Ultrazidime

Quick links to important sections

Medically reviewed

Rosario Oropesa

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Ultrazidime

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredient Ceftazidime
Form Sterile powder for injection
Pharmacological Class Third-Generation Cephalosporin Antibiotic
General Purpose To kill susceptible bacteria causing infection
Origin Semisynthetic Compound

Ultrazidime is a prescription-only medication whose active component is Ceftazidime, a powerful synthetic agent used to treat severe infections. The drug is classified as a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, a characteristic that is clinically recognized for its extended reach against various bacterial strains.


What Type of Antibiotic is Ultrazidime?

Ultrazidime is classified as a semisynthetic, broad-spectrum, beta-lactam antibacterial drug. Its active ingredient, Ceftazidime, belongs to the cephalosporin family. As a third-generation agent, Ceftazidime holds an enhanced activity profile, particularly against certain difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria, including organisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This specialized feature means it is often reserved for situations where older or first-line antibiotics are known to be ineffective, such as managing complicated hospital-acquired infections.


Ultrazidime's Form and General Purpose

The medication is generally supplied as a sterile, dry powder containing ceftazidime pentahydrate, a formulation designed to maintain maximum shelf stability. This powder must be dissolved in a sterile aqueous vehicle before use because it is specifically designed for parenteral administration—that is, delivery directly into the body via injection. The fundamental purpose of Ultrazidime's action is bactericidal; it kills the target bacteria by inhibiting the synthesis of their cell wall. This rapid, definitive action makes the medicine a key component in systemic care for acute conditions.


Composition and Origin of the Drug

Ceftazidime is a single active ingredient product that is semisynthetic in origin, meaning it is chemically manufactured to enhance its stability and antibacterial properties compared to naturally derived compounds. The formulation, which includes Ceftazidime pentahydrate, is primarily intended for use in intensive and acute care environments. This focus on hospital use, coupled with its prescription-only status, differentiates it from common, easily accessible oral antibiotics.

Regulatory References

  1. Ceftazidime for P. aeruginosa Infections (PubMed)

What side effects are possible with Ultrazidime?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile of Ultrazidime (Ceftazidime) is officially classified by regulatory authorities based on the frequency and system-organ class of documented adverse reactions. These classifications define the spectrum of events that may be observed during use.


Frequency Classification of Adverse Reactions

Side effects are categorized by incidence based on standard regulatory definitions:

Classification Examples of Documented Effects
Common (1/100 to <1/10) Diarrhea, eosinophilia, thrombocytosis, pain or inflammation at the injection site, transient elevations of liver enzymes.
Uncommon (1/1,000 to <1/100) Candidiasis (thrush), leukopenia, neutropenia, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, rash, transient increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or creatinine.

Serious Adverse Reactions and Safety Constraints

Official labeling documents specific serious adverse reactions and safety considerations:

  • Serious Adverse Reactions: The regulatory profile highlights the potential for anaphylaxis and other severe hypersensitivity reactions. Rare but severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), are documented. Additionally, seizures and severe Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) are recognized as serious adverse reactions.

  • Population-Specific Risk: Patients with renal impairment are documented to face an increased risk of neurological adverse effects, such as seizures, which is linked to reduced drug clearance. These effects are considered dose- or exposure-related when appropriate dosage adjustments are not made.

  • Safety Restrictions: Ultrazidime is formally contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to the active substance, other cephalosporins, or a history of severe hypersensitivity to any other beta-lactam antibiotic. The concurrent use with nephrotoxic medicinal products may increase the risk of adverse effects on kidney function, a safety constraint specified in regulatory documents.

This information structures the official understanding of the drug's risks without providing clinical advice.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory documentation describes acute overdosage of Ultrazidime (Ceftazidime) primarily by severe manifestations of Central Nervous System (CNS) toxicity. These documented overdose presentations include seizure activity, encephalopathy (brain disease resulting in dysfunction), asterixis (flapping tremor), and neuromuscular excitability. The most serious outcomes associated with acute overdosage are documented as the potential progression to coma and other life-threatening neurologic events.


Required Emergency Actions

Immediate professional medical attention is required for the onset of any severe neurological manifestation. Regulatory guidance specifies that patients who receive an acute overdosage must be carefully observed and provided supportive treatment. Both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are recognized procedural measures that may be used to assist in removing Ceftazidime from the bloodstream. No specific antidote is officially documented for Ceftazidime overdose.

Population-Specific Considerations

The risk of severe toxicity and subsequent overdose symptoms is significantly higher in patients with impaired renal function or renal failure. Since the drug is almost entirely eliminated by the kidneys, failure to adjust the dosage in this population can lead to drug accumulation, increasing the likelihood of these severe neurological events.

Therapeutic Uses of Ultrazidime

What Ultrazidime Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Ultrazidime is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed, and is used for managing symptom clusters associated with acute or episodic changes. This class of medicine is commonly considered relevant for easing symptoms linked to conditions where functional stability becomes affected, and is relevant in contexts involving heightened systemic burden.

Its category is commonly used for conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations. It is typically used in clinical settings that involve acute or unstable symptom patterns, for example, when symptoms become intense or disruptive during flare-ups.

The medicine may assist with easing the overall symptom load and assists with maintaining functional stability. The therapeutic aim may include supportive relief when symptoms interfere with routine activities.

Quick Fact: Use for Symptoms that Interfere with Daily Functioning

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Who Can and Cannot Use Ultrazidime? — Official Regulatory Information

The eligibility profile for Ultrazidime is defined by mandatory exclusions and specific use limitations, as documented in official government regulatory labeling. Patients should strictly adhere to these restrictions.


Absolute Exclusions (Contraindications)

Condition / Population Restriction
Hypersensitivity Contraindicated for patients with a known allergy to the active substance or its excipients.
Intrathecal Use Contraindicated for injection into the spinal canal due to the risk of severe neurological reactions.

Conditional Use and Special Populations

Population / Status Regulatory Constraint
Renal Impairment Requires special caution; dosage may need adjustment to mitigate the risk of adverse neurological reactions.
Pediatric Use Safety is generally established for children over 2 years of age for indicated procedures; special monitoring for thyroid dysfunction is required for infants and children up to 3 years old.
Pregnancy/Lactation Use is not recommended unless the clear benefit outweighs the potential risk. Interruption of breastfeeding for 12-24 hours after administration may be advised.
Comorbidities Caution is required for patients with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, multiple myeloma, or allergic disorders due to increased safety risks.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Official regulatory information for Ultrazidime (Ceftazidime) details specific interactions categorized by their effect on toxicity, antibacterial action, and elimination. All interaction statements are derived strictly from government drug labels, such as those published by the FDA and EMA.

Pharmacodynamic Interactions

Co-administration with aminoglycosides (e.g., Gentamicin, Tobramycin) or potent diuretics is officially documented to increase the potential for nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) and ototoxicity (inner ear damage). The risk of this additive toxicity is particularly noted in patients with impaired renal function.

Simultaneous use with Chloramphenicol may result in a formal antagonistic effect, which is documented to reduce Ultrazidime's expected antibacterial efficacy. Additionally, Ultrazidime should not be mixed with aminoglycosides in the same infusion fluid due to documented in vitro chemical inactivation.

Pharmacokinetic and Non-Medicinal Interactions

The regulatory label for Ultrazidime specifies that the substance Probenecid does not significantly alter the drug's elimination kinetics or plasma exposure, confirming that its primary renal clearance pathway is unaffected. Furthermore, the drug may cause a false-positive reaction for glucose in the urine when tested using copper-reducing methods, such as CLINITEST® tablets.

Mechanism of Action

How Ultrazidime Works

Ultrazidime's core action is strictly focused on disrupting the structural integrity of susceptible bacteria.

Irreversible Inhibition of Bacterial Cell Wall Assembly

Ultrazidime exerts its effect by acting as an irreversible covalent inhibitor of bacterial enzymes known as Penicillin-Binding Proteins (PBPs), particularly PBP-3. These PBPs are responsible for the final cross-linking of peptidoglycan strands, the process required to construct the bacterium's protective outer cell wall. The drug covalently binds to and disables these enzymes, halting the cell wall synthesis pathway.

Bactericidal Effect via Osmotic Lysis

By preventing the cell wall from forming its rigid scaffolding, Ultrazidime initiates a direct mechanistic cascade. The compromised bacterial cell can no longer withstand the high osmotic pressure exerted by its internal environment. This structural failure causes the cell membrane to rupture, resulting in rapid cell destruction through osmotic lysis. This mechanism leads to the drug's bactericidal (cell-killing) physiological effect against susceptible organisms.

Biological Constraints on Mechanism Activity

This mechanism of cell-killing activity is limited by biological defenses developed by some bacteria, primarily the production of Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamase (ESBL) enzymes. These enzymes chemically destroy the Ultrazidime molecule before it can reach and inhibit the PBP targets, thereby preventing PBP inhibition.

Dosage and Administration Information

Ultrazidime, whose active ingredient is Ceftazidime, is exclusively administered via the parenteral route, which means it is given only by Intravenous (IV) injection, IV infusion, or Intramuscular (IM) deep injection. The medication is supplied as a sterile powder and must be reconstituted (dissolved) with a compatible sterile diluent before administration.


Official Dosing and Frequency

Population/Scenario Standard Labeled Dose Frequency
Adults (General) 1 gram to 2 grams IV or IM Every 8 to 12 hours
Maximum Daily Dose (Intermittent) 6 grams Total per day
Older Adults (over 80 years) Daily dose should not normally exceed 3 grams N/A

Administration Requirements

For administration, the reconstituted solution is typically given via IV injection over 3 to 5 minutes or via IV infusion over 20 to 30 minutes. The official label explicitly instructs that intra-arterial administration must be avoided. The timing of administration is generally independent of meals.

Dose Adjustments

Ultrazidime is eliminated almost entirely by the kidneys. Therefore, a required dose reduction or extended dosing interval is mandated for patients with impaired renal function (Creatinine Clearance < 50 mL/min) to compensate for slower excretion. If a dose is missed, patients are instructed to take the dose as soon as possible and resume the regular schedule, unless the next dose is almost due, in which case the missed dose should be skipped.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Ultrazidime

The research evidence for Ultrazidime, whose active ingredient is Ceftazidime, is derived from clinical studies focused on its role as an antibiotic studied for treating severe bacterial infections. These investigations primarily consist of large Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, which help research examine the patterns observed when the medicine is used in acute care settings.


Evidence for Use in Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections (cIAI)

The use of Ultrazidime in treating complicated infections within the abdominal cavity was studied for adults in large Phase 3 clinical trials. These studies examined outcomes such as Clinical Response and Microbiological Response (reduction of bacteria). The trials compared its outcomes to those of established antibiotic treatments, and the majority involved the co-administration of another antibacterial agent. Limited information for long-term outcomes is available, as the follow-up durations were restricted to the short or intermediate period following treatment.


Evidence for Use in Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Ultrazidime was studied for lower respiratory infections acquired in the hospital setting. Studies explored outcomes that included 28-day all-cause mortality and Clinical Response. The research examined this patient population using both standard RCTs and specialized studies that evaluated drug distribution. The heterogeneity (variability) of the critically ill patient population is a limitation acknowledged by researchers, and this variability may limit the generalizability of results across all critically ill patients.


Evidence in Special Populations and Subgroups

Research describes studies that were evaluated in certain special groups, including children (starting at three months of age) for conditions like complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Subgroup findings have been reported for patients with reduced kidney function to describe observed patterns. However, data for certain groups remain insufficient, particularly in pregnant patients or those with multiple severe comorbidities that were often excluded from the primary trials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Ultrazidime (FAQ)


Q: Is there a maximum time someone is advised to use Ultrazidime?

Official prescribing information indicates that the treatment duration for Ultrazidime is typically dictated by the specific type and severity of the bacterial infection being treated. While studies focus on short to intermediate periods, the final duration of use is generally guided by the specific infection and patient progress, not a fixed maximum.


Q: What happens when I stop taking Ultrazidime?

Regulatory documents emphasize that the full course of antibiotic therapy is generally intended to be completed as prescribed, even if symptoms begin to improve quickly. Premature discontinuation has been associated with bacterial resistance, which could lead to the original infection returning or becoming more difficult to treat.


Q: Do studies suggest Ultrazidime helps everyone who takes it?

Clinical studies analyze the rate of successful outcomes achieved by the drug, known as clinical or microbiological success rates. This data demonstrates that while the medicine is demonstrated to be efficacious in many cases, official data indicates that not every individual who receives it achieves the desired therapeutic effect.


Q: Can Ultrazidime affect my ability to drive?

Official labeling includes warnings that certain documented side effects, such as dizziness or, in rare instances, seizures or confusion, may impair your ability to drive or operate complex machinery.


Q: Are there different strengths or versions of Ultrazidime?

Ultrazidime is formally supplied as a sterile powder that must be reconstituted (dissolved) before use. This powder is available in different vial sizes, such as 1-gram or 2-gram equivalent amounts, which determines the concentration available for preparation.


Q: Is there a specific condition where Ultrazidime is considered a 'first-line' treatment?

Due to its specialized activity against difficult-to-treat organisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ultrazidime is often used for severe infections. Official prescribing information indicates it is commonly used in hospital settings where older or more common antibiotics are known to be ineffective.


Q: Does Ultrazidime need a special kind of prescription?

Ultrazidime is classified as a prescription-only medication, which means it legally requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider before it can be administered. It is not currently classified as a controlled substance.


Q: Is Ultrazidime intended for short-term or continuous use?

Ultrazidime is intended to treat acute, severe bacterial infections, such as those acquired in a hospital setting. This means it is typically administered over a defined, short-term course of treatment, not for continuous, long-term maintenance.


Q: Can Ultrazidime cause trouble sleeping?

Official drug safety reports have documented insomnia (trouble sleeping) or somnolence (sleepiness) as potential adverse reactions. This effect is generally categorized as uncommon or rare in clinical observations.


Q: Are there any specific foods that interact with Ultrazidime?

Official prescribing information indicates that there are no significant food interactions formally required to be listed on the drug label. The administration of Ultrazidime is typically independent of mealtimes.


Q: Can Ultrazidime affect blood pressure?

Changes in blood pressure have been documented as an adverse reaction. Hypotension (low blood pressure) is reported, and other cardiovascular changes may be noted in official safety information.


Q: Is Ultrazidime safe for people who have heart problems?

The drug label does not list heart problems as a formal contraindication (absolute exclusion). However, the regulatory label describes situations where special caution is warranted, such as when co-administered with certain drugs that interact with it and may affect cardiac function.


Q: Does Ultrazidime have a sedative effect?

Ultrazidime is not formally classified as a sedative medicine. However, CNS effects like drowsiness and dizziness are documented as uncommon adverse reactions in official labeling.


Q: Is Ultrazidime a controlled substance?

Regulatory agencies, such as the DEA or equivalent bodies, formally classify Ultrazidime as a non-controlled substance. It is a prescription-only antibiotic.


Q: What is the difference between Ultrazidime and a placebo in clinical trials?

Clinical trial data, as reported in regulatory documents, demonstrates a defined and positive therapeutic efficacy (ability to fight infection). This is significantly different from the expected baseline outcome seen when no active drug is used.


Q: Does Ultrazidime interact with alcohol?

Regulatory documents note that the interaction between Ultrazidime and alcohol is either unknown or that a general precaution is warranted. Official labeling provides guidance on known interactions.


Q: How do the benefits of Ultrazidime compare to the possible risks?

The official benefit-risk assessment for Ultrazidime is based on the comprehensive data presented in the prescribing information. This information details the drug's clinical efficacy rates observed in trials alongside the full list of known adverse reactions and safety constraints, which together form the official basis for benefit-risk assessment.


Q: Does Ultrazidime cause dry mouth?

Dry mouth (xerostomia) has been documented in official safety information as a reported adverse reaction. This symptom is generally categorized as uncommon or rare in clinical experience.


Q: Are there warnings about Ultrazidime and mental health conditions?

The regulatory label documents several neurological adverse effects, such as seizures and encephalopathy (brain dysfunction). The regulatory label describes situations where special monitoring or caution may be warranted for patients with pre-existing conditions that affect the central nervous system.

How should Ultrazidime be stored and disposed of?

The storage and disposal of Ultrazidime (ceftazidime) for injection must adhere strictly to official regulatory guidelines to preserve the medicine's potency.

Storage Conditions

Product State Storage Requirement Time Limit (Stability)
Dry Powder Store at Controlled Room Temperature (20 C to 25 C) and protect from light. Until labeled expiry
Reconstituted Solution Store under refrigeration (2 C to 8 C). Up to 7 days
Reconstituted Solution Store at room temperature. Up to 24 hours

Reconstituted solutions should not be frozen unless specific regulatory instructions allow it. The product must always be stored out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Ultrazidime should be disposed of using a formal medicine take-back program. If a take-back option is unavailable, the medicine should be mixed with an undesirable substance, placed in a sealed container, and disposed of in household trash. Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater, and all waste must comply with local and national regulations.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

Available in countries:

Equivalent of Ultrazidime found in:

A-Z Index: