TAZOCIN®
piperacillin/tazobactam
for injection
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about TAZOCIN. It does not contain
all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your
doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of
you taking TAZOCIN against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for
you.
If you have any questions about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What TAZOCIN is used for
The name of your medicine is TAZOCIN. It contains the active ingredients
piperacillin and tazobactam. They belong to a group of antibiotics called
penicillins that work by killing bacteria.
Piperacillin, is an antibiotic that kills many types of bacteria. Tazobactam,
belongs in the penicillin group but does not have activity against bacteria. It
helps piperacillin to overcome bacteria which have become resistant to
piperacillin.
TAZOCIN is active against bacteria which cause serious infections such as: -
- Chest infections
- Urine infections
- Stomach infections
- Skin infections
- Gynaecological infections
- Septicaemia (blood poisoning).
It is also used to treat many other infections.
In hospitalised children aged 2 to 12 years, Tazocin is used to treat serious
infections in the abdomen. TAZOCIN is not recommended to treat abdominal
infections in children under 2 years.
TAZOCIN will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or
flu.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
TAZOCIN is not addictive.
Before you are given TAZOCIN
When you must not receive TAZOCIN:
Do not have TAZOCIN if:
- you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
- piperacillin, tazobactam, or any other penicillin antibiotics
- any antibiotic in the cephalosporin group
- medicines called beta-lactamase inhibitors
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, itching or
hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body, shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing. - TAZOCIN should not be given to children under two years of age unless
directed by the child's doctor.
Before you start to receive TAZOCIN
You must tell your doctor if:
- you are allergic to any foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines
- you have any other health problems, including kidney or liver disease
The dose of TAZOCIN will be altered,
depending on blood tests. - you are on a low salt diet
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
Your doctor will discuss the risks and
benefits of using TAZOCIN if you are pregnant. - you are breastfeeding
TAZOCIN passes into breast milk. Therefore,
if you are breast-feeding, you should discuss with your doctor whether to stop
breast-feeding while or stop using TAZOCIN. - you are being treated with TAZOCIN for gonorrhoea, your doctor should test
you for syphilis as well.
TAZOCIN in high doses may hide early
symptoms of syphilis without curing it long-term.
If you are not sure whether you should be taking TAZOCIN, talk to your
doctor.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including
medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health
food shop.
There may be interference between TAZOCIN and some other medicines,
including:
- medicines for gout (probenicid)
- aminoglycoside antibiotics
- tobramycin, an antibiotic
- preparations used for thinning blood (warfarin, heparin)
- methotrexate, used to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and other
inflammatory conditions - vecuronium, a muscle relaxant used in surgery
These medicines may be affected by TAZOCIN or may affect how well it works.
You may need to be given different amounts of your medicine or you may need to
be given different medicines.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above,
tell them before you start taking TAZOCIN.
How TAZOCIN will be given to you
How much you will be given
The dosage of TAZOCIN is generally 4.5g every eight hours. The dose may vary
between 2.25g and 4.5 g and may also be given every six hours. For children aged
2 to 12 years, weighing up to 40 kg, and with normal kidney function, the
recommended dosage is 112.5 mg/kg (100 mg piperacillin/12.5 mg tazobactam) every
8 hours. For children aged 2 to 12 years, weighing over 40 kg, and with normal
kidney function, the recommended dose is 4.5 g (4 g piperacillin/0.5 g
tazobactam) every 8 hours.
These dosages may be changed by your doctor.
If you have kidney disease your doctor will adjust the dose to suit you.
How TAZOCIN will be given
A doctor or nurse in hospital will always give TAZOCIN to you. It may be
given to you as an injection into muscle, or slowly into a vein over 20-30
minutes.
How long you will receive TAZOCIN
The length of time you will be given TAZOCIN depends on the type and severity
of your infection. It should be given for at least five days, and for 48 hours
after all signs of illness and fever have gone.
Overdose
It is unlikely that you will ever receive an overdose of TAZOCIN because it
will be given by a trained nurse or doctor.
While you are receiving TAZOCIN
If you receive TAZOCIN for a prolonged time, your doctor may wish to do some
blood tests. Sometimes blood disorders can occur if you take TAZOCIN.
If a doctor asks you for a urine sample, tell him/her that you are
receiving TAZOCIN.
Antibiotics in the penicillin family, including TAZOCIN, can cause interference
in some tests for glucose in urine. Penicillins which are excreted in urine can
cause a false-positive result. The doctor will request a test which is not
affected by penicillins.
Things you must do:
If you develop severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor immediately. Do this
even if it occurs several weeks after stopping TAZOCIN.
This may be a sign of a serious side effect that affects the bowel. You may need
urgent medical care. Do not take any medicines to treat this diarrhoea without
checking with your doctor.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking TAZOCIN.
TAZOCIN is effective in most people, but may have unwanted side effects in
some. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of
the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the
side effects.
The more common side effects are:
- nausea or indigestion
- vomiting
- diarrhoea or constipation
- rash, itchy or red skin
- allergic reactions such as hives (urticaria)
- a new infection caused by bacteria that are resistant to TAZOCIN
(superinfection) - difficulty sleeping
- headache, dizziness or light-headedness
Rare side effects are:
- increased sweating
- eczema
- severe skin reactions
- inflammation of the mouth
- dry mouth
- weakness and tiredness
- hallucinations
- muscle or joint pain or prolonged muscle relaxation
- fever
- hot flushes
- swelling of the hands, feet and ankles
- swelling or redness along a vein which is extremely tender when touched
- changes in liver function including jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
- injection site pain or inflammation
- Severe diarrhoea caused by a certain superinfection in the gut
- convulsions ('fits') if TAZOCIN is given in high doses
- short-term changes in kidney function
- thrush, especially with prolonged treatment
Less often, serious effects have occurred in people taking TAZOCIN:
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- tiredness, being short of breath and looking pale
- frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth
ulcers - bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, nose bleeds
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in
some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything on this list or anything else that
is making you feel unwell.
Importantly, tell your doctor if you have severe diarrhoea in the next few
weeks after TAZOCIN treatment.
Do not try to treat it yourself with medicines that you can buy without a
prescription.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand anything in this
list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
After using TAZOCIN
Storage
It is unlikely that you will be asked to store this medication. If you are:
Keep this medicine where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least 1½ metres above the ground is a good place to store
medicines.
Keep TAZOCIN in a cool, dry place where it stays below 30°C. Do not store
it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking TAZOCIN, or it has passed its
expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over.
Product description
What it looks like and how it is supplied
TAZOCIN is a white powder which is supplied as 2.25 grams or 4.5 grams of
powder in glass containers (vials). The powder is mixed with sterile liquid to
give a solution for injection by your doctor.
It is supplied in two different dose sizes:
2.25 g TAZOCIN vial contains 2 g of piperacillin and 250 mg (0.25 g) of
tazobactam.
4.5 g TAZOCIN vial contains 4 g of piperacillin and 500 mg (0.5 g) of
tazobactam.
Ingredients
TAZOCIN vials contain piperacillin and tazobactam as the active ingredients
and no inactive ingredients.