M-CEFAZOLIN

Cefazolin sodium 500mg and 1g Powder for Injection

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet is designed to provide you with answers to some common questions
about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information and does
not take the place of talking with your doctor.

All medicines have risks and benefits.

Your doctor has more information about this medicine than is contained in
this leaflet. Also, your doctor has had the benefit of taking a full and
detailed history from you and is in the best position to make an expert judgment
to meet your individual needs.

If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, talk to your
doctor or health care professional.

Keep this leaflet with this medicine. You may need to read it again.

What m-Cefazolin is given for

m-Cefazolin is an antibiotic used to treat serious infections in different
parts of the body caused by bacteria.

m-Cefazolin is also used prior to certain surgeries to prevent infection.

m-Cefazolin works by killing the bacteria that are causing your infection.

m-Cefazolin belongs to a group of antibiotics called cephalosporin's
(pronounced kef-al-o-spor-in).

Your doctor may have prescribed m-Cefazolin for another reason. Ask your
doctor if you have any questions about why m-Cefazolin has been prescribed for
you.

m-Cefazolin is not recommended for use in premature infants and in infants
under one month.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you are given m-Cefazolin

Tell your doctor or health care professional if you have any of the
following conditions or if you have ever experienced any of these conditions.

When you must not be given m-Cefazolin

Do not use m-Cefazolin if you have had an allergic reaction to cefazolin
sodium. Signs of an allergic reaction may include a skin rash, itching,
shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue.

Do not use m-Cefazolin if you have had a serious allergic reaction to any
other cephalosporin antibiotic or penicillin antibiotic. If you are allergic
to a cephalosporin or a penicillin, you may have an increased chance of being
allergic to m-Cefazolin.

You must not be given m-Cefazolin if the packaging is torn or shows signs
of tampering.

You must not be given m-Cefazolin after the expiry date printed on the
pack.

If you are not sure whether you should be given m-Cefazolin, talk to your
doctor or health care professional.

Before you are given m-Cefazolin

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:

• any other medicines
• any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions,
especially the following:

• kidney disease
• severe bowel condition/disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
m-Cefazolin may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

Tell your doctor or health care professional about these things before you
are given m-Cefazolin.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or health care professional if you are taking any other
medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may be affected by
m-Cefazolin or may affect how it works.

Your doctor or health care professional may have more information on
medicines to be careful with or to avoid while being given m-Cefazolin.

How m-Cefazolin is given

m-Cefazolin can be given:

• into a vein via a drip
• as a slow injection into a vein
• as a deep injection into a large muscle.

Your doctor or nurse will inject m-Cefazolin for you.

Your doctor will decide what dose and how long you will receive m-Cefazolin.

This depends on your infection and other factors, such as your weight. For
most infections, m-Cefazolin is usually given in divided doses throughout the
day.

If you are given too much (overdose)

As m-Cefazolin is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is
very unlikely that you will receive too much. However, if you experience any
side effects after being given m-Cefazolin, tell your doctor immediately.

While you are receiving m-Cefazolin

Things you must do

If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if
they become worse, tell your doctor.

If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse
immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after m-Cefazolin has been
stopped.

Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel.
You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without
first checking with your doctor.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor or
health care professional that you are receiving m-Cefazolin.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are receiving
m-Cefazolin.

If you have to test your urine for sugar while you are being given
m-Cefazolin, make sure your doctor knows which type of test you use.

m-Cefazolin may affect the results of these tests.

Tell all doctors and health care professionals who are treating you that
you are receiving m-Cefazolin.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible if you do
not feel well while you are receiving m-Cefazolin. Like other medicines,
m-Cefazolin may cause some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious,
most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you experience
some of the side effects.

Ask your doctor or health care professional to answer any questions you may
have.

While being given m-Cefazolin

Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following side effects
and they worry you:

• pain, swelling or red skin where you had the injection
• diarrhoea

These are the more common side effects of m-Cefazolin and are usually mild.

Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following
side effects:

• watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
• severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
• skin problems such as rash or itchiness
• bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
• signs of anaemia, such as tiredness, being short of breath and looking
  pale
• yellowing of the skin and eyes, also called jaundice
• swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty in
  swallowing or breathing

These side effects are rare but may be serious. You may need medical
attention.

After you have received m-Cefazolin

Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your
nearest hospital if any of the following happen, particularly if they occur
several weeks after stopping treatment with m-Cefazolin:

• severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
• watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
• fever, in combination with one or both of the above.

These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition
affecting your bowel. Therefore, you may need urgent medical attention or
hospitalisation. However, these side effects are rare.

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your
doctor or health care professional if you notice anything that is making you
feel unwell.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual or if you are concerned
about any aspect of your health, even if you think the problems are not
connected with this medicine and are not referred to in this leaflet.

Storage

m-Cefazolin will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The powder for
injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Product Description

What it looks like

m-Cefazolin is available as a white to off-white crystalline powder in glass
vials with rubber stoppers. The powder is dissolved in a suitable sterile
solution before it is injected.

Ingredients

Active ingredient:

Cefazolin sodium.

There are no inactive ingredients in m-Cefazolin.