Review: cefuroxime – oral, Ceftin

Medication Uses: Cefuroxime is used to treat bacterial infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections.

How To Use: Take this medication by mouth twice daily or as directed by your doctor. Take cefuroxime with food to increase absorption and reduce stomach upset. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Swallow the tablets whole; do not crush or chew them. Use the liquid suspension form if you have difficulty swallowing the tablets. Take this drug at evenly spaced intervals to maintain a constant level in your body. Continue taking this medication until you finish the full-prescribed amount, even if your symptoms improve. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue growing and result in a relapse of the infection. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain may occur. Dizziness and drowsiness may occur less frequently, especially with higher doses. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience unusual tiredness or weakness. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop a severe allergic reaction or experience serious side effects such as yellowing of the eyes/skin, severe stomach pain, persistent nausea/vomiting, dark urine, change in urine amount, signs of new infection, easy bruising/bleeding, jerky movements, chest pain, or mental/mood changes. This medication may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have the following symptoms, and seek immediate medical attention if you develop persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, blood/mucus in your stool. Prolonged or repeated use of this medication may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection. Consult your doctor if you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or other new symptoms.

Precautions: Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to cefuroxime or any other cephalosporin antibiotics, or if you have any other allergies. Talk to your pharmacist for more information about inactive ingredients in this product. Before using this medication, inform your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history, especially if you have kidney disease, intestinal disease, liver disease, or poor nutrition. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; do not engage in activities that require alertness until you are sure you can perform them safely. Caution is advised when using this drug in elderly patients. Use only if clearly needed during pregnancy and consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions: Discuss possible drug interactions with your healthcare professionals before using this medication. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you use, especially blood thinners, live bacterial vaccines, and probenecid. Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control methods. This medication may affect the results of certain lab tests.

Overdose: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include seizures.

Missed Dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.

Storage: Store this medication at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for instructions on how to safely discard this product.

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This material should not be distributed without authorization.

Conditions of Use: The information provided here is intended to supplement the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. It is not meant to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. Consult a healthcare professional before taking any drug, changing your diet, or starting or discontinuing any course of treatment.