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Side Effects of Rocephin
Some Rocephin side effects to watch for are diarrhea, an increase in liver enzymes, and pain at the injection site. While most reactions are minor and require little or no treatment, some serious side effects can occur and should be reported immediately. These include unexplained bleeding or bruising, blood in stools, and difficulty breathing or swallowing.
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Rocephin® (ceftriaxone), but not everyone who takes Rocephin will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Rocephin well. When people do develop Rocephin side effects, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by your healthcare provider.
(The side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with this drug. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Rocephin side effects with you.)
Rocephin has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with thousands of people worldwide having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to people not taking the medicine. The most common side effects with Rocephin (occurring in either adults or children) included:
- Pain, warmth, and/or minor swelling at injection site -- up to 17 percent
- Unexplained rash -- up to 1.7 percent
- Diarrhea -- up to 2.7 percent
- Increase in liver enzymes -- up to 3.3 percent.
There are a number of side effects that can occur with Rocephin that indicate something serious. If you experience any of these side effects, stop taking the Rocephin and call your healthcare provider. These side effects include, but are not limited to:
- Hives
- Severe or watery diarrhea
- Blood in stools
- Throat or mouth sores
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Severe rash
- Itching
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling of the throat
- Peeling of skin.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD