Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Cefotaxime as follows:
- Do not change the dose on Cefotaxime 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.
- Also, Cefotaxime is significantly metabolized by the liver and is excreted in the urine. Individuals with compromised liver function cannot metabolize Cefotaxime and this can lead to increased blood levels of Cefotaxime for longer duration, leading to toxicity. Individuals with compromised renal function tend to retain the drug in the circulation longer, thus resulting in toxicity. Cefotaxime should be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals with compromised hepatic and renal functions.
- Avoid administering IV Cefotaxime 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.
- Close watch for signs and symptoms of arrhythmias must be maintained in individuals with history of cardiac arrhythmias, as Cefotaxime has the potential to exacerbate any underlying arrhythmias. Compliance with blood work ordered to monitor serum potassium and magnesium ions is mandatory.
