CEFTRIAXONE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by B. Braun Medical Inc.

High Safety Concerns with Ceftriaxone, Particularly for Older Adults

52,413 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About CEFTRIAXONE

CEFTRIAXONE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by B. Braun Medical Inc.. Based on analysis of 52,413 FDA adverse event reports, CEFTRIAXONE has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for CEFTRIAXONE include OFF LABEL USE, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, PYREXIA, ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY, CONDITION AGGRAVATED. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for CEFTRIAXONE.

AI Safety Analysis

Ceftriaxone has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 52,413 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by B. Braun Medical Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Off Label Use, Drug Ineffective, Pyrexia. Of classified reports, 94.2% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Serious adverse events, including kidney injury and sepsis, are common.

The majority of reports are serious, with a high percentage of adverse reactions. Drug interactions and ineffective treatment are also significant concerns.

Patients taking Ceftriaxone should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Ceftriaxone can interact with other antibiotics and may cause drug ineffectiveness or severe allergic reactions. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Ceftriaxone received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 94.2% serious event ratio across 31,338 classified reports. The score accounts for 52,413 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

OFF LABEL USE3,403 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE3,010 reports
PYREXIA1,678 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,533 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED1,274 reports
DYSPNOEA1,069 reports
PNEUMONIA1,037 reports
DRUG INTERACTION1,022 reports
VOMITING970 reports
NAUSEA923 reports
DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS892 reports
DIARRHOEA866 reports
HYPOTENSION850 reports
RASH826 reports
SEPSIS823 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION785 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE735 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA701 reports
ANAEMIA691 reports
NEUTROPENIA677 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN674 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK625 reports
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME604 reports
RENAL FAILURE589 reports
PRURITUS539 reports
CARDIAC ARREST528 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY514 reports
DEATH495 reports
FATIGUE486 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION477 reports
ASTHENIA475 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY467 reports
COUGH466 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE FOR UNAPPROVED INDICATION460 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY445 reports
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED441 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA434 reports
PAIN423 reports
TACHYCARDIA422 reports
RASH MACULO PAPULAR410 reports
URTICARIA408 reports
HEADACHE406 reports
EOSINOPHILIA405 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED402 reports
TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS400 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE396 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION396 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION388 reports
DRUG INDUCED LIVER INJURY386 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED380 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION366 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM361 reports
EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY359 reports
ERYTHEMA357 reports
HYPOXIA357 reports
RENAL FAILURE ACUTE357 reports
CONSTIPATION350 reports
PANCYTOPENIA348 reports
COVID 19345 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED344 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS332 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT329 reports
SOMNOLENCE325 reports
MALAISE324 reports
PREMATURE BABY310 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY308 reports
LEUKOPENIA298 reports
ACUTE GENERALISED EXANTHEMATOUS PUSTULOSIS297 reports
HYPOKALAEMIA291 reports
ASCITES289 reports
ENCEPHALOPATHY286 reports
DIZZINESS282 reports
AGRANULOCYTOSIS281 reports
ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME280 reports
INFECTION280 reports
CHOLESTASIS277 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION277 reports
TUBULOINTERSTITIAL NEPHRITIS276 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE274 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL274 reports
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION273 reports
CHILLS272 reports
DECREASED APPETITE272 reports
STEVENS JOHNSON SYNDROME271 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA270 reports
CHOLELITHIASIS269 reports
HYPERTENSION269 reports
CARDIOGENIC SHOCK268 reports
LEUKOCYTOSIS266 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE265 reports
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION264 reports
METABOLIC ACIDOSIS264 reports
CHEST PAIN263 reports
HEPATITIS261 reports
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS257 reports
ARTHRALGIA256 reports
ACUTE RESPIRATORY FAILURE255 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK255 reports
SEIZURE252 reports
DRUG RESISTANCE251 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Acute kidney injury and sepsis are key safety signals.
  • Drug ineffectiveness and drug interactions are frequent.
  • Severe allergic reactions and fatalities are reported.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 15,134, Female: 13,148, Unknown: 89. The most frequently reported age groups are age 67 (543 reports), age 69 (534 reports), age 72 (512 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 31,338 classified reports for CEFTRIAXONE:

  • Serious: 29,519 reports (94.2%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 1,819 reports (5.8%)
Serious 94.2%Non-Serious 5.8%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male15,134 (53.3%)
Female13,148 (46.3%)
Unknown89 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 67543 reports
Age 69534 reports
Age 72512 reports
Age 74510 reports
Age 61507 reports
Age 80504 reports
Age 70502 reports
Age 60499 reports
Age 64487 reports
Age 63481 reports
Age 65481 reports
Age 66443 reports
Age 62442 reports
Age 75440 reports
Age 76440 reports
Age 73438 reports
Age 54436 reports
Age 68431 reports
Age 57426 reports
Age 71416 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Ceftriaxone can interact with other antibiotics and may cause drug ineffectiveness or severe allergic reactions.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Ceftriaxone, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include off label use, drug ineffective, pyrexia, acute kidney injury, condition aggravated. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Monitor patients closely for signs of kidney injury, sepsis, and allergic reactions. Ensure proper dosing and avoid off-label use to reduce the risk of adverse events. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with frequent updates on safety concerns and warnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Ceftriaxone?

The FDA has received approximately 52,413 adverse event reports associated with Ceftriaxone. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Ceftriaxone?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Ceftriaxone include Off Label Use, Drug Ineffective, Pyrexia, Acute Kidney Injury, Condition Aggravated. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Off Label Use (3,403 reports), Drug Ineffective (3,010 reports), Pyrexia (1,678 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Ceftriaxone.

What percentage of Ceftriaxone adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 31,338 classified reports, 29,519 (94.2%) were classified as serious and 1,819 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Ceftriaxone (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Ceftriaxone break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 15,134, Female: 13,148, Unknown: 89. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Ceftriaxone?

The most frequently reported age groups for Ceftriaxone adverse events are: age 67: 543 reports, age 69: 534 reports, age 72: 512 reports, age 74: 510 reports, age 61: 507 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Ceftriaxone?

The primary manufacturer associated with Ceftriaxone adverse event reports is B. Braun Medical Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Ceftriaxone?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Ceftriaxone include: Dyspnoea, Pneumonia, Drug Interaction, Vomiting, Nausea. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Ceftriaxone?

You can report adverse events from Ceftriaxone to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Ceftriaxone's safety score and what does it mean?

Ceftriaxone has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Serious adverse events, including kidney injury and sepsis, are common.

What are the key safety signals for Ceftriaxone?

Key safety signals identified in Ceftriaxone's adverse event data include: Acute kidney injury and sepsis are key safety signals.. Drug ineffectiveness and drug interactions are frequent.. Severe allergic reactions and fatalities are reported.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Ceftriaxone interact with other drugs?

Ceftriaxone can interact with other antibiotics and may cause drug ineffectiveness or severe allergic reactions. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Ceftriaxone.

What should patients know before taking Ceftriaxone?

Monitor patients closely for signs of kidney injury, sepsis, and allergic reactions. Ensure proper dosing and avoid off-label use to reduce the risk of adverse events.

Are Ceftriaxone side effects well-documented?

Ceftriaxone has 52,413 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The majority of reports are serious, with a high percentage of adverse reactions. The volume of reports for Ceftriaxone reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Ceftriaxone?

Regulatory oversight is ongoing, with frequent updates on safety concerns and warnings. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.