Zefazone

Who is Zefazone for ?

Your doctor has ordered cefmetazole, an antibiotic, to help treat your infection. The drug will be either injected into a large muscle (such as your buttock or hip) or added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for 30 minutes, 2 to 4 times a day. Cefmetazole eliminates bacteria that cause many infections, including lung, skin, bone, joint, stomach, blood, gynecological, and urinary tract infections. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how your infection and symptoms respond to the medication.

When should I be careful taking Zefazone ?

Before administering cefmetazole,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cefmetazole, any other cephalosporin [e.g., cefaclor (Ceclor), cefadroxil (Duricef), or cephalexin (Keflex)], penicillins, or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin), probenecid, and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney, liver, or gastrointestinal disease (especially colitis).
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cefmetazole, call your doctor.
• you should avoid alcohol completely while receiving cefmetazole and for 3 days after receiving cefmetazole. Any alcoholic beverage can cause a sudden reaction, with an upset stomach, vomiting, flushing, sweating, headache, and rapid heartbeat. This warning also applies to alcohol-containing medications such as cough syrups and elixirs. Talk to your pharmacist or physician before taking any new medication.
• if you have diabetes and regularly check your urine for sugar, use Clinistix or TesTape. Do not use Clinitest tablets because cefmetazole may cause false positive results.

Zefazone Side Effects

Although side effects from cefmetazole are not common, they can occur. If you are administering cefmetazole into a muscle, it may be mixed with lidocaine (Xylocaine) to reduce pain at the injection site. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• upset stomach
• vomiting

• unusual bleeding or bruising
• difficulty breathing
• itching
• rash
• hives
• sore mouth or throat