A 26-year-old male asked:
can i take rocephin (ceftriaxone) if i'm allergic to penicillin?
2 doctor answers
Dr. Derek Isenberg answered
15 years experience Emergency Medicine
Very likely: There's a very small, less than 1% chance of cross-reaction between penicillin and a cephalosporins. If you had a severe reaction to penicillin, you're more likely to have a severe allergic reaction to anything else. However, I would not hesitate to take ceftriaxone if it is the appropriate medication
Answered on Oct 23, 2018
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Dr. Nathaniel Fleischner answered
12 years experience Internal Medicine
Depends.: It depends how severe your reaction is and who the prescribing practitioner is. There is about a 10% cross reactivity with cephalosporins (Rocephin (ceftriaxone)) and penicillin based drugs. Usually if the reaction is minor, I will prescribe a cephalosporin like Rocephin (ceftriaxone). However, if the reaction to the penicillin based med is severe like shortness of breath, swelling or anaphylaxis I may avoid them completely.
Answered on Oct 23, 2018
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