Ceftriaxone: Effects, Applications, Side Effects

How Ceftriaxone works

Ceftriaxone is an antibacterial agent from the cephalosporin group. It inhibits the cell wall synthesis of bacteria, causing the germs to die (bactericidal effect). The antibiotic is mainly effective against so-called gram-negative pathogens, but is also used against gram-positive germs. It is therefore also used for mixed infections.

Absorption, degradation and excretion

Ceftriaxone is administered directly into the bloodstream as an infusion because it is poorly absorbed from the intestine. Reversibly bound to plasma proteins, it is distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream.

About 60 percent of the antibiotic is excreted in the urine and 40 percent is excreted in the stool via the bile. Around eight hours after absorption (12.5 hours in older people), half of the active substance has left the body again (half-life).

Ceftriaxone is given to treat various bacterial infections, including:

severe infections of the throat, nose, ears, and respiratory tract
infections of the kidney and urinary tract
infections of the bones and joints
infections of the abdomen
Lyme disease
Gonorrhea (gonorrhea) and syphilis (venereal diseases)

How ceftriaxone is used

Ceftriaxone is given either as an infusion directly into the bloodstream or as an injection into a muscle.

What are the side effects of ceftriaxone?

Very common side effects are precipitation of ceftriaxone calcium salts in the gallbladder in children and gallstones in children.

Patients often react to the antibiotic with a skin rash. Sometimes itching and hives (urticaria) also occur.

Also possible are severe skin rashes/skin reactions that can become life-threatening (frequency unknown). Therefore, in the following cases a doctor should be notified immediately:

Occurrence of one or more of the following symptoms: extensive rash, high fever, elevated liver enzymes, elevation of eosinophil granulocytes, enlarged lymph nodes, and involvement of other organs (signs of what is called drug exanthem with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, also known as DRESS or hypersensitivity syndrome)

Inform your doctor if you develop such symptoms. The symptoms can be treated symptomatically. The antibiotic usually does not need to be discontinued.

If the antibiotic is injected into a muscle, the injection site may hurt afterwards and show hardening of the tissue.

If the antibiotic is introduced into the body too quickly, intolerance reactions such as a feeling of heat and nausea may result.

What should be taken into account when using Ceftriaxone?

Contraindications

Ceftriaxone must not be used in the following cases:

hypersensitivity to ceftriaxone, another cephalosporin, or any other component of the drug
known severe hypersensitivity to a beta-lactam antibiotic (penicillins, cephalosporins, etc.)
term neonates up to 28 days of age with elevated blood bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia), jaundice, decreased blood albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia), or abnormal body acidity (acidosis)
term newborns up to 28 days of age who are treated with calcium infusions

Interactions

Some examples: The antibiotic may weaken the effect of hormonal contraceptives (such as the pill). Simultaneous use of aminoglycoside antibiotics increases the risk of hearing and kidney damage.