Drug interactions
Cefoxitin + Kanamycin
Severity: Moderate
Cefoxitin and Kanamycin: 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
Giving a cephalosporin with an aminoglycoside may add to kidney injury, and aminoglycosides can also damage the inner ear. The risk is greatest in patients with existing renal impairment, older adults or those receiving prolonged courses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cefoxitin and Kanamycin 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.
Why it happens
Additive nephrotoxic potential, with aminoglycoside-related tubular injury and ototoxicity possibly aggravated by reduced renal clearance.
What to do
Monitor serum creatinine and urine output during combined therapy and check kanamycin levels where available. Adjust the aminoglycoside dose to renal function and report any hearing or balance symptoms promptly.
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 Kanamycin, 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 + Chloramphenicol Moderate
- Cefoxitin + Cholera vaccine Moderate
- Cefoxitin + Dexamethasone-tobramycin Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cefoxitin with Kanamycin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cefoxitin and Kanamycin 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. Giving a cephalosporin with an aminoglycoside may add to kidney injury, and aminoglycosides can also damage the inner ear. The risk is greatest in patients with existing renal impairment, older adults or those receiving prolonged courses.
How serious is the interaction between Cefoxitin and Kanamycin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum creatinine and urine output during combined therapy and check kanamycin levels where available. Adjust the aminoglycoside dose to renal function and report any hearing or balance symptoms promptly.
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.
