Ceftaroline Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 1, 2024.

Applies to ceftaroline: intravenous powder for solution.

Precautions

Your doctor will check your or your child's progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it.

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

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive this medicine.

This medicine may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you or your child stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. If you have any questions or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause brain or nerve problems (eg, encephalopathy and seizures). Check with your doctor right away if you have agitation, back pain, blurred vision, coma, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, fever, hallucinations, headache, irritability, mood or mental changes, shaking or jerking of one area or side of the body, stiff neck, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

Hemolytic anemia may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have back, leg, or stomach pains, bleeding gums, chills, dark urine, difficulty with breathing, fever, general body swelling, headache, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, nosebleeds, pale skin, sore throat, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

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

Serious side effects of ceftaroline

Along with its needed effects, ceftaroline 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 while taking ceftaroline:

Other side effects of ceftaroline

Some side effects of ceftaroline 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to ceftaroline: intravenous powder for injection.

General adverse events

The most common side effects reported in adults using this drug were diarrhea, headache, nausea, pruritus, and rash.^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Direct antiglobulin test/Coombs test seroconversion (up to 32.3%), positive direct Coombs test
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, increased INR
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Agranulocytosis, eosinophilia^[Ref]

In clinical trials, direct antiglobulin test seroconversion was reported in 10.7% of adult patients using this drug every 12 hours (600 mg infused over 1 hour every 12 hours) and in 32.3% of those using this drug every 8 hours (600 mg infused over 2 hours every 8 hours). Seroconversion from negative to positive direct Coombs test result was reported in 17.9% of children using this drug.

Agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, and leukopenia have also been reported during postmarketing experience.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, nausea, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Clostridioides difficile colitis
• Frequency not reported: C difficile-associated diarrhea, dyspepsia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash, pruritus, generalized pruritus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urticaria

Beta-lactam antibiotics (including cephalosporins):

• Postmarketing reports: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms [DRESS], acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis)^[Ref]

In clinical trials using this drug every 12 hours or every 8 hours, rash was common; however, in a subgroup of Asian patients using this drug every 8 hours, rash was very common (18.5%).^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
• Frequency not reported: Convulsion
• Postmarketing reports: Encephalopathy^[Ref]

Risk of encephalopathy was higher in patients with renal dysfunction receiving doses of this drug that were not appropriately reduced.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypokalemia
• Frequency not reported: Decreased appetite, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Phlebitis, hypertension, increased blood pressure
• Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, palpitations^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased transaminases, increased ALT
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal hepatic function, hepatitis, increased AST^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Pyrexia
• Frequency not reported: Asthenia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Infusion site reactions (erythema, phlebitis, pain)

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity (e.g., urticaria, lip and face swelling), anaphylaxis^[Ref]

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported with beta-lactam antibacterials.^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased blood creatinine
• Frequency not reported: Renal failure^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Postmarketing reports: Eosinophilic pneumonia

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Urinary tract infection^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Ceftaroline side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer