cephalosporins (general side-effects)

Last reviewed 01/2018

The main side-effects of the cephalosporins are:

  • diarrhoea
  • colitis, rarely pseudomembranous colitis
  • nausea and vomiting
  • allergic reactions:
    • rashes
    • urticaria
    • fever and arthralgia
    • pruritus
    • anaphylaxis
  • haemorrhage due to disturbance of blood clotting factors
  • eosinophilia; rarely thrombocytopenia and neutropenia
  • disturbances in liver enzymes
  • transient hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice
  • erythema multiforme
  • toxic epidermal necrolysis