Fortaz

Fortaz is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections, including lung, skin, bone, joint, brain, stomach, blood, urinary tract, and gynecological infections. Fortaz 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 Fortaz include irritation at the site of injection, rash, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Fortaz is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections, including lung, skin, bone, joint, brain, stomach, blood, urinary tract, and gynecological infections.

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

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

The Fortaz dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

• 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
• your age

The recommended dose range for Fortaz is 500 mg to 6 grams, divided into even doses and given every 8, 12, 24, or 48 hours.

Serious side effects have been reported with Fortaz 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. Fortaz 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 Fortaz 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 Fortaz exceeds the recommended dose, especially in the presence of kidney dysfunction.

Do not take Fortaz if you are allergic to Fortaz or to any of its ingredients.

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

Common side effects of Fortaz include:

• itching
• rash
• fever
• irritation at the site of injection
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• headache

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

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
• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin, Mychel-S)

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

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.

Fortaz falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Fortaz. 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.

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

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). If diarrhea is severe or lasts more than 2 or 3 days, contact your doctor.

Before taking ceftazidime, tell your doctor if you are allergic to similar antibiotics (penicillins).