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Cephalothin Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of cephalothin include anaemia, wound infection, and myelosuppression, based on 179 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025.

Cephalothin side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for cephalothin.

1
Anaemia5.6%10
2
Wound Infection4.5%8
3
Myelosuppression4.5%8
4
Drug Interaction4.5%8
5
Bartter's Syndrome3.9%7
6
Pain3.9%7
7
Abdominal Pain3.9%7
8
Vomiting3.4%6
9
Hypotension3.4%6
10
Blood Amylase Increased3.4%6
11
Pancreatitis3.4%6
12
Hypotension3.4%6
13
Hernia3.4%6
14
Vomiting3.4%6
15
Pancytopenia3.4%6

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that cephalothin caused these reactions.

Report severity

96.6%Serious173 reports
49.7%Hospitalizations89 reports
12.8%Fatal23 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Cephalothin drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside cephalothin. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Ondansetron13.4%24
2
Propofol12.8%23
3
Omeprazole12.8%23
4
Fentanyl12.3%22
5
Acetaminophen11.2%20
6
Gentamicin-sulfate8.9%16
7
Sulfamethoxazole8.9%16
8
Prednisolone8.9%16
9
Melphalan8.4%15
10
Furosemide7.3%13
11
Vancomycin6.7%12
12
Cyclosporine6.1%11
13
Metronidazole6.1%11
14
Meropenem5.6%10
15
Rocuronium-bromide5.0%9

Taken alongside

1
Acetaminophen14.0%25
2
Gentamicin-sulfate13.4%24
3
Enoxaparin-sodium11.2%20
4
Metoclopramide-hydrochloride8.9%16
5
Fentanyl7.8%14
6
Omeprazole7.3%13
7
Nifedipine6.7%12
8
Midazolam6.7%12
9
Probenecid6.7%12
10
Furosemide5.6%10
11
Propofol5.6%10
12
Sulfamethoxazole5.6%10
13
Metronidazole5.0%9
14
Allopurinol5.0%9
15
Dexamethasone5.0%9

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports cephalothin side effects

42.5% of cephalothin adverse event reports involve female patients and 43.6% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 56%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female42.5%
Male43.6%
Unknown14.0%

Age group

< 20.0%
2–1115.4%
12–171.3%
18–6455.7%
65+27.5%

What is cephalothin used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking cephalothin when the adverse event was reported.

Abdominal AbscessAbdominal InfectionAcute Myeloid LeukaemiaAnaesthesia ProcedureAntibiotic ProphylaxisAntibiotic TherapyAnkle ArthroplastyAntibiotic TherapyAscitesBacteraemiaDrug Use For Unknown IndicationDiarrhoeaEndocarditis StaphylococcalEndophthalmitisGeneral Anaesthesia

Showing 15 of 39 indications

Cephalothin brand names and reporting trend

Cephalothin is sold under the brand name Cephalothin Sodium.

Brand names

Cephalothin Sodium28

Quarterly reports (20042025)

2005201020152025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking cephalothin with another medication?

Ask OpenClaim about your specific drug combination. Get a sourced report using FDA data, drug labels, and medical literature.