Cefazolin is an antibiotic that is used in adults and children at least 1 month old to treat bacterial infections of the lungs, bone and joints, urinary tract, skin, genitals, and gallbladder, including those that are severe or life-threatening such as heart or blood bacterial infections.

Cefazolin is sometimes given before and after surgery to prevent infections in adults and children at least 10 years old.

Cefazolin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Cefazolin is injected into a vein or into a muscle. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

You may keep receiving this medicine even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses could make your infection resistant to medication. Cefazolin will not treat a viral infection (flu or a common cold).

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using cefazolin.

Follow all storage instructions provided with cefazolin. Your pharmacist can provide more information about how to store this medicine.

Cefazolin can cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactions. You should not use cefazolin if you are allergic to cefazolin or similar medicines such as:

• cefuroxime, cefdinir, cefepime, ceftriaxone, cephalexin, and others;

• amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin), ampicillin, penicillin, and others; or

• meropenem, imipenem and cilastatin, ertapenem, and others.

You may not be able to use cefazolin if you have:

• diabetes;

• an allergy to dextrose-containing products; or

• an allergy to corn.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• seizures;

• bleeding problems; or

• liver or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of cefazolin.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

An overdose can cause a seizure.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your medical caregivers if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, sweaty, or have a headache, chest tightness, back pain, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face.

Cefazolin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);

• a seizure;

• liver problems--upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common side effects of cefazolin may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• headache;

• rash, itching;

• an allergic reaction; or

• pain, bruising, swelling, or irritation where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially probenecid.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect cefazolin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.