Cefotaxime
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Cefotaxime for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(sef-oh-tacks-eem)
Description:
Cefotaxime is an antibiotic medicine.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Claforan®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- there are no standard veterinary forms listed.
- For people:
- it comes in vials of 500 mg, 1 gram, 2 gram, and 10 gram.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
Key Information on Cefotaxime for pets in Perth
- This medicine has to be given by injection (a shot). If it is swallowed, it will not work.
- Giving this medicine into a muscle can be painful.
- If an animal has kidney failure, the amount given may need to be reduced.
- After the medicine is mixed, keep it in the refrigerator. Do not use the mixed liquid after 5 days.
How is this medication useful?
Cefotaxime is an antibiotic that is given by injection. It may be used to treat infections that are able to be treated by this medicine in many kinds of animals.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect cefotaxime. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also include how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has been treated before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any medicine-related problems your animal has had in the past. Examples include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours. Even so, you may not be able to see changes right away.
- Your animal should start to seem better within 1 to 2 days.
- This medicine does not last long in the body. It stops working within 24 hours. However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working normally.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
If any of the situations below apply to your animal, speak with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- Animals that have an allergy to cefotaxime or to similar medicines (other cephalosporins).
- Animals that have kidney failure.
- Animals that have allergies to other beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
You do not need to be extremely worried if you notice these signs, unless they are severe, get worse, or keep happening. If that occurs, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Diarrhea, vomiting, and not wanting to eat.
- Swelling and soreness where the shot was given.
- Fever, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and pale gums. These may be signs of an allergic reaction to the medicine.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- If too much is given, vomiting is the most likely unwanted effect. Larger overdoses can be serious. They can cause anemia (too few red blood cells) and can harm the kidneys and the nervous system.
- If you see an overdose happen, or you think one may have happened, contact your veterinarian for advice.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian ordered. It is helpful to look at the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
Giving by Injection:
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist will provide the supplies needed to give the injections (for example, needles and syringes).
- If the medicine must be mixed before use, mix it exactly the way your veterinarian or pharmacist instructs.
- Use a fresh needle and a fresh syringe each time you mix a vial and each time you give an injection. Do not use needles or syringes again.
- When preparing the medicine, it is important to avoid pressure building up inside the vial. Your pharmacist or veterinarian will show you how to add the mixing liquid in a way that prevents the liquid from spraying back out.
- After you add the mixing liquid, shake the vial until the liquid looks clear.
- Because this medicine must be given as a shot, make sure you understand the correct amount to give, where to give it, and how to give it.
- If cefotaxime liquid is not mixed exactly as directed and kept refrigerated, it breaks down quickly.
- Cefotaxime injections can sting. If your animal reacts strongly to the injections, your veterinarian may be able to provide something to combine with the liquid to reduce or prevent the stinging.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full course of treatment is finished.
- Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
- If you are giving injections at home, put used needles and syringes into a sharps container right after use.
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist can help you get these containers.
- Avoid accidentally poking yourself. Do not try to remove the needle from the syringe.
- Keep sharps containers where children and pets cannot reach them.
- When the container is about three-quarters full, dispose of it following your local rules.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time.
- After that, continue with the normal schedule.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the container it was dispensed in.
- Unmixed cefotaxime sodium vials can be kept at room temperature, and they should be protected from light.
- After mixing, the liquid must be kept in the refrigerator, and it can be used for up to 5 days.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot access it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special safety steps are needed when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it.
- Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into a toilet, sink, or drain.
- If there is a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter. This helps make it unappealing to children and animals and harder for people to recognize.
- Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak.
- Throw the sealed bag into the regular trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- In some animal competitions, using this medicine may not be permitted. Before entering a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine, check the rules.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”