Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Mefoxin

Descriptions


Cefoxitin injection is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. This medicine is also given before certain types of surgery to prevent infections.

Cefoxitin injection belongs to the class of medicines known as cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Powder for Solution
  • Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefoxitin injection in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 3 months old.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefoxitin injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving cefoxitin injection.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Cholera Vaccine, Live

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Colitis (inflammation in gut), history of or
  • Diarrhea, severe, history of or
  • Seizures—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Precautions

If your symptoms or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Cefoxitin injection may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. Do not take any medicine or give medicine to your child to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Before you or your child have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are receiving this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Changes in skin color
  2. pain
  3. swelling of the foot or leg
  4. tenderness

Rare

  1. Agitation
  2. coma
  3. confusion
  4. decreased urine output
  5. depression
  6. dizziness
  7. headache
  8. hostility
  9. irritability
  10. lethargy
  11. muscle twitching
  12. nausea
  13. rapid weight gain
  14. seizures
  15. stupor
  16. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
  17. unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

  1. Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness
  2. back, leg, or stomach pains
  3. bleeding and bruising
  4. bleeding gums
  5. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  6. bloating
  7. bloody or cloudy urine
  8. bloody, black, or tarry stools
  9. chest pain
  10. chills
  11. clay-colored stools
  12. cloudy urine
  13. cough
  14. coughing up blood
  15. cracks in the skin
  16. dark urine
  17. decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
  18. diarrhea
  19. diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
  20. difficult or labored breathing
  21. difficult or painful urination
  22. difficulty with breathing, chewing, swallowing, or talking
  23. dizziness
  24. double vision
  25. drooping eyelids
  26. fast heartbeat
  27. feeling of discomfort
  28. fever
  29. general body swelling
  30. greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
  31. headache
  32. high fever
  33. hives
  34. increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
  35. increased thirst
  36. inflammation of the joints
  37. itching
  38. itching of the vagina or genital area
  39. joint or muscle pain
  40. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  41. loss of appetite
  42. loss of heat from the body
  43. muscle aches
  44. muscle weakness
  45. nosebleeds
  46. pain during sexual intercourse
  47. pale skin
  48. paralysis
  49. prolonged bleeding from cuts
  50. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  51. rash
  52. red or black, tarry stools
  53. red or dark brown urine
  54. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  55. red, irritated eyes
  56. red, swollen skin
  57. scaly skin
  58. severe tiredness
  59. shortness of breath
  60. sore throat
  61. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  62. sudden decrease in the amount of urine
  63. swelling of the feet or lower legs
  64. swollen lymph glands
  65. swollen or painful glands
  66. thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
  67. tightness in the chest
  68. troubled breathing with exertion
  69. unexplained bleeding or bruising
  70. unpleasant breath odor
  71. unusual bleeding or bruising
  72. unusual weight loss
  73. vomiting
  74. vomiting of blood
  75. wheezing
  76. yellowing of the eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Red streaks on the skin
  2. swelling, tenderness, or pain at the injection site

Incidence not known

  1. Hives or welts
  2. redness of the skin

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.