Prescription medication · Third-Generation Cephalosporin
ceftazidime
Also sold as Fortaz. Ceftazidime treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 7,404
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
ceftazidime (Fortaz) is a prescription Third-Generation Cephalosporin, reported less often than most tracked drugs (7,404 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
ceftazidime (Fortaz) is a prescription Third-Generation Cephalosporin. Ceftazidime treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria.
Ceftazidime is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections in your body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
ceftazidime is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$3.86/unit
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ceftazidime treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria.
Common side effects
Pain or swelling where you got the shot, Rash, Itching
Key warnings
Ceftazidime can cause a type of diarrhea called pseudomembranous colitis.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from ceftazidime's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
A healthcare provider will give you ceftazidime through a vein or muscle. The usual adult dose is 1 gram every 8 to 12 hours. The exact dose and how often you get it depends on the type and severity of your infection. Your doctor will also consider how well your kidneys are working.
This is a plain-language summary of ceftazidime's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of ceftazidime's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Since a healthcare provider gives you this medicine, you are not likely to miss a dose. Call your doctor if you think you missed a dose.
This is a plain-language summary of ceftazidime's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
The medicine should be stored at room temperature (68°F to 77°F) and kept away from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 7,404 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for ceftazidime, by number of reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
533 reports
- Septic Shock
Septic Shock
335 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
319 reports
- Neutropenia
Neutropenia
317 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
294 reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
293 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
292 reports
- Febrile Neutropenia
Febrile Neutropenia
268 reports
- Hypotension
Hypotension
265 reports
- Sepsis
Sepsis
262 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for ceftazidime each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where ceftazidime sits
ceftazidime has more FDA adverse-event reports than 33% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is ceftazidime; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 7,404 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
7,404
Reports Mentioning Death
1,684
22.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
3,691
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | PYREXIA | 533 |
| 4 | SEPTIC SHOCK | 334 |
| 5 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 319 |
| 6 | NEUTROPENIA | 317 |
| 7 | PNEUMONIA | 294 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 293 |
| 9 | DIARRHOEA | 293 |
| 10 | FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA | 268 |
| 11 | HYPOTENSION | 265 |
| 12 | SEPSIS | 262 |
| 13 | RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 253 |
| 14 | NAUSEA | 247 |
| 15 | DYSPNOEA | 244 |
| 16 | VOMITING | 228 |
| 17 | THROMBOCYTOPENIA | 222 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions Nephrotoxicity has been reported following concomitant administration of cephalosporins with aminoglycoside antibacterial drugs or potent diuretics such as furosemide.
Mechanism: Combining these drugs can increase the chance of harming your kidneys.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your kidney function tests regularly while you are taking this combination.
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.
Mechanism: This medicine can interfere with certain lab tests, making it look like there is sugar in your urine when there is not.
What to do: Inform your healthcare provider that you are taking this medication before you have any urine tests performed.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What if I am allergic to penicillin?
Can ceftazidime affect my kidneys?
Can ceftazidime interact with other medications I'm taking?
What are the symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction?
What if I experience seizures while taking ceftazidime?
Does ceftazidime cause any changes in lab test results?
Can ceftazidime cause diarrhea?
Is it safe to drive or operate machinery while taking ceftazidime?
How long will I need to take ceftazidime?
What should I do if I experience any unusual side effects while taking ceftazidime?
What are the common side effects of ceftazidime?
Does ceftazidime interact with other medications?
What drug class is ceftazidime?
Is ceftazidime safe during pregnancy?
Is ceftazidime currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Third-Generation Cephalosporin
Other drugs grouped near ceftazidime - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with ceftazidime →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with ceftazidime →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with ceftazidime →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with ceftazidime →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with ceftazidime →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
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Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for ceftazidime
The FDA label for ceftazidime (sold under brand names such as Fortaz) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Third-Generation Cephalosporin class. Ceftazidime treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Pain or swelling where you got the shot, Rash, Itching.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 7,404 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $3.86.
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). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
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: October 5, 2020
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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