ceftriaxone
Brand names: Rocephin
Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different kinds of infections.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.50/unit
Generic Available
Yes (11 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ceftriaxone treats infections like pneumonia, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections.
Common side effects
Pain, hardness, or tenderness where you got the shot, Rash, Increased eosinophils (a type of white blood cell)
Key warnings
Do not use ceftriaxone if you are allergic to it or other cephalosporin antibiotics.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Ceftriaxone is given as an injection into a vein or muscle. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. The dose depends on the type of infection you have. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
Since ceftriaxone is given by a healthcare provider, you are not likely to miss a dose. If you are concerned, call your doctor's office.
Storage
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from light, before it is mixed.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 15,917 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 31,340 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
31,340
Death-Related Reports
5,390
Hospitalization Reports
17,015
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 3,403 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 3,010 |
| 3 | PYREXIA | 1,677 |
| 4 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,533 |
| 5 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 1,274 |
| 6 | DYSPNOEA | 1,069 |
| 7 | PNEUMONIA | 1,035 |
| 8 | DRUG INTERACTION | 1,022 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 970 |
| 10 | NAUSEA | 922 |
| 11 | DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS | 892 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 865 |
| 13 | HYPOTENSION | 850 |
| 14 | RASH | 826 |
| 15 | SEPSIS | 822 |
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
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.
Common Questions
What if I'm allergic to penicillin?
Can ceftriaxone be given with calcium?
How long will I need to take ceftriaxone?
What should I avoid while taking ceftriaxone?
Can ceftriaxone cause diarrhea?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can ceftriaxone treat a viral infection?
What if my symptoms don't improve?
Is it safe to drive while taking ceftriaxone?
Can I get a fungal infection while taking this medicine?
What are the common side effects of ceftriaxone?
What drug class is ceftriaxone?
Is ceftriaxone safe during pregnancy?
Has ceftriaxone been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility; All lots of sterile products compounded by the pharmacy within expiry are subject to this recall. This recall is initiated due to concerns associated with quality control procedures observed during a recent FDA inspection.
Franck's Lab Inc dba Trinity Care Solutions
Related Medications in Third-Generation Cephalosporin
Other drugs grouped near ceftriaxone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with ceftriaxone →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with ceftriaxone →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with ceftriaxone →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with ceftriaxone →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with ceftriaxone →
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What the FDA Data Shows for ceftriaxone
The FDA label for ceftriaxone (sold under brand names such as Rocephin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Third-Generation Cephalosporin class. Ceftriaxone treats infections like pneumonia, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Pain, hardness, or tenderness where you got the shot, Rash, Increased eosinophils (a type of white blood cell).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 15,917 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.50.
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 (currently 1 recall record on file), 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).
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: January 19, 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