What is Cefuroxime?
Cefuroxime, also known as cephalosporin, is an antibacterial used to treat infections in the ear, nose, throat, lungs, or skin. It is also used for treating gonorrhoea, sepsis, and early Lyme disease. Cefuroxime can also be used to treat gonorrhoea or sepsis. Cefuroxime is given to patients before and after surgery in order to prevent infections. Cefuroxime can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Cefuroxime
If you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat, or a severe reaction to your skin (such as a fever, sore throat, burning eyes, or skin pain), or if your skin has rashes that are red or purple and cause blisters or peeling, seek emergency medical attention.
Cefuroxime can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Severe stomach pain; bloody or watery diarrhoea (even months after the last dose);
- Jaundice
- Fever, chills;
- A seizure; or
- Chest pain.
Some of the common side effect associated with cefuroxime include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea;
- Flu-like symptoms;
- Vaginal itching, or discharge
- Diaper rash
There may be other side effects. Call your physician if experiencing side effects; contact the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 if reporting incidents directly.
Similar/related drugs
Prednisone, Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, Cephalexin, Azthromycin, and Metronidazole
Warnings
Cefuroxime may cause serious allergic reactions. Inform your doctor of any allergies you may have to antibiotics, including penicillin.
Before you take this drug
Cefuroxime may cause severe or even life-threatening reactions.
- Cefuroxime is also known as cefadroxil (cefoxitin), cefprozil (ceftriaxone), cephalexin (Keflex, Omnicef), and other names.
- Avibactam, relebactam, sulbactam, tazobactam, vaborbactam, etc.
- Amoxicillin is available in many forms, including Amoxil (Amoxil), Augmentin (Moxatag), dicloxacillin (oxacillin), ampicillin, and penicillin.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Colitis is a stomach or intestinal disorder.
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Heart problems
Cefuroxime orally suspended may contain phenylalanine, which could be harmful to those with phenylketonuria. Inform your physician immediately if you become pregnant or nursing. If you're being treated for gonorrhea, p pregnancy can increase your risk of complications such as premature births, low birthweight, or the development of onorrhea. This condition can be treated without causing any harm to the child. Use is not recommended for anyone under 3 months of age.
How to take cefuroxime?
Read all instructions or guides that accompany your medication and follow all directions as directed. Follow the directions on the label. Cefuroxime is taken orally. Do not chew or crush the tablets. Take it either with or without food. Shake the suspension. Use the measuring device provided (not a spoon). Take it along with food. If your child has difficulty swallowing cefuroxime, tell your doctor.
Cefuroxime can be administered as a single oral dose for the treatment of gonorrhea. Cefuroxime is given orally for seven to ten days for most other infections. For early Lyme disease, it's usually taken for twenty days. If you change from tablets to suspension, your dose requirements may be different. Do not neglect to follow your physician's orders. Cefuroxime is injected into a vein or muscle and usually lasts for five to ten days.
If you need assistance administering an injection, consult a pharmacist or physician immediately. Cefuroxime may need to be mixed with a liquid before use. Only use the diluent that your doctor recommends. Only prepare an injection when you're ready to administer it. If the colour of your medicine has changed or if it has particles, call your pharmacist.
Never reuse a syringe or needle. Put them in a "sharps container" that is puncture-proof, and dispose of the sharps according to local or state laws. Keep away from children and pets. Continue to use this medication even if you notice a rapid improvement in your symptoms. If you skip doses, your infection could become resistant to the medication. Cefuroxime does not treat a virus, such as the flu or a cold. Cefuroxime may affect certain medical tests. Inform any doctor that you see about your use of cefuroxime.
Keep the tablets away from moisture or heat. When not in use, keep the bottle tightly shut. Do not freeze the oral suspension. After 10 days, throw away any medicine that has not been used. A cefuroxime injection must be used within a specified number of days or hours after mixing. The diluent you use and the way you store your mixture (at room or refrigerator temperature) will determine how long it takes to mix. If you are using injections in your home, make sure that you know how to mix and store them properly. Cefuroxime injections may be frozen at the time of delivery. Thaw it out at room temperature. Do not heat the medicine. You can store cefuroxime at room temperature for up to 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Once the medication has thawed, do not refreeze it.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are close to your next dose, skip the missed one. Take doses separately. If you missed a cefuroxime infusion, call your doctor to get instructions.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention. Overdose symptoms may include seizures.
What should be avoided?
Antibiotics can cause diarrhea. If you experience diarrhoea that is bloody or watery, tell your doctor.
Interaction with other drug
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, including:
- Any other IV antibiotics
- Probenecid;
- A diuretic, or "water pill".
- A blood thinner: warfarin Coumadin Jantoven
- As stomach acid reducers can have adverse side effects on our health, we should opt for one such as esomeprazole, famotidine, Nexium, Pepcid, Prevacid, Prilosec Tagamet Zantac or other similar treatments as needed.
This list is incomplete. Cefuroxime may be affected by other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal products. This list does not encompass all possible drug interactions.
