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antibiotic
Treats a bacterial infection. This molecule appears in 271 of the medicines we have indexed.
We do not make a formula for this treatment. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about this active ingredient.
See the detailsBy the Layer Nutrition editorial teamHow the atlas classifies the 664 molecules
Pharmacologically, this molecule belongs to the “antibiotic (cephalosporin)” category. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. They are taken as a course, over a set duration, until the end of the prescription.
In practice: Treats a bacterial infection. It is used occasionally or as a short course, long enough to get through an episode.
These names come from the public registers of 32 countries: the ANSM for France, the AEMPS for Spain, the AIFA for Italy, the HPRA for Ireland, Swissmedic for Switzerland, and the European Medicines Agency for the others.
Most widespread
No name matches.
The atlas gives each molecule one of these three answers. Most call for nothing.
With ceftriaxone, as with other broad-spectrum antibiotics, the gut flora that produces part of the body’s vitamin K can be disrupted, and clotting time is sometimes altered. Food provides the other major source of this vitamin, easy to find every day on the plate.
Vitamin K is concentrated in leafy green vegetables: kale and spinach lead the way, followed by broccoli and cabbages. By far, these are the foods that supply the most for a given serving.
Fish, liver, meat and eggs provide more modest amounts, useful as a complement. Varying these foods supports the body’s reserves, alongside your treatment.
Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal antibiotic: it kills the bacterium rather than merely slowing its growth. It belongs to the family of third-generation cephalosporins. Its action targets the bacterial wall, the rigid envelope that holds the cell’s shape and protects it from bursting. By disrupting the construction of this wall, the antibiotic weakens the bacterium until it lyses.
In detail, ceftriaxone binds to the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), enzymes known as transpeptidases. It mimics their natural substrate, the D-alanyl-D-alanine motif, and thereby blocks the cross-linking of peptidoglycan, the mesh that gives the wall its strength. Deprived of this weave, the bacterium can no longer withstand its internal pressure and ruptures.
Ceftriaxone is given only by injection, intravenously or intramuscularly: there is no oral form. Food therefore does not affect its absorption, unlike many antibiotics taken as tablets. In healthy adults, its elimination half-life ranges on average from 5.8 to 8.7 hours, which allows a single administration per day.
In the blood, it circulates highly bound to plasma proteins: about 95 % at low concentrations, below 25 mcg/mL, and 85 % at high concentrations, around 300 mcg/mL. The body eliminates it by two routes: 33 % to 67 % of the dose leaves unchanged in the urine, and the rest passes into the bile before ending up in the stool.
Because it exists only in injectable form, ceftriaxone is most often administered by a healthcare professional, in hospital or at home. Its long half-life generally allows one injection per day, at a regular time. This regularity maintains a concentration effective against the bacterium throughout the treatment.
The length of the course is set by the doctor according to the infection. It must be carried through to the end, even if symptoms improve beforehand: stopping too soon leaves the least sensitive bacteria alive and encourages both relapses and resistance. Any decision to stop or change treatment rests with the prescriber.
The most frequent adverse effects, reported in more than 2 % of patients, are diarrhoea, eosinophilia (a rise in a type of white blood cell), thrombocytosis (a rise in platelets), leukopenia (a drop in white blood cells) and elevation of the liver transaminases SGOT and SGPT. Several of these effects are detected through a blood test rather than by how the patient feels.
Trials provide figures for these frequencies: eosinophilia about 6 %, thrombocytosis about 5.1 %, elevated liver enzymes about 3.1 to 3.3 %, diarrhoea about 2.7 %, leukopenia about 2.1 % and skin rash about 1.7 %. These values indicate the order of magnitude of each effect, to be monitored during treatment.
Like most antibiotics, ceftriaxone can cause diarrhoea linked to the bacterium Clostridioides difficile, ranging in severity from mild forms to a colitis that can be fatal. This disorder stems from the imbalance of the gut flora that the antibiotic brings about. A Cochrane review assessed the value of probiotics in preventing this C. difficile diarrhoea in adults and children receiving antibiotics.
Ceftriaxone can also precipitate in the gallbladder as biliary sludge, a ceftriaxone-calcium salt visible on ultrasound; this pseudolithiasis is most often transient and disappears when treatment stops. In newborns, the risk of a ceftriaxone-calcium salt precipitating imposes a strict rule: never mix or co-administer ceftriaxone with intravenous solutions containing calcium.
With ceftriaxone, prothrombin time, a marker of clotting, can change. A supply of vitamin K (10 mg per week) is sometimes needed, particularly in patients who are undernourished or whose vitamin K reserves are already low. This vitamin is indeed essential for the liver’s production of clotting factors II, VII, IX and X.
Vitamin K has two origins: food, and the bacteria of the intestine, which broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt. It is this dual effect, on the flora and on clotting, that justifies laboratory monitoring during treatment. The doctor adjusts the course of action according to the results and the nutritional status.
Beyond the plate, a single isolated nutrient can be worth discussing, to confirm with your doctor or pharmacist. Here is which one and in which form.
Probiotics are live micro-organisms, mainly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. The CFU count and the number of strains are among the selection criteria; gastro-resistant capsules protect the bacteria from stomach acidity.
Preferred forma single documented strain, for example Saccharomyces boulardii, with the CFU count stated
To be confirmed with your doctor or pharmacist.
Type the name written on the box. The atlas gives you its answer.
For example Panadol, Doliprane or paracetamol.
The package insert notably lists pain or a burning sensation at the injection site, digestive problems such as diarrhea, itchy skin rashes, and changes in certain blood test results. Sudden swelling of the face or throat calls for immediate medical attention. For the complete list, refer to the package insert and discuss any symptom with your doctor or pharmacist.
Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic in the cephalosporin family that is given by injection, either intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM), under the supervision of a healthcare professional. The exact regimen is up to your doctor: follow the prescription and the package insert, and never adjust it yourself.
Yes, ceftriaxone must not be mixed in the same infusion with intravenous solutions containing calcium, because precipitates can form. This precaution mainly concerns the intravenous route and newborns. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your medications and supplements, and let the package insert guide you.
Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is a case-by-case decision made by the doctor, who weighs the benefit against the risk. Always tell the healthcare professional if you are pregnant, think you may be, or are breastfeeding, and refer to the package insert.
Like broad-spectrum antibiotics, ceftriaxone disrupts the balance of the gut flora, which can promote what is known as antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Heavy, prolonged, or bloody diarrhea should be reported to your doctor or pharmacist without delay.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are associated with a drop in the diversity of the gut microbiome, and systematic reviews link certain probiotic strains to a lower risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The most documented strain is the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, often cited alongside Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Because it is a yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii is not targeted by antibacterial antibiotics. The form to consider is a probiotic in capsules or sachets that clearly states the strain; the use and timing should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
These answers draw on the patient leaflet and on the published literature. For any question about your medicine, the patient leaflet and your doctor or pharmacist are the reference.
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