Drug interactions
Calcium chloride + Ceftriaxone
Severity: Contraindicated
Calcium chloride and Ceftriaxone: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Ceftriaxone forms insoluble precipitates with calcium, and fatal crystalline deposits in the lungs and kidneys have occurred in neonates given both IV. Labeling contraindicates the combination in neonates and in any patient when mixed in the same line.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium chloride and Ceftriaxone are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Ceftriaxone binds calcium to form insoluble calcium-ceftriaxone salt that precipitates in lines and tissues.
What to do
Do not give ceftriaxone to neonates needing IV calcium, and never mix the two or co-infuse through one line. In older patients, give sequentially only after thoroughly flushing the line with a compatible fluid.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Ceftriaxone
- Calcium gluconate + Ceftriaxone Contraindicated
- Calcium + Ceftriaxone Contraindicated
- Ceftriaxone + Lactated ringer's Contraindicated
- Ceftriaxone + Ringer's solution Contraindicated
- Calcium acetate + Ceftriaxone Major
- Ceftriaxone + Lactated Ringer's solution Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium chloride with Ceftriaxone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Calcium chloride and Ceftriaxone are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Ceftriaxone forms insoluble precipitates with calcium, and fatal crystalline deposits in the lungs and kidneys have occurred in neonates given both IV. Labeling contraindicates the combination in neonates and in any patient when mixed in the same line.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium chloride and Ceftriaxone?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not give ceftriaxone to neonates needing IV calcium, and never mix the two or co-infuse through one line. In older patients, give sequentially only after thoroughly flushing the line with a compatible fluid.
What other medicines interact with Ceftriaxone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ceftriaxone with, for example, Calcium gluconate, Calcium, Lactated ringer's. The full list is on the Ceftriaxone page.
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