Mefoxin

Mefoxin treats several types of bacterial infections. Inform your doctor if you develop any diarrhea while taking this medication.

Mefoxin Overview

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Mefoxin is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections, including lung, urinary tract, abdomen, blood, skin, bone, joint, and gynecological infections. Mefoxin 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) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of Mefoxin include irritation at the site of injection, rash, fever, and diarrhea.

How was your experience with Mefoxin?

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What are you taking Mefoxin for?

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  • Other
  • Abscess
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Bacteroides Infections
  • Bone Diseases, Infectious
  • Escherichia Coli Infections
  • Genital Diseases, Female
  • Haemophilus Infections
  • Klebsiella Infections
  • Peritonitis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Proteus Infections
  • Respiratory Tract Infections
  • Septicemia
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial
  • Soft Tissue Infections
  • Staphylococcal Infections
  • Streptococcal Infections
  • Surgical Wound Infection
  • Urinary Tract Infections

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

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Mefoxin Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautions

Uses of Mefoxin

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

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

Manufacturer

Mefoxin Drug Class

Mefoxin is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Mefoxin

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

Common side effects of Mefoxin include irritation at the site of injection, rash, fever, and diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of Mefoxin 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.

Mefoxin Interactions

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)
  • probenecid (Probalan, Benemid)
  • methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex)
  • birth control pills

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

Mefoxin Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Mefoxin 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: Mefoxin 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 Mefoxin for the duration prescribed by your doctor.

Do not take Mefoxin if you:

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

Mefoxin Food Interactions

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 Mefoxin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

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

  • are allergic to Mefoxin or to any of its ingredients
  • are allergic to similar antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins)
  • have any other type of allergy
  • have gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) problems, especially colitis
  • 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.

Mefoxin and Pregnancy

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.

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

Mefoxin and Lactation

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

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

Mefoxin Usage

Take Mefoxin exactly as prescribed.

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

Mefoxin Dosage

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

The Mefoxin 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
  • your age

The recommended dose range for Mefoxin in adults is 0.5 to 12 grams once a day or divided into daily doses (reason for use and kidney function).

The recommended dose range for Mefoxin in children is 30 mg/kg per day to 12 grams per day, typically divided into daily doses (depending on reason for use and kidney function).

Mefoxin Overdose

Mefoxin is usually administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting making it unlikely for an overdose to occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Other Requirements

  • Store at or below -20°C (-4°F).
  • Thaw at room temperature, 25°C (77°F), or under refrigeration, 2-8°C (36-46°F).
  • DO NOT FORCE THAW BY IMMERSION IN WATER BATHS OR BY MICROWAVE IRRADIATION.
  • Thawed solution is stable for 21 days under refrigeration or 24 hours at room temperature. Do not refreeze. Protect from light.
  • Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.