Cefuroxime injection

What is cefuroxime injection?

CEFUROXIME (Kefurox®, Zinacef®) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It treats many kinds of infections including those of the skin, respiratory tract, brain, blood, bone, and urinary tract. Cefuroxime also treats some sexually transmitted disease. Generic cefuroxime injections are available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive cefuroxime?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding problems

• kidney disease

• stomach or intestinal problems (especially colitis)

• other chronic illness

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cefuroxime, other cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillin, penicillamine, other foods, dyes or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Cefuroxime is for injection into a muscle or a vein, or for infusion into a vein. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not use your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop using except on your prescriber's advice.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, use only that dose. Do not use double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with cefuroxime?

• other antibiotics

• probenecid

• water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking cefuroxime?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not begin to improve in a few days.

If you are diabetic you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.

If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.

If you are being treated for a sexually transmitted disease, avoid sexual contact until you have finished your treatment. Having sex can infect your sexual partner.

What side effects may I notice from receiving cefuroxime?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• difficulty breathing, wheezing

• dizziness

• fever or chills, sore throat

• headache

• reduced amount of urine

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe or watery diarrhea

• skin rash, itching

• swollen joints

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusual weakness or tiredness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea

• gas or heartburn

• nausea, vomiting

• vaginal itching

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store the dry powder for injection at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Follow the manufacturer's direction for the storage of injection solutions. Store the premixed frozen solution below —20 degrees C. Throw away any unused injection solution after 24 hours if stored at room temperature, or after 7 days if stored in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (36 and 46 degrees F).

Cefuroxime oral suspension

What is cefuroxime oral suspension?

CEFUROXIME (Ceftin®) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It treats many kinds of infections including those of the skin (impetigo), respiratory tract (tonsillitis), sinuses, and ear. Generic cefuroxime oral suspension is not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I take cefuroxime?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding problems

• kidney disease

• stomach or intestinal problems (especially colitis)

• other chronic illness

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cefuroxime, other cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillin, penicillamine, other foods, dyes or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take cefuroxime oral suspension by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Shake well before using. Use a specially marked spoon or container to measure your medicine. Ask your pharmacist if you do not have one; household spoons are not always accurate. Cefuroxime works best if you take it with food. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. There should be an interval of at least 10 to 12 hours between doses.

What drug(s) may interact with cefuroxime?

• other antibiotics

• probenecid

• water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking cefuroxime?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not begin to improve in a few days.

If you are diabetic you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.

If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.

What side effects may I notice from taking cefuroxime?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• difficulty breathing, wheezing

• dizziness

• fever or chills, sore throat

• headache

• reduced amount of urine

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe or watery diarrhea

• skin rash, itching

• swollen joints

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusual weakness or tiredness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea

• gas or heartburn

• nausea, vomiting

• vaginal itching

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the dry powder for oral suspension at between 2 and 30 degrees C (36 and 86 degrees F). After mixing store at room temperature or in the refrigerator, between 2 and 25 degrees C (36 and 77 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after 10 days.

Cefuroxime tablets

What are cefuroxime tablets?

CEFUROXIME (Ceftin®) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It treats many kinds of infections including those of the skin, respiratory tract (tonsillitis and bronchitis), sinuses, ear, and urinary tract. Cefuroxime also treats some sexually transmitted disease. Generic cefuroxime tablets are available.

What should my health care professional know before I take cefuroxime?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding problems

• kidney disease

• stomach or intestinal problems (especially colitis)

• other chronic illness

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cefuroxime, other cephalosporin antibiotics, penicillin, penicillamine, other foods, dyes or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take cefuroxime tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Cefuroxime works best if you take it with food. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. There should be an interval of at least 10 to 12 hours between doses.

What drug(s) may interact with cefuroxime?

• other antibiotics

• probenecid

• water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking cefuroxime?

Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not begin to improve in a few days.

If you are diabetic you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.

If you get severe or watery diarrhea, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.

If you are being treated for a sexually transmitted disease, avoid sexual contact until you have finished your treatment. Having sex can infect your sexual partner.

What side effects may I notice from taking cefuroxime?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• difficulty breathing, wheezing

• dizziness

• fever or chills, sore throat

• headache

• reduced amount of urine

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• seizures (convulsions)

• severe or watery diarrhea

• skin rash, itching

• swollen joints

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusual weakness or tiredness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea

• gas or heartburn

• nausea, vomiting

• vaginal itching

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Protect from moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.