| Information for
patients
|
| Drug Information |
Cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibiotic. The contains a medicine called cefuroxime (present as cefuroxime axetil).
Cefuroxime is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria. |
| Drug Alert |
| Alert |
•are allergic (hypersensitive) to cefuroxime, cefuroxime axetil,cephalosporin antibiotics or any of the other ingredients of Cefuroxime.
•have ever had an allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to any antibiotic. This can include a skin rash or swelling of the face or neck
Do not take Cefuroxime if any of the above apply. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Cefuroxime. |
| Before Consuming
the Medicine
|
| Avoid Drug |
•are allergic (hypersensitive) to cefuroxime, cefuroxime axetil,cephalosporin antibiotics or any of the other ingredients of Cefuroxime.
•have ever had an allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to any antibiotic. This can include a skin rash or swelling of the face or neck
Do not take Cefuroxime if any of the above apply. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Cefuroxime. |
| Drug Special Care |
If you are having tests on your water (urine glucose tests) or blood tests for liver function or a Coombs or rhesus test (red blood cell status test), let the doctor or nurse know that you are on Cefuroxime. This is because Cefuroxime can affect the results of these tests. |
| Drug Drug Interactions |
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines that can be bought without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Cefuroxime can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Cefuroxime works. Cefuroxime may stop the contraceptive pill working. You will need to use extra contraceptive precautions such as using a condom. If you need any advice, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. |
| Drug Pregnancy Interaction |
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine if you think you might be or if you are pregnant or if you are breast-feeding |
| Drug Breast feeding Interaction |
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine if you think you might be or if you are pregnant or if you are breast-feeding. |
| Drug Machinery Interaction |
Cefuroxime may cause dizziness. If you feel affected you should not drive, operate machinery or take part in activities where you may put yourself or others at risk. |
| Drug More Information |
|
| How to take the
Medicine
|
| Consumption Info |
|
| Drug quanitty |
•Most infections: 250 mg (two 5 ml spoonfuls) twice a day.
•Mild to moderate bronchitis or chest infections: 250 mg (two 5 ml spoonfuls) twice a day.
•Chronic bronchitis: Treatment for chronic bronchitis will start with 750 mg injections twice a day for 48 to 72 hours of another medicine, Zinacef®, which contains cefuroxime sodium. After this, the dose of Cefuroxime will be 500 mg (four 5 ml spoonfuls) twice a day for 5 to 7 days. The duration of treatment with Zinacef or Cefuroxime will depend on how severe your infection is and how well you are responding to the treatment.
•Severe chest infections or pneumonia:Treatment for pneumonia will start with 1.5 g injections twice a day for 48 to 72 hours of
another medicine, Zinacef, which contains cefuroxime sodium. After this the dose of Cefuroxime will be 500 mg (four 5 ml spoonfuls)
twice a day for 7 days. The duration of treatment with Zinacef or Cefuroxime will depend on how severe your infection is and how well you are responding to the treatment.
•Urinary tract (water) infections: 125 mg (one 5 ml spoonful) twice a day.
•Kidney infections: 250 mg (two 5 ml spoonfuls) twice a day.
•Gonorrhoea (a sexually transmitted disease): a single 1 g dose (eight 5 ml spoonfuls).
•Lyme disease (an infection spread by infected ticks): 500 mg (four 5 ml spoonfuls) twice a day for 20 days.
Children under 12 years
•Most infections: 125 mg (one 5 ml spoonful) twice a day. Alternatively your doctor may prescribe 10 mg per kilogram of the child’s body weight to a maximum of 250 mg per day.
•In babies and children from 3 months of age to under 2 years, for severe or recurrent ear infections: 125 mg (one 5 ml spoonful) twice a day. Alternatively your doctor may prescribe 10 mg per kilogram of the baby or child’s body weight to a maximum of 250 mg per day.
•In children over 2 years, for severe or recurrent ear infections: 250 mg (two 5 ml spoonfuls) twice a day. Alternatively your doctor may prescribe 15 mg per kilogram of the baby or child’s body weight to a maximum of 500 mg per day.
Kidney problems
If you have kidney problems your dosing will be the same as given above unless you need more than 1 g (eight 5 ml spoonfuls) each day. |
| Drug Dose |
•Swallow the after a meal.
•Shake the bottle well before each dose.
•Cefuroxime may be diluted in cold fruit juices or milk drinks but should be taken immediately. Do not mix Cefuroxime with hot liquids.
•Space the doses evenly during the day.
•Treatment is usually continued for 7 days unless otherwise stated.
•If you still feel unwell after the treatment has ended you should go back to see the doctor |
| Excess Drug Consumption |
If you have too much Cefuroxime, signs might include fits (convulsions). Talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Take the medicine bottle to show the doctor. |
| Forgot Drug Consumption |
If you forget to take a dose don’t worry, take it as soon as you remember, then go on as before. |
| Stop Drug Consumption |
Keep taking Cefuroxime until the treatment is finished, even if you feel better. You need every dose to help fight the infection. If some bacteria survive they can cause the infection to come back. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist. |
| Possible Side
Effects
|
| General Information |
•thrush (a yeast infection of the vagina, mouth or skin folds), you can get treatment for thrush from your doctor or pharmacist
•changes to your white blood cells (eosinophilia)
•headache
•dizziness
•feeling sick (nausea)
•diarrhoea
•stomach pain
•increased liver function tests (usually detected by a blood test). |
| Common Drug Side Effects |
•skin rashes
•sickness (vomiting)
•false positive red blood cell status tests (Coombs or rhesus test)
•the blood may take longer to clot than it normally would. You may notice this if you have a nosebleed or cut yourself |
| Rare Drug Side Effects |
•itching. |
| Very Rare Drug Side Effects |
•a fever associated with an allergic reaction which disappears on discontinuation
•an excessive breakdown of red blood cells causing a form of anaemia. Signs include: tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, looking pale and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
•kidney disease. |
| Drug Side Effects Symptoms |
•allergic reactions, the signs may include: skin itching or rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, body or breathing difficulties
•rash or pinpoint flat red round spots under the skin surface or bruising of the skin. This is due to inflammation of blood vessel walls due to an allergic reaction. It can be associated with joint pain (arthritis) and kidney problems
•a delayed allergic reaction can occur usually 7 to 12 days after having Cefuroxime, some signs include: rashes, fever, joint pains and enlargement of the lymph nodes especially under the arms
•a skin reaction known as ‘erythema multiforme’ where you may develop: itchy reddish-purple patches on the skin especially on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet, ‘hive-like’ raised swollen areas on the skin, tender areas of the surfaces of the mouth, eyes and private parts. You may have a fever and be very tired
•other severe skin reactions can include: changes in skin colour, bumps under the skin, blistering, pustules, peeling, redness, pain, itch, scaling. These may be associated with fever,headaches and body aches
•serious liver side effects may occur. They are mainly associated with people having treatment over a long period, males and the
elderly. You must tell your doctor urgently if you get:
-severe diarrhoea with bleeding
-blisters, redness or bruising of the skin
-darker urine or paler stools
-yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice). See also anaemia below which might result in jaundice.
•inflammation of the large bowel (colon) with diarrhoea sometimes containing blood, pain and fever.
•high temperature (fever), chills, a sore throat or other signs of an infection or if they bruise more easily. These may be signs of a problem with your blood cells. |
| How to Store the
Medicine
|
| How to Store the Medicine |
•Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
•The expiry date which is stated on the bottle label refers to the expiry date of the granules prior to making up as a . The
pharmacist will have made up the with water according to the label.
•The should be stored in a fridge at all times when not taking the medicine. Do not allow it to freeze. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 10 days.
•Do not use Cefuroxime if it shows any sign of deterioration.
•Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no
longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment. |
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