Cephalosporins Health Article

Side effects

Get medical attention immediately if any of these symptoms develop while taking cephalosporins:

• shortness of breath
• Pounding heartbeat
• Skin rash or hives
• Severe cramps or pain in the stomach or abdomen
• Fever
• Severe watery or bloody diarrhea (may occur up to several weeks after stopping the drug)
• Unusual bleeding or bruising

Other rare side effects may occur. Anyone who has unusual symptoms during or after treatment with cephalosporins should get in touch with his or her physician.

Interactions

Some cephalosporins cause diarrhea. Certain diarrhea medicines, such as diphenoxylate-atropine (Lomotil), may make the problem worse. Check with a physician before taking any medicine for diarrhea caused by taking cephalosporins.

Birth control pills may not work properly when taken at the same time as cephalosporins. To prevent pregnancy, use other methods of birth control in addition to the pills while taking cephalosporins.

Taking cephalosporins with certain other drugs may increase the risk of excess bleeding. Among the drugs that may have this effect when taken with cephalosporins are:

• blood thinning drugs (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• blood viscosity reducing medicines such as pentoxifylline (Trental)
• the antiseizure medicines divalproex (Depakote) and valproic acid (Depakene)

Cephalosporins may also interact with other medicines. When this happens, the effects of one or both of the drugs may change or the risk of side effects may be greater. Anyone who takes cephalosporins should let the physician know all other medicines he or she is taking.

Nancy Ross-Flanigan