What to Ask Your Doctor about Cefazolin

If your doctor prescribed you Cefazolin, you have most likely developed (or contracted) a skin infection.

If your doctor prescribed you Cefazolin, you have most likely developed (or contracted) a skin infection. Other possible conditions include, but are not limited to: bacterial infection of the heart valve; pneumonia caused by streptococcus; urinary tract bacterial infection; lower respiratory tract bacterial infection; etc.

Even if Cefazolin is well tolerated by the body, presenting fewer side effects than other cephalosporin antibiotics, you should still be informed on the benefits of and possible risks from taking Cefazolin. Here's a list with helpful questions to get started.

• Should I run an allergy test before taking Cefazolin? If so, what is the procedure?
• Which are the drug interactions of Cefazolin? Which could be the relevant issues in my medical history I should inform you about?
• What type of treatment will I receive? There are two possibilities: intravascular (IV) or intramuscular (IM). The former implies perfusions, whereas the latter is usually carried out by injections.
• What is the duration of the treatment? Depending on the purpose (prophylactic or curative) and on the severity of the (possible) bacterial infection, the duration may vary significantly.
• Is Cefazolin my best shot in terms of being safe and minimizing side effects? There are rare cases when doctors prescribe a certain drug even if they know there are better solutions. They do that for financial purposes. If you've reached your doctor through a national medical system (which generally implies cost-related problems with medicines), you may be facing a decision: either accept standard treatment, or pay for a better, more expensive drug.
• What precautions should I take during the treatment? Your doctor is able to give you a full list with precautions, according to your medical condition and your possibilities.
• Is there any way I can reduce the amount of antibiotic by fighting the bacterial infection differently? How can I fortify my immune system? There are solutions, but it's not likely that they can keep you away from antibiotics at this time.