Cefepime

Cefepime is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections of the lungs, skin, abdomen, and urinary tract. Cefepime belongs to a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics, which work to stop the growth of bacteria in the body.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) or muscle (IM) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of cefepime include rash, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Cefepime is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections of the lungs, skin, abdomen, and urinary tract.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Cefepime may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Maxipime

Common side effects of cefepime include:

• rash
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• itching
• fever
• headache

This is not a complete list of cefepime side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with cefepime. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• aminoglycosides such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), and tobramycin (Nebcin)
• furosemide (Lasix)
• probenecid (Probalan, Benemid)
• methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex)
• birth control pills

This is not a complete list of cefepime drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with cefepime including:

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Signs of a hypersensitivity reaction, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • fainting
  • rash
• diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics, and it usually ends when the antibacterial is discontinued. Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as 2 or more months after having taken their last dose of the antibacterial. If diarrhea is severe or lasts more than 2 or 3 days, contact your doctor, as this may be a sign of an infection of the bowels.
• superinfection. Cefepime should not be used for extended periods. Prolonged use can lead to the growth of dangerous organisms that are resistant or unresponsive to this medication. Take cefepime for the duration prescribed by your doctor.
• bleeding abnormalities. Your health care provider may want to monitor lab tests that show how well your blood is able to clot or that measure your tendency to bleed. Any abnormalities or irregularities that may occur may be more common in those with kidney dysfunction.
• nervous system disturbances. Some may experience nervous symptom abnormalities such as a seizure or disturbances of consciousness (confusion, hallucinations, stupor, coma) when the dose of cefepime exceeds the recommended dose, especially in the presence of kidney dysfunction.

Do not take cefepime if you:

• are allergic to cefepime or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to similar antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins)

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of cefepime, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking cefepime, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to cefepime or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to similar antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins)
• have gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) problems, especially colitis
• have a history of seizure activity
• have kidney problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Cefepime falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with cefepime. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Cefepime has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from cefepime, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of cefepime. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) or muscle (IM) by a healthcare professional.

Take cefepime exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The cefepime dose your doctor recommends will be based on:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your kidney function
• your weight

The recommended dose range for cefepime in adults is 0.5 grams to 2 grams two to three times a day.

The recommended dose range for cefepime in children (weighing 40 kg or less) is 50 mg/kg to 2 grams two to three times a day.

If cefepime is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.