Cefotetan Injection

Conditions Treated

Cefotetan injection is used to treat infections of the lungs, skin, bones, joints, stomach area, blood, female reproductive tract, and urinary tract. Cefotetan injection is also used before surgery to prevent infections. Cefotetan injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Cefotetan injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• diarrhea

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• shortness of breath
• fast heartbeat
• headache
• dizziness
• pale skin
• confusion
• extreme tiredness
• severe diarrhea with watery or bloody stools (up to 2 months after your treatment)
• fever
• stomach pain
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• hives
• skin rash
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site

Cefotetan injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Cefotetan injection comes as a powder to be added to fluid and injected intravenously (into a vein) or it can be injected into a large muscle (such as your buttock). It is usually given one or two times a day. You may receive cefotetan injection in a hospital or you may administer the medication at home. If you are using cefotetan injection at home, use it at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cefotetan injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with cefotetan injection. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor. Use cefotetan injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop using cefotetan injection too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before using cefotetan injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cefotetan injection; other cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefaclor, cefadroxil (Duricef),cefazolin (Ancef), cefdinir (Omnicef), cefditoren (Spectracef), cefepime (Maxipime), cefixime (Suprax), cefotaxime (Claforan), cefoxitin, cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefprozil (Cefzil), ceftazidime (Fortaz), ceftibuten (Cedax), ceftriaxone (Rocephin), cefuroxime (Ceftin, Zinacef), and cephalexin (Keflex); penicillins; or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, and tobramycin; and anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had hemolytic anemia (condition where a low number of red blood cells occurs because the cells are being destroyed in the body). Your doctor may tell you not to use cefotetan injection. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cancer; gastrointestinal diseases such as colitis; or gallbladder, kidney, or liver disease. remember you should not drink alcoholic beverages while using cefotetan injection and for 3 days after receiving cefotetan injection. Drinking alcohol during this time period may cause headache, fast heartbeat, sweating, and flushing (redness of the face).