Ceftazidime Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 31, 2024.

Applies to ceftazidime: injection powder for solution.

Common side effects of ceftazidime

Some side effects of ceftazidime 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:

Serious side effects of ceftazidime

Along with its needed effects, ceftazidime 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 ceftazidime:

Precautions

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

Ceftazidime 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.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms while receiving this medicine: confusion; loss of consciousness; jerking or twitching of the muscles; seizures; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; or severe sleepiness.

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.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to ceftazidime: injectable powder for injection, intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

Hepatic adverse events

• Common (1% to 10%): Transient elevations in 1 or more liver enzymes (alkaline dehydrogenase, ALT, AST, GGT)
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Jaundice
• Postmarketing reports: Cholestasis, hyperbilirubinemia, liver dysfunction^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Inflammation, pain, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis
• Frequency not reported: Superficial desquamation around injection site^[Ref]

Inflammation and pain occurred after IM administration.

Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis occurred with IV administration.^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Eosinophilia, positive Coombs test, thrombocytosis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, lymphocytosis, positive Coombs test without hemolysis
• Postmarketing reports: Aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, prothrombin time prolonged^[Ref]

Approximately 5% of patients developed a positive Coombs test.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Maculopapular rash, rash, urticarial rash
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Frequency not reported: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
• Postmarketing reports: Urticaria^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal pain, antibacterial agent-associated colitis/diarrhea, colitis, nausea, vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Pseudomembranous colitis^[Ref]

Pseudomembranous colitis may have been presented as diarrhea or colitis.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Transient elevations in LDH
• Postmarketing reports: False-positive test for urinary glucose^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Transient elevations of blood urea/blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/serum creatinine
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Acute renal failure, interstitial nephritis
• Postmarketing reports: Renal dysfunction, toxic nephropathy^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dizziness, headache
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Bad taste, paresthesia,
• Frequency not reported: Asterixis, coma, convulsions, encephalopathy, myoclonia, neurological sequelae, neuromuscular excitability, seizures, tremor^[Ref]

Neurological sequelae occurred in patients with renal dysfunction who did not receive appropriate dose adjustments and included coma, convulsions, encephalopathy, myoclonia, and tremor.^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Candidiasis, oral thrush^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vaginitis^[Ref]

Other

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fever^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylaxis, angioedema
• Postmarketing reports: Allergic reactions^[Ref]

Anaphylaxis included bronchospasm, cardiopulmonary arrest, and/or hypotension.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hypotension
• Frequency not reported: Hot flushes
• Postmarketing reports: Cardiopulmonary arrest, hemorrhage^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Bronchospasm^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Ceftazidime 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