PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

ceftazidime vs ceftazidime/avibactam

Side-by-side comparison of ceftazidime and ceftazidime/avibactam. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.2 Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions The administration of ceftazidime may result in a false-positive reaction for glucose in the urine with certain methods.

Recommendation: Inform your healthcare provider that you are taking this medication before you have any urine tests performed.

Drug Class
ceftazidime Third-Generation Cephalosporin
ceftazidime/avibactam Cephalosporin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor
Type
ceftazidime Prescription
ceftazidime/avibactam Prescription
Summary
ceftazidime

Ceftazidime is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections in your body.

ceftazidime/avibactam

Avycaz is a drug that combines two medicines, ceftazidime and avibactam. It fights certain bacterial infections.

What It Treats
ceftazidime

Ceftazidime treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria. This includes lung infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It can also treat blood infections, bone and joint infections, and infections in the abdomen, the female reproductive system, and the brain (like meningitis).

ceftazidime/avibactam

Avycaz treats complicated infections in the stomach area and urinary tract. This includes kidney infections. It also treats pneumonia that you get while in the hospital or from using a ventilator. Avycaz should only be used to treat infections that are proven or very likely to be caused by bacteria that it can kill.

How It Works
ceftazidime

Ceftazidime belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporins. It works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls. This kills the bacteria and clears the infection.

ceftazidime/avibactam

Ceftazidime kills bacteria by attacking their cell walls. Avibactam helps ceftazidime work better by blocking certain enzymes that bacteria use to resist antibiotics. This allows ceftazidime to effectively kill the bacteria.

Common Side Effects
ceftazidime
  • Pain or swelling where you got the shot
  • Rash
  • Itching
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
ceftazidime/avibactam
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Rash
  • Irritation at the injection site
FAERS Reports
ceftazidime
  • Pyrexia 533
  • Septic Shock 335
  • Condition Aggravated 319
  • Neutropenia 317
  • Pneumonia 294
ceftazidime/avibactam
  • Pyrexia 533
  • Septic Shock 335
  • Condition Aggravated 319
  • Neutropenia 317
  • Pneumonia 294
Serious Warnings
ceftazidime

Ceftazidime can cause a type of diarrhea called pseudomembranous colitis. Tell your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain or bloody diarrhea. This can happen during or after treatment.

ceftazidime/avibactam

Avycaz may cause a lower clinical response in adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections and kidney problems. Your kidney function should be checked daily. The dose of Avycaz may need to be adjusted if you have kidney problems. Avycaz can also cause severe allergic reactions and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). Seizures and other nervous system problems can also occur, especially if you have kidney problems.

Pregnancy
ceftazidime

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not fully known if ceftazidime will harm your unborn baby or pass into breast milk.

ceftazidime/avibactam

It is not known if Avycaz will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Ceftazidime passes into breast milk, but it is not known if avibactam does. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Avycaz.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ceftazidime vs ceftazidime/avibactam Comparison

ceftazidime is classified in the Third-Generation Cephalosporin drug class, while ceftazidime/avibactam sits within the Cephalosporin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ceftazidime has 1,798 submissions while ceftazidime/avibactam has 1,798. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to this medicine can interfere with certain lab tests, making it look like there is sugar in your urine when there is not.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between ceftazidime and ceftazidime/avibactam - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.