Cefoxitin Sodium (ke-FOX-it-in)
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Cefoxitin Juno. 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 being given cefoxitin against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
What Cefoxitin Juno is used for
Cefoxitin is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called cephalosporins. It is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria. It works by killing the bacteria responsible for your infection. It may be given with other antibiotics.
It will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.
Your doctor may have prescribed cefoxitin for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why cefoxitin has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Cefoxitin is not addictive
Before you are given Cefoxitin Juno
When you must not be given it
Cefoxitin Juno if you have an allergy to:
- any medicine containing Cefoxitin
- any other cephalosporin antibiotics.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing;
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body;
- rash, itching or hives on the skin.
You must not be given this medicine if you have had a serious allergic reaction to penicillin antibiotics.
Cefoxitin should not be mixed with lignocaine and given to you if you have had an allergic reaction to lignocaine.
Sometimes Cefoxitin Juno is mixed with lignocaine hydrochloride so that the injection into the muscle is less painful.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have any types of allergies to penicillin antibiotics. You may have an increased chance of being allergic to Cefoxitin if you are allergic to penicillins.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
- any other medicines
- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Like most cephalosporin medicines, cefoxitin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is a need to consider cefoxitin during your pregnancy, your doctor or pharmacist will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Like most cephalosporin medicines, cefoxitin is not recommended while you are breast-feeding. If there is a need to consider cefoxitin while you are breast feeding, your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using it.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
- kidney disease
- liver disease.
- central nervous system disorders.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you are given cefoxitin.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and Cefoxitin may interfere with each other.
These include:
- warfarin or phenindione (medicines used to stop blood clots)
- frusemide (a medicine used to reduce fluid or blood pressure)
- gentamicin (a medicine used to treat severe infections)
- probenicid, a medicine used to treat gout
These medicines may be affected by Cefoxitin or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Talk to your doctor about the need for an additional method of contraception while being given cefoxitin. Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth control pills, although this has not been shown with cefoxitin.
How Cefoxitin Juno is given
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight.
Cefoxitin Juno Injection is usually given every eight hours.
How it is given
Cefoxitin Juno is a powder and will be dissolved before it is injected. It is given as an injection into a muscle, or as a slow injection or infusion (intravenous drip) into a vein.
Cefoxitin Juno should only be given by a doctor, nurse or other trained person
If you take too much (overdose)
As cefoxitin is given under medical supervision, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much.
However, if you experience severe side effects after being given cefoxitin, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.
Symptoms of a cefoxitin overdose may include the side effects listed below in the ‘Side Effects’ section, but are usually of a more severe nature.
Ask your doctor if you have any concerns.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre for advice (13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much cefoxitin. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are being given Cefoxitin Juno
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 immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after cefoxitin has been stopped. Do not take any diarrhea medicine without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while you are being treated with, or soon after stopping treatment with Cefoxitin, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of this medicine allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur.
Cefoxitin does not work against fungi.
If you experience any severe skin rashes or reactions such as raised bumps, blisters or a painful red rash while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately. Depending on the type of reaction, your doctor may stop treating you with this medicine and try an alternative medicine.
If you become pregnant while you are being treated with this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are being treated with cefoxitin.
If you have to test your urine for sugar while you are being treated with cefoxitin, make sure the doctor knows what type of test you use. Cefoxitin may affect the results of some of these tests.
If you are about to have any blood or urine tests, tell your doctor that you are being treated with this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are being treated with this medicine.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being treated with cefoxitin. This medicine helps most people with infections, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Treatment with cefoxitin, particularly in elderly patients with serious kidney or nervous system problems may rarely cause brain or nervous system disorders.
There have been reports of decreased consciousness, abnormal movements, confusion, agitation, and convulsions or seizures.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
While using it
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- oral thrush – white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
- vaginal thrush – sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
- nausea, vomiting or mild diarrhoea
- pain or a change in the appearance of the vein at the site of the injection
- mild diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain and fever.
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following:
- signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- fever
- severe diarrhoea
- light-headedness or dizziness
- yellowing of the skin and/or eyes
- problems with urination.
- a severe skin rash or reaction.
- decreased consciousness, abnormal movements, confusion, agitation, convulsions or seizures.
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
After finishing it
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Cefoxitin:
- 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 serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Therefore you may need urgent medical attention.
However, these side effects are rare.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
After being given Cefoxitin Juno
Storage
Cefoxitin Juno will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light and moisture where the temperature stays below 25°C
Product description
What it looks like
Cefoxitin Juno is a white or almost white powder in a glass vial. It is available in packs of 10 vials.
Ingredients
Cefoxitin Juno contains Cefoxitin sodium, equivalent to 1 g or 2 g of Cefoxitin, as the active ingredient.
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Australian Sponsor:
Juno Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
15 – 17 Chapel Street,
Cremorne,
VIC 3121
Australia
Cefoxitin Juno is available in the following strengths:
This leaflet was prepared in: Feb 2024.
Published by MIMS March 2024
