Azactam Injection (Aztreonam Injection) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 25, 2012

Azactam Injection

E. Coli (0157:H7) »

E. coli 0157:H7 Facts

E. coli 0157:H7 is a gram-negative bacterium that can produce a bloody diarrhea due to toxins it secretes when it infects human intestinal tracts.
The symptoms of E. coli 0157:H7 infection may include a low fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and bloody diarrhea.
E. coli 0157:H7 is notorious because it can cause additional complications in children and the elderly; renal failure, anemia, and dehydration especially for children (termed HUS or Hemolytic-uremic syndrome) and spontaneous bleeding, organ failures, and mental changes in the elderly (termed TTP or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). Some of these patients develop disabilities or die.
Diagnosis is definitively made when E. coli 0157:H7 is isolated, usually from the patient's stool, and identified as serotype 0157 by immunologic tests.
Most E. coli 0157:H7 infections resolve s...

Read the E. Coli (0157:H7) article »

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Azactam Injection

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Azactam Injection Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using aztreonam (Azactam Injection)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aztreonam or to a penicillin antibiotic, such as:

amoxicillin (Amoxil, Amoxicot, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox);
ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen);
carbenicillin (Geocillin);
dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen);
oxacillin (Bactocill); or
penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others).

Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other drugs, especially:

cephalosporins such as cefaclor (Ceclor), Ceftin (cefuroxime), cefadroxil (Duricef), cephalexin (Keflex), and others; or
similar antibiotics such as ertapenem (Invanz), imipenem (Primaxin), or meropenem (Merrem).

Before using aztreonam, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;
kidney disease; or
a history of any type of allergy.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use aztreonam, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Aztreonam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use aztreonam (Azactam Injection)?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Aztreonam is given as an injection into a muscle or through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. Aztreonam is usually given in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine may need to be given for several hours or several weeks, depending on how severe your infection is.

You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of needles, IV tubing, and other items used in giving the medicine.

Aztreonam is usually given as long as needed until your infection has cleared or you have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

Use aztreonam for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Aztreonam will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Do not give this medication to another person, even if they have the same symptoms you do.

Aztreonam is supplied as a frozen solution in a plastic container. If you use this medicine at home, store the frozen medicine in a freezer. If possible, keep the freezer set at 4 degrees below 0 Fahrenheit or colder.

Thaw the medicine either in a refrigerator or at room temperature. Do not heat the medicine to thaw it more quickly. Aztreonam that is thawed in the refrigerator should be used within 2 weeks.

If you have thawed the medicine at room temperature, you must use it within 48 hours.

Once aztreonam has been thawed, it should be clear and appear colorless or slightly yellow. Do not use the medicine if it has changed color or has particles in it, or if the medicine container leaks. Call your doctor or pharmacist for a new prescription.

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