Mefoxin (Cefoxitin) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

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Mefoxin

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MEFOXIN®
(cefoxitin) Injection

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of MEFOXIN (cefoxitin) * and other antibacterial drugs, MEFOXIN (cefoxitin) should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

MEFOXIN (Cefoxitin for Injection) is a semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum cepha antibiotic sealed under nitrogen for intravenous administration. It is derived from cephamycin C, which is produced by Streptomyces lactamdurans. Its chemical name is sodium (6R,7S)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-8-oxo-7- [2-(2-thienyl)acetamido]-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0] oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate carbamate (ester). The empirical formula is C₁₆H₁₆N₃NaO₇S₂, and the structural formula is:

MEFOXIN (Cefoxitin) structural formula illustration

MEFOXIN (cefoxitin) contains approximately 53.8 mg (2.3 milliequivalents) of sodium per gram of cefoxitin activity. Solutions of MEFOXIN (cefoxitin) range from colorless to light amber in color. The pH of freshly constituted solutions usually ranges from 4.2 to 7.0.

What are the possible side effects of cefoxitin (Mefoxin)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
swelling, pain, or irritation where the injection was given;
skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Mefoxin »

What are the precautions when taking cefoxitin (Mefoxin)?

Before using cefoxitin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other cephalosporins; or to penicillins; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, stomach/intestinal diseases (e.g., colitis).

Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, elderly people may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication.

This medication passes into breast milk and...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 10/2/2007
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.