ceftolozane/tazobactam
Brand names: Zerbaxa
Zerbaxa is a combination of two antibiotics, ceftolozane and tazobactam. It fights bacterial infections in your body.
What it does
Zerbaxa treats complicated infections in the stomach area and urinary tract.
Common side effects
Nausea, Diarrhea, Headache
Key warnings
Zerbaxa may not work as well if your kidneys aren't working well.
How It Works
Ceftolozane kills bacteria by stopping them from building cell walls. Tazobactam helps ceftolozane work better by blocking the bacteria's defense mechanisms. This allows ceftolozane to effectively kill the bacteria.
How to Take It
Zerbaxa is given through a vein (IV) every 8 hours. Each dose is infused slowly over 1 hour. Your doctor will decide the right dose and how long you need treatment. The typical treatment lasts 4 to 14 days, depending on the infection.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if Zerbaxa will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, contact your doctor as soon as possible to reschedule it.
Storage
Keep Zerbaxa vials refrigerated at 36 to 46°F (2 to 8°C) and away from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 682 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
Zerbaxa may not work as well if your kidneys aren't working well. Your doctor should check your kidney function daily and adjust your dose if needed. Zerbaxa can also cause severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any beta-lactam antibiotics. Diarrhea can occur with Zerbaxa, even months after you stop taking it. Tell your doctor right away if you have diarrhea.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking Zerbaxa?
Can Zerbaxa cause an allergic reaction?
How long will I need to take Zerbaxa?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can Zerbaxa cause diarrhea?
Is Zerbaxa safe to use during pregnancy?
Can I breastfeed while taking Zerbaxa?
What are the common side effects of Zerbaxa?
How is Zerbaxa given?
What does Zerbaxa contain?
What are the common side effects of ceftolozane/tazobactam?
What drug class is ceftolozane/tazobactam?
Is ceftolozane/tazobactam safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Cephalosporin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near ceftolozane/tazobactam — same-class peers and common alternatives.
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amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
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Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
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azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
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What the FDA Data Shows for ceftolozane/tazobactam
The FDA label for ceftolozane/tazobactam (sold under brand names such as Zerbaxa) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Cephalosporin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor class. Zerbaxa treats complicated infections in the stomach area and urinary tract. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Diarrhea, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 682 voluntary reports. 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: November 4, 2024
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