Drug interactions
Cefoxitin + Chloramphenicol
Severity: Moderate
Cefoxitin and Chloramphenicol: moderate 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
Chloramphenicol is bacteriostatic and may reduce the bactericidal activity of beta-lactams such as cefoxitin in laboratory models. Clinical evidence of treatment failure is limited and mostly from older data in meningitis and severe infections. The concern is mainly for serious infections where rapid killing matters.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cefoxitin and Chloramphenicol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Cefoxitin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Chloramphenicol belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism: inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis by chloramphenicol may blunt the growth-dependent killing by beta-lactams.
What to do
Avoid combining them for serious infections where bactericidal activity is needed; if both are required, monitor clinical response closely.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Cefoxitin and Chloramphenicol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Cefoxitin
- Amikacin + Cefoxitin Moderate
- Aztreonam + Cefoxitin Moderate
- Bcg vaccine live + Cefoxitin Moderate
- Cefoxitin + Cholera vaccine Moderate
- Cefoxitin + Dexamethasone-tobramycin Moderate
- Cefoxitin + Gentamicin Moderate
Other interactions of Chloramphenicol
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cefoxitin with Chloramphenicol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cefoxitin and Chloramphenicol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Chloramphenicol is bacteriostatic and may reduce the bactericidal activity of beta-lactams such as cefoxitin in laboratory models. Clinical evidence of treatment failure is limited and mostly from older data in meningitis and severe infections. The concern is mainly for serious infections where rapid killing matters.
How serious is the interaction between Cefoxitin and Chloramphenicol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid combining them for serious infections where bactericidal activity is needed; if both are required, monitor clinical response closely.
What other medicines interact with Cefoxitin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cefoxitin with, for example, Amikacin, Aztreonam, Bcg vaccine live. The full list is on the Cefoxitin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
