratory system: pneumonia, abscesses and pleurisy with bronchitis.

The medication is also actively used in cases of septicemia, bone and soft tissue lesions, endocarditis, bacterial meningitis, tick-borne borreliosis, as well as complications arising from surgical procedures.

An antibiotic can be prescribed for diseases in the nose, ears and throat, as well as the urinary tract and kidneys.

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Release form

The substance is released in the form of a lyophilisate for injection liquid (IV or IM injections), in 10 ml vials.

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Pharmacodynamics

The active substance is a third-generation cephalosporin and is used for parenteral administration. The drug demonstrates activity against gram-positive and -negative flora that is resistant to the effects of aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and penicillin.

The antimicrobial effect is based on the inhibition of transpeptidase activity by blocking the effects of peptidoglycan.

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Pharmacokinetics

With intramuscular administration, Cmax values are noted after half an hour. The drug undergoes protein synthesis inside the plasma by approximately 25-40%. The bactericidal effect continues for 12 hours. Effective indicators of the active element are formed inside bone tissue, gall bladder with soft tissues and myocardium.

The active substance passes through the placenta and is found inside the pleura, synovium, cerebrospinal fluid, and also pericardial and peritoneal fluids.

About 90% of the drug is excreted in urine (20-30% in the form of active metabolic products, and 60-70% in an unchanged state). After an intramuscular injection, the half-life of the drug is 60-90 minutes, and after an intravenous injection - 60 minutes. No accumulation of the drug is observed. Part of the active substance is excreted in bile.

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Dosing and administration

Prescribing the drug for adults: injections of 1-2 g of the drug at 4-12 hour intervals (IV or IM).

Use for children weighing less than 50 kg: administration of 50-180 mg/kg 2-6 times a day. The duration of the cycle is selected by the attending physician, taking into account the patient's reaction, the underlying disease and concomitant diseases.

Dissolution of the medicinal substance for intravenous injections: 1000 mg of lyophilisate is diluted in sterile liquid (4 ml), after which it is administered at low speed over 3-5 minutes.

Dilution of the drug with novocaine: 1000 mg of lyophilisate is diluted in novocaine (4 ml), and then administered at low speed.

Lidocaine, sterile liquid and novocaine are used for dilution. Lidocaine and novocaine are used as an analgesic, because the injections of the medicine are quite painful.

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Use Cefotaxime during pregnancy

It is prohibited to prescribe the drug in the 1st trimester. In case of breastfeeding or in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, it is used only in situations where the benefit from it for the woman is more likely than the risk of complications for the fetus.

During breastfeeding, Cefotaxime can change the oropharyngeal microflora of the infant. The teratogenic and embryotoxic effect of the drug in experimental tests on animals has not been confirmed.

Doctors recommend avoiding the use of antibiotics during pregnancy.

Contraindications

Main contraindications:

• presence of bleeding;
• drug intolerance;
• history of enterocolitis.

In case of kidney or liver diseases, it is necessary to undergo additional examination by doctors to determine the absence of contraindications to antibacterial treatment using cephalosporins.

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Side effects Cefotaxime

The use of the medication may cause the occurrence of certain side effects:

• local symptoms: pain with intramuscular injections; phlebitis in case of intravenous injection;
• disorders affecting the digestive function: nausea, pseudomembranous colitis, hepatitis, intrahepatic cholestasis, vomiting, increased AST or ALT levels, as well as diarrhea;
• disorders of hematopoiesis: neutropenia, hemolytic anemia, hypoprothrombinemia, and a decrease in the number of platelets;
• other manifestations: signs of allergy (itching, angioedema, increased eosinophil count), candidiasis or tubulointerstitial nephritis.

If any other negative effects are observed, you should stop using the drug and seek medical help.

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Overdose

Large doses of drugs can quickly lead to the development of dysbacteriosis, encephalopathy and allergy symptoms.

During therapy it is necessary to use desensitizing drugs.

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Interactions with other drugs

The nephrotoxic properties of the drug are potentiated by the use of aminoglycosides or loop diuretics.

NSAIDs, as well as antiplatelet agents, increase the risk of bleeding.

It is prohibited to mix the medicine in one syringe with other substances (except lidocaine and novocaine).

Probenecid increases the levels of the active ingredient Cefotaxime and inhibits its excretion.

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Storage conditions

Cefotaxime should be kept in a place out of reach of children. Temperature indicators are within the 25°C mark.

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Shelf life

Cefotaxime can be used within 24 months from the date of manufacture of the pharmaceutical product.

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Application for children

The drug is prescribed to children using dosages within 50-180 mg/kg per day. Cefotaxime should be used very carefully to treat children. It is prohibited to use it for therapy of newborns.

Analogues

Analogues of the drug are Claforan and Cefabol with Cefosin.

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Reviews

Cefotaxime gets good reviews - it has a strong antimicrobial effect, and it is also often used in pediatrics (in cases where other antibiotics have not had the desired effect).

It is also necessary to take into account that the comments often mention side effects of the drug that often occur after therapy (colic, dysbacteriosis and flatulence).