Patient was educated on how to take Rocephin parenterally as follows:
- Rocephin is taken as an intramuscular or intravenous shot. Make sure the medication is clear and free of any suspended particles, before use.
- Discard the vial at the notice of any suspended particles. Also, discard the vial, if contents are cloudy or discolored or if the vial is cracked.
- Evenly space out the doses of the antibiotic and take the dose at the scheduled time every day. Keeping to the schedule helps with maintaining a constant level of the antibiotic in the body, which is needed for infection control. Also, this helps to avoid forgetting the dose of medication.
- While administering IV Rocephin, administer the dose slowly into the vein over a period of 2 to 3 minutes. Rapid administration of the intravenous dose of Rocephin can result in sudden and rapid increase in the blood levels of the medication, which can be toxic.
- Avoid administering IV Rocephin along with any IV fluids rich in calcium, such as, ringer’s lactate and parenteral nutrition. Administering them together can compromise the therapeutic effects of the antibiotic. Space the antibiotic out by at least 2 hours from these products to avoid this complication.
- Do not reuse the sharps and syringes used for the infusion procedure. Discard the sharps into a sharps container.
- Maintain strict compliance with intake of Rocephin as ordered, with regards to dosage and frequency, to derive the benefit of the medication. The dose and length of treatment depends upon the medical condition, severity of infection, and response to treatment.
- Complete the course of the antibiotic that it was prescribed for. Do not give up on the antibiotic, against your doctor’s recommendation, even if the symptoms of infection are controlled.
- Noncompliance with parenteral Rocephin intake for the complete schedule can result in ineffective infection control with chance of relapse of infection with increased vigor. This can also contribute towards emergence of drug resistant strains of bacteria, making infection control more difficult.
- Do not change the dose on parenteral Rocephin without consulting your doctor.
- Watch out for any continuing or worsening signs and symptoms of infection, to report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
