ceftazidime/avibactam
Brand names: Avycaz
Avycaz is a drug that combines two medicines, ceftazidime and avibactam. It fights certain bacterial infections.
What it does
Avycaz treats complicated infections in the stomach area and urinary tract.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Key warnings
Avycaz may cause a lower clinical response in adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections and kidney problems.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Avycaz is given through a vein (IV) over 2 hours. The usual dose for adults is 2.5 grams every 8 hours. For stomach infections, you will also get another medicine called metronidazole. The length of treatment depends on the type of infection, but is usually 5-14 days.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor right away if you miss a dose. They will tell you when to get your next dose.
Storage
Store Avycaz vials at room temperature, away from light, and in the original carton until use.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 4,134 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Probenecid In vitro , avibactam is a substrate of OAT1 and OAT3 transporters which might contribute to the active uptake from the blood compartment, and thereby its excretion. As a potent OAT inhibitor, probenecid inhibits OAT uptake of avibactam by 56% to 70% in vitro and, therefore, has the potential to decrease the elimination of avibactam when co-administered. Because a clinical interaction study of AVYCAZ or avibactam alone with probenecid has not been conducted, co-administration of AVYCAZ with probenecid is not recommended [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ] .
Mechanism: Probenecid blocks the body's ability to move the antibiotic out of the blood and into the urine. This causes the antibiotic levels to stay too high for too long.
What to do: This combination is not recommended. Talk to your doctor about using a different medication.
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.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking Avycaz?
Can Avycaz cause an allergic reaction?
What are the symptoms of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)?
Does Avycaz interact with other medications?
How long will I need to take Avycaz?
What if my kidney function is not normal?
Can Avycaz affect lab test results?
What if I am breastfeeding?
Can Avycaz cause seizures?
How is Avycaz given?
What are the common side effects of ceftazidime/avibactam?
Does ceftazidime/avibactam interact with other medications?
What drug class is ceftazidime/avibactam?
Is ceftazidime/avibactam safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for ceftazidime/avibactam
The FDA label for ceftazidime/avibactam (sold under brand names such as Avycaz) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Cephalosporin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor class. Avycaz treats complicated infections in the stomach area and urinary tract. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 4,134 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. 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: April 25, 2025
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