Generic Name: Cefuroxime Tablets (SEF-ue-ROX-eem)
Brand Name: Ceftin

Cefuroxime is used for:

Treating bacterial infections (sinus, skin, lung, urinary tract, ear, and throat). It may also be used to treat Lyme disease and gonorrhea.

Cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It works by interfering with the formation of the bacteria's cell wall so that the wall ruptures, resulting in the death of the bacteria.

Do NOT use Cefuroxime if:

you are allergic to any ingredient in Cefuroxime or to any other cephalosporin antibiotic (eg, cephalexin, cefprozil)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Cefuroxime:

Tell your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

if you have diarrhea, a stomach or intestinal infection, or a blood clotting problem

if you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, dizziness) to a penicillin antibiotic (eg, amoxicillin) or other beta-lactam antibiotic (eg, imipenem)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Cefuroxime. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Aminoglycosides (eg, gentamicin), cyclosporine, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), or other medicines affecting the kidney because side effects, such as kidney toxicity, may occur

Hormonal contraceptive (eg, birth control pills) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Cefuroxime

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Cefuroxime may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Cefuroxime:

Use Cefuroxime as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take Cefuroxime by mouth with or without food.

Swallow Cefuroxime whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.

Cefuroxime works best if it is taken at the same time each day.

To clear up your infection completely, take Cefuroxime for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose, and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Cefuroxime.

Important safety information:

Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.

The tablet and oral suspension forms of Cefuroxime are not equivalent. Do not substitute one for the other.

Cefuroxime only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).

Be sure to use Cefuroxime for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.

Long-term or repeated use of Cefuroxime may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.

Diabetes patients - Cefuroxime may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Cefuroxime. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).

Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell count, may be performed while you use Cefuroxime. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Cefuroxime should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 3 months old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.

PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Cefuroxime while you are pregnant. Cefuroxime is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Cefuroxime.

Possible side effects of Cefuroxime:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea/loose stools; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; change in the amount of urine; dark urine; easy bruising or bleeding; fatigue; fever; seizures; severe diarrhea; stomach cramps/pain; vaginal irritation or discharge; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include seizures.

Proper storage of Cefuroxime:

Store Cefuroxime at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Cefuroxime out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

If you have any questions about Cefuroxime, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Cefuroxime is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Cefuroxime. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.