Roche Antibiotic Plus Calcium May Endanger Babies, U.S. Reports

[WhiteTara]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aOrDoZgI5VY0&refer=europe

July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Babies are at increased risk of death if they are given Roche Holding AG's Rocephin along with products containing calcium, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Roche sent doctors a letter on the danger of administering calcium within 48 hours of using Rocephin, an injectable antibiotic, after reports of deaths of both premature and full- term babies. The FDA posted the letter on its Web site today.

Rocephin is prescribed to treat gonorrhea, bacterial septicemia, urinary tract infections, and acute ear infections, according to the letter from the Basel, Switzerland-based drugmaker.

Ear infections are a common childhood illness. Antibiotics are recommended for children under the age of two with ear infections, according to the National Institutes of Health.


tiny bit more...very short article.

[Tikki]

1. I'm a bit confused, my pharmacist always says..."No calcium...

(ex:milk or other calcium products) for at least 4 hours before and after taking an antibiotic.


Tikki

[WhiteTara]

2. I'd listen to him

cause the guys at Roche just want to sell stuff.

[Tesha]

3. You're normally told this because calcium can "bind" to the antibiotic...

You're normally told this because calcium can "bind"
to the antibiotic, possibly rendering it less effective
or even ineffective.

But as this link points out:

http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=AEAF3B3B-139C-46BA-AC44-CE8299354664

the problem with Rocephin+calcium isn't just cancellation
of a good effect, it's the production of a very bad effect.

Tesha