Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ceftriaxone injection for adults and children to treat the following infections caused by certain bacteria:
Ceftriaxone injection may also be used to prevent infections in people undergoing certain types of surgery.
This article describes possible side effects of ceftriaxone injection. To learn more about ceftriaxone, including the drug’s uses, side effects, and more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Ceftriaxone injection is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version.
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More common side effects of ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone injection may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of ceftriaxone injection include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone may cause certain mild side effects. Typically, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of ceftriaxone injection that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section below.
Ceftriaxone injection may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from ceftriaxone injection, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with ceftriaxone.
Serious side effects of ceftriaxone injection that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section below.
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Side effects of ceftriaxone in children
For children, doctors prescribe ceftriaxone injection to treat or prevent certain types of bacterial infections. The drug is used for this purpose in children of all ages.
In studies, the following side effects appeared to be more common in children than in adults:
If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking ceftriaxone injection, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Common questions about side effects of ceftriaxone
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of ceftriaxone injection. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do side effects of ceftriaxone usually last?
How long side effects of ceftriaxone injection last can depend on several factors, including:
- the specific side effect
- why you’re prescribed ceftriaxone injection
- how you respond to the drug
Most common side effects of ceftriaxone injection are temporary and go away on their own after a few days, especially if you’re prescribed the drug for a short time. Ceftriaxone injection is usually well tolerated.
Some side effects could occur after stopping ceftriaxone injection. For example, C. diff diarrhea* can occur up to 3 months after treatment with an antibiotic such as ceftriaxone injection.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about side effects of ceftriaxone injection. Also, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or get worse with time.
In rare cases, ceftriaxone injection may cause long-term side effects. To learn more, see the question below, “Does ceftriaxone cause long-term side effects,” or talk with your doctor.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section below.
Can a single dose of ceftriaxone cause side effects?
Yes, it’s possible that just one dose of ceftriaxone injection may cause side effects. And a single dose of ceftriaxone injection is recommended for certain conditions.
For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a single dose of ceftriaxone injection to treat gonorrhea. For this use, ceftriaxone injection is given into the muscle (intramuscularly).
Ceftriaxone injection is usually well tolerated. Still, even one dose of any medication may cause side effects. For instance, you may have a reaction at the site where ceftriaxone was injected.*
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible side effects with ceftriaxone injection.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section below.
Does ceftriaxone cause long-term side effects?
Yes, ceftriaxone injection may, in rare cases, cause long-term side effects. These can last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug. But most common side effects of ceftriaxone injection are temporary and go away on their own, especially if you’re prescribed the drug for a short time.
Some serious side effects*, if they occur, could affect your health long term. Examples of long-term side effects reported with ceftriaxone injection may include:
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of ceftriaxone may last.
* For more information about the serious side effects of ceftriaxone injection, see the “Serious side effects of ceftriaxone” section above.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section below.
Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of ceftriaxone injection.
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) diarrhea
C. diff diarrhea has been reported with nearly all antibiotics, including ceftriaxone injection. This side effect can be mild to serious. In rare cases, it can be life threatening.
C. diff is a type of bacterium. If you have too much of it in your intestines, it can lead to an infection and inflammation of your colon.
Typically, other bacteria in the intestines help manage the amount of C. diff. But when the other bacteria are killed by an antibiotic, including ceftriaxone injection, the amount of C. diff in your intestines can go up. C. diff makes toxins which can lead to diarrhea.
Diarrhea is the main symptom of a C. diff infection. You may also have other symptoms, such as:
- stomach pain or cramping
- fever
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- blood in the stool
Certain factors can also increase the risk of C. diff diarrhea with ceftriaxone injection. These include:
- older age (people ages 65 years and older)
- recent stay in a hospital or nursing home
- having a weakened immune system
- previous C. diff infection
Ways to manage
If you have frequent or severe diarrhea during treatment with ceftriaxone injection, or if your symptoms last more than a couple of days, tell your doctor right away.
Get immediate medical care if you see blood in your stool or have severe stomach pain. If you have C. diff diarrhea, your doctor may stop ceftriaxone injection. You may also need fluids or antibiotics to treat C. diff.
Although diarrhea is a common side effect of antibiotics, it usually ends when you finish the antibiotic. But C. diff diarrhea can occur up to 3 months after taking an antibiotic. Let your doctor know about all medications you’ve taken if you develop C. diff diarrhea.
Injection site reactions
In studies, injection site reactions were common in people receiving ceftriaxone injection. This side effect is typically mild. Ceftriaxone may be given either into a muscle (intramuscularly) or into a vein (intravenously).
With injection site reactions, you may have a few types of symptoms where ceftriaxone was injected. These can include:
Certain factors can increase the risk of injection site reactions with ceftriaxone injection, including the dose. Higher doses may be more likely to cause this side effect.
Ways to manage
Typically, symptoms of an injection site reaction are mild and go away within a few days.
If your side effects are bothersome or last for longer, tell your doctor. They may be able to recommend simple steps to help manage your symptoms. They can also help determine whether the reaction is a sign of something more serious, such as an infection.
For some people, ceftriaxone injection can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, typically affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should continue treatment with the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to ceftriaxone injection, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for ceftriaxone
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking ceftriaxone injection.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take ceftriaxone injection if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether ceftriaxone injection is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking ceftriaxone injection, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ceftriaxone in detail” section above.
Ceftriaxone and pregnancy
It’s not known whether ceftriaxone injection should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with this medication.
Ceftriaxone and breastfeeding
Ceftriaxone injection may need to be used with caution while breastfeeding. Low amounts of ceftriaxone are passed into breast milk.
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with ceftriaxone.
Ceftriaxone injection isn’t known to interact with alcohol. But drinking alcohol while being treated with antibiotics may increase your chance of side effects, such as diarrhea.
Alcohol may also interfere with your body’s ability to heal from an infection.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with ceftriaxone injection.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of ceftriaxone injection. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How long will the side effects from ceftriaxone injection last?
- Are there certain factors that increase my risk of side effects from ceftriaxone injection?
- Does my risk of side effects from ceftriaxone injection depend on my dosage?
- How do the side effects of ceftriaxone injection compare with other drugs to treat my condition?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
