ceftaroline
Brand names: Teflaro
Ceftaroline (Teflaro) is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections in the skin, skin structures, and lungs.
What it does
This medicine treats acute bacterial skin infections in adults and children.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Rash
Key warnings
You should not take this medicine if you are seriously allergic to ceftaroline or other cephalosporin antibiotics.
How It Works
Ceftaroline belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
A healthcare provider will give you ceftaroline through a vein (IV). The dose and how often you get it depends on your age, weight, and the type of infection. The IV infusion usually takes between 5 to 60 minutes. Treatment lasts for 5 to 14 days for skin infections and 5 to 7 days for pneumonia.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if ceftaroline is safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding to weigh the risks and benefits.
Missed Dose
Since a healthcare provider gives you this medicine, you are not likely to miss a dose. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you think you missed a dose.
Storage
Keep the unreconstituted vials at room temperature, between 59°F and 86°F.
Serious Warnings
You should not take this medicine if you are seriously allergic to ceftaroline or other cephalosporin antibiotics. Ceftaroline can cause severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea, as it could be a sign of a Clostridioides difficile infection. Ceftaroline may also cause neurological problems. This medicine can also affect the results of a blood test called the Coombs test, and may cause anemia.
Common Questions
What kind of drug is ceftaroline?
How is ceftaroline given?
How often will I receive ceftaroline?
How long does the infusion take?
What should I do if I experience diarrhea while taking ceftaroline?
Can ceftaroline cause an allergic reaction?
Can I take ceftaroline if I'm allergic to penicillin?
Will ceftaroline interact with other medications I'm taking?
Can ceftaroline affect my kidneys?
Is ceftaroline safe for children?
What are the common side effects of ceftaroline?
What drug class is ceftaroline?
Is ceftaroline safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Fifth-Generation Cephalosporin
Other drugs grouped near ceftaroline — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with ceftaroline →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with ceftaroline →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with ceftaroline →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with ceftaroline →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with ceftaroline →
Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
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What the FDA Data Shows for ceftaroline
The FDA label for ceftaroline (sold under brand names such as Teflaro) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Fifth-Generation Cephalosporin class. This medicine treats acute bacterial skin infections in adults and children. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Rash.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages