Ceftriaxone

• The dose of ceftriaxone will be different for different people depending on the type of infection, how bad your infection is and the type of bacteria causing the infection.
• Your healthcare provider will also decide how long you need to have ceftriaxone injections for.
• For some infections, a single injection is enough while other infections may need repeated injections for a few days.  

• A healthcare provider will usually give you this medicine.
• Ceftriaxone may be injected into your vein, as a slow injection over 2 to 4 minutes or by a continuous infusion over a longer time. Your healthcare provider may call this an 'IV' or 'intravenous infusion' or 'drip'.
• Sometimes, your healthcare provider will give you ceftriaxone by injecting it into a large muscle in your leg or bottom. This is called an intramuscular injection. You may also receive a local anaesthetic at the same time.
• If you're giving ceftriaxone to yourself at home, it may already be prepared by the hospital pharmacy or will be prepared by a district nurse. The injection is either contained in a bag and is designed to drip slowly into your catheter (this is called an infusion) or injected slowly with a syringe. This should be administered exactly as you have been instructed at the hospital or clinic. The infusion should be given over at least 30 minutes. The syringe should be given over 2 to 4 minutes.

Like all medicines, ceftriaxone can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. If you're concerned about any symptoms you think might be related to your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider. The following information offers some guidance but doesn't include all possible side effects.

Tell your healthcare provider if these side effects bother you.

• Pain, redness, swelling or soreness at the injection site.
• Nausea (feeling sick).
• Diarrhoea (runny poo).
• Headache.

Tell your healthcare provider immediately or phone Healthline free on 0800 611 116 if these occur

• Signs of problems with your liver such as tiredness, yellow skin or eyes, stomach pain.

Phone 111 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) clinic if these occur

• Signs of an allergic reaction such as itchy skin, and rash, swollen lips or tongue, problems breathing, like a tight chest or shortness of breath.

Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.