ceftazidime vs ceftriaxone
Side-by-side comparison of ceftazidime and ceftriaxone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Fortaz
Rocephin
Ceftazidime is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections in your body.
Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different kinds of infections.
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).
Ceftriaxone treats infections like pneumonia, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It can also treat gonorrhea and pelvic inflammatory disease. Your doctor will test to make sure the infection will respond to this medicine.
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.
Ceftriaxone belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporins. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
- • Pain or swelling where you got the shot
- • Rash
- • Itching
- • Fever
- • Diarrhea
- • Pain, hardness, or tenderness where you got the shot
- • Rash
- • Increased eosinophils (a type of white blood cell)
- • Increased platelets (cells that help blood clot)
- • Decreased white blood cells
- Drug Ineffective 826
- Off Label Use 657
- Pyrexia 533
- Septic Shock 335
- Condition Aggravated 319
- Off Label Use 3,403
- Drug Ineffective 3,010
- Pyrexia 1,677
- Acute Kidney Injury 1,533
- Condition Aggravated 1,274
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.
Do not use ceftriaxone if you are allergic to it or other cephalosporin antibiotics. Newborns should not receive ceftriaxone if they are premature or have too much bilirubin in their blood. Ceftriaxone should not be mixed with IV solutions containing calcium, especially in newborns, due to the risk of serious complications.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if ceftriaxone will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
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How to Read This ceftazidime vs ceftriaxone Comparison
ceftazidime is classified in the Third-Generation Cephalosporin drug class, while ceftriaxone sits within the Third-Generation Cephalosporin class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 2,670 submissions while ceftriaxone has 10,897. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 ceftriaxone — 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.