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Timentin Side Effects

Generic name: clavulanate / ticarcillin

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 7, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about clavulanate / ticarcillin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Timentin.

Applies to clavulanate / ticarcillin: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

Warning

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to any penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotic.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking clavulanate / ticarcillin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to clavulanate / ticarcillin: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

Hematologic

The risk of significant bleeding may be increased in patients over the age of 60 years, patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, patients with preexisting thrombocytopenia, and azotemia, and patients undergoing surgical procedures.

Leukopenia has been reported in 23% of patients with liver disease receiving beta-lactam antibiotics.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Elevated eosinophils, thrombocytosis

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hemolytic anemia

Frequency not reported: Bleeding manifestations, immune hemolytic anemia, positive Coombs test

Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, eosinophilia, decreased hemoglobin or hematocrit, prolonged prothrombin time and bleeding time[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Elevated AST, elevated ALT

Postmarketing reports: Elevated AST, elevated ALT, elevated serum bilirubin, transient hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms has been reported during or after antibacterial therapy.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, diarrhea

Frequency not reported: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

Postmarketing reports: Stomatitis, flatulence, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, epigastric pain, pseudomembranous colitis[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash

Postmarketing reports: Skin rash, pruritus, urticaria, bullous reactions (including erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome)[Ref]

Local

Common (1% to 10%): Injection site phlebitis

Frequency not reported: Injection site erythema, injection site infiltration

Postmarketing reports: Injection site pain, injection site burning, injection site swelling, injection site induration, thrombophlebitis with IV administration[Ref]

Nervous system

Postmarketing reports: Headache, giddiness, neuromuscular hyperirritability, convulsive seizures, taste and smell disturbances[Ref]

Convulsions have been reported rarely, particularly in patients with renal dysfunction or those using high doses.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Postmarketing reports: Hypersensitivity reactions (including skin rash, pruritus, urticaria, arthralgia, myalgia, drug fever, chills, chest discomfort, bronchospasm, wheezing, anaphylactic reactions, bullous reactions [including erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome])[Ref]

Renal

Postmarketing reports: Elevated serum creatinine and/or BUN[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Postmarketing reports: Arthralgia, myalgia

Other

Postmarketing reports: Drug fever, chills, chest discomfort, decreased serum potassium

Respiratory

Postmarketing reports: Bronchospasm, wheezing

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Hypokalemia

Postmarketing reports: Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, elevated serum LDH, hypernatremia, decreased uric acid[Ref]

Some studies have shown a correlation between the degree of hypokalemia and the dose of ticarcillin in addition to the serum BUN/creatinine ratio. These findings suggest that dehydration and high doses may be risk factors for hypokalemia.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Vaginal yeast infections

Postmarketing reports: Hemorrhagic cystitis[Ref]

An increased incidence of vaginal yeast infections has been associated with penicillins.[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Hallucinations

References

1. Link AS, Jr. Efficacy and safety of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid and piperacillin in patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Am J Med. 1985;79:86-7.

2. Fass RJ, Copelan EA, Brandt JT, Moeschberger ML, Ashton JJ. Platelet-mediated bleeding caused by broad-spectrum penicillins. J Infect Dis. 1987;155:1242-8.

3. Stuart JJ. Ticarcillin-induced hemorrhage in a patient with thrombocytosis. South Med J. 1980;73:1084-5.

4. Gastineau D, Spector R, Philips D. Severe neutropenia associated with ticarcillin therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1981;94:711-2.

5. Mostow SR, O'Brien RF. Safety and effectiveness of ticarcillin plus clavulanate potassium in treatment of lower respiratory tract infections. Am J Med. 1985;79:78-80.

6. Sanders CV, Marier RL, Aldridge KE, Derks FW, Martin DH. Safety and effectiveness of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid in the treatment of community-acquired acute pyelonephritis in adult women. Am J Med. 1985;79:96-100.

7. Gentry LO, Macko V, Lind R, Heilman A. Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid (timentin) therapy for osteomyelitis. Am J Med. 1985;79:116-21.

8. Croydon EA, Hermoso C. An evaluation of the safety and tolerance to timentin. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986;17:233-40.

9. Meylan PR, Calandra T, Casey PA, Glauser MP. Clinical experience with timentin in severe hospital infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986;17:127-39.

10. Tehan S, Horobin J, Gordonsmith R, McLatchie GR. Ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid (timentin): further UK trial results. Br J Clin Pract. 1988;42:8-16.

11. Product Information. Timentin (ticarcillin-clavulanate). SmithKline Beecham. 2001;PROD.

12. Shenep JL, Hughes WT, Roberson PK, et al. Vancomycin, ticarcillin, and amikacin compared with ticarcillin-clavulanate and amikacin in the empirical treatment of febrile, neutropenic children with cancer. N Engl J Med. 1988;319:1053-8.

13. Westenfelder M, Pelz K, Hulla FW. Clinical evaluation of timentin in complicated urinary tract infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986;17:97-102.

14. Schwigon CD, Hulla FW, Schulza B, Maslak A. Timentin in the treatment of nosocomial bronchopulmonary infections in intensive care units. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986;17:115-22.

15. Ryan J, Dudley FJ. Cholestasis with ticarcillin-potassium clavulanate (timentin). Med J Aust. 1992;156:291.

16. Sweet JM, Jones MP. Intrahepatic cholestasis due to ticarcillin-clavulanate. Am J Gastroenterol. 1995;90:675-6.

17. Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC. Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71:933-42.

18. Brown LA, Goldberg ND, Shearer WT. Long-term ticarcillin desensitization by the continuous oral administration of penicillin. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1982;69:51-4.

19. Welter J, Wittman DH, Freitag V. Ticarcillin therapy of risk patients with infections due to pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Int Med Res. 1981;9:44-51.

20. Finch RA. Hypernatremia during lithium and ticarcillin therapy. South Med J. 1981;74:376-7.

21. Ramirez-Ronda CH, Gutierrez J, Bermudez RH. Comparative effectiveness, safety and tolerance of mezlocillin and ticarcillin: a prospective randomized trial. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1982;9:125-9.

22. Nanji AA, Lindsay J. Ticarcillin associated hypokalemia. Clin Biochem. 1982;15:118-9.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.