cefuroxime axetil
Cefuroxime, also known by its brand name Ceftin, is a cephalosporin antibiotic that treats bacterial infections throughout the body. These infections can include sinus infection, ear infection, and urinary tract infection (UTI), among others. The brand name Ceftin has been discontinued, but generic cefuroxime is still available as a tablet and an injection. The tablets are taken by mouth typically every 12 hours, but the dosage depends on your infection and kidney function. Side effects aren't common, but can include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
What is Cefuroxime?
What is Cefuroxime used for?
Cefuroxime tablets:
Lung infection related to long-term bronchitis
Skin infection
Cefuroxime injection:
UTI
Skin infection
Bone and joint infection
How Cefuroxime works
Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It kills bacteria by preventing them from making an additional covering around themselves for protection.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Cefuroxime?
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (4%)
- Nausea or vomiting (3%)
Other Side Effects
- Low appetite
- Stomach pain or cramps
- Headache
- Chills
- Rash
- Itching
Serious Side Effects
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, rash, blisters, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Infectious diarrhea (C. difficile-related diarrhea): fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day)
Source:Â DailyMed
More on Cefuroxime side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Chills
general feeling of illness or discomfort
headache
itching of the vagina or genital area
pain during sexual intercourse
rigidity
sweating
thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
Less common
Black, tarry stools
loose stools
painful or difficult urination
shortness of breath
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swollen glands
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
Back, leg, or stomach pains
bladder pain
bleeding gums
bloody or cloudy urine
body aches or pain
burning while urinating
dark urine
difficulty with breathing
ear congestion
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
frequent urge to urinate
general body swelling
loss of appetite
loss of voice
lower back or side pain
nausea or vomiting
nosebleeds
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
pale skin
pink or red urine
stuffy or runny nose
swelling of the joints
swollen glands
tightness of chest or wheezing
white or brownish vaginal discharge
white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue
white patches with diaper rash
yellowing of the eyes or skin
Incidence not known
Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
bloody, black, or tarry stools
clay-colored stools
cough or hoarseness
coughing up blood
decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
feeling of discomfort
fever with or without chills
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
high fever
increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
joint or muscle pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
light-colored stools
paralysis
prolonged bleeding from cuts
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red or black, tarry stools
red or dark brown urine
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
seizures
swollen lymph glands
swollen or painful glands
unpleasant breath odor
upper right abdominal or stomach pain
vomiting of blood
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Rare
Abdominal or stomach cramps
acid or sour stomach
belching
bloated
difficulty with moving
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
flushing or redness of the skin
full feeling
gas in the stomach
indigestion
irritability
irritation or soreness of the mouth
itching skin
muscle pain or stiffness
muscle spasm of the neck
passing gas
restlessness
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
swelling of the tongue
thirst
trouble sitting still
unusually warm skin
watering of the mouth and drooling
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Cefuroxime
Pros
Treats many types of bacterial infections throughout your body
Has generally few side effects
Can be used for children and adults
Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
Might not be able to take this medication if you've had a severe allergy to penicillins or other cephalosporin antibiotics
No oral liquid available for people who have trouble swallowing pills
Not recommended for the cold or flu, since these infections aren't typically caused by bacteria
Pharmacist tips for Cefuroxime
Take cefuroxime exactly as prescribed. Make sure to finish your treatment course, even if you're feeling better. Stopping the medication before your treatment course ends can make your infection come back and become harder to treat.
You can take cefuroxime with or without food. But if it upsets your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
Don't crush or chew the tablet. It has a strong, bitter taste when crushed. Ask the prescriber for other treatment options if you can't swallow the tablet whole.
Cefuroxime can cause diarrhea, But it should go away when you stop taking the antibiotic. Call your primary care provider or urgent care if you start having watery or bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, or fever anytime during treatment or after stopping the antibiotic. This can be a kind of infectious diarrhea that should be treated immediately.
Speak with a healthcare professional (HCP) about whether it's safe and appropriate for you to take a probiotic to help lessen the risk of serious infectious diarrhea. If the HCP suggests taking a probiotic, separate it from cefuroxime by at least 2 hours to prevent the antibiotic from killing the "good" bacteria in the probiotic.
Let the prescriber and your pharmacist know about all the medications you're taking or planning to take with cefuroxime. Certain medications like antacids or other heartburn medications can affect how well cefuroxime gets absorbed into your body.
Get medical help as soon as possible if you have a rash, itchy skin, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face or mouth. These could be signs of a severe allergic reaction to cefuroxime.
Frequently asked questions about Cefuroxime
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What are the risks and warnings for Cefuroxime?
Cefuroxime can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reaction
Risk factors: Allergy to penicillin or other cephalosporin antibiotics
Severe allergic reactions to cefuroxime are possible. Some reactions can be life-threatening and can include facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Let the prescriber know if you have an allergy to antibiotics to check your risk of having an allergic reaction to cefuroxime. Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing while you're taking cefuroxime.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
All antibiotics, including cefuroxime, can raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines (gut microbiome). This can allow C. diff to overgrow in your gut and lead to an infection. This infection can cause diarrhea that can sometimes be life-threatening.
It's important to recognize the difference between diarrhea as a side effect and C. diff-related diarrhea. This type of infectious diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day) and is a medical emergency. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms so you can get tested for a C. diff infection and get appropriate treatment, if needed.
Possible development of drug-resistant bacteria
Take cefuroxime exactly as prescribed. Using cefuroxime for any shorter or longer periods of time can raise your risk for developing infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. This is also possible if you take the antibiotic for other illnesses that it's not appropriate for. Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria can be severe, life-threatening infections, and more difficult to treat.
Cefuroxime dosage forms
Typical dosing for Cefuroxime
Cefuroxime tablets
Age 13 years and older:
Most infections: The typical dose is 250 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 7 to 10 days. For some infections (those related to long-term bronchitis or skin infections), you might need a higher dose (500 mg).
Gonorrhea: The typical dose is 1,000 mg by mouth as a single dose.
Lyme disease: The typical dose is 500 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 20 days.
Age under 13 years:
Ear or sinus infection only: The typical dose is 250 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 10 days.
Cefuroxime injection
Cefuroxime is also available as an injection for certain other, more serious bacterial infections. It's given through the veins or into the muscle by a healthcare professional. The dosage will depend on your age, weight (for young infants), and your infection.
Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.
Interactions between Cefuroxime and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Cefuroxime cost?
Cefuroxime contraindications
Severe allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, amoxicillin (Amoxil), or cephalexin (Keflex)
What are alternatives to Cefuroxime?
Cefuroxime tablets:
Lung infection related to long-term bronchitis
Skin infection
Cefuroxime injection:
UTI
Skin infection
Bone and joint infection
Urinary tract infections
Ear infections (otitis media)
Throat and tonsil infections (strep throat, tonsillitis)
Bronchitis with bacterial infection
Gonorrhea
Lung infections related to long-term bronchitis
Skin infections
Ear infections - for children only
What is the latest news about Cefuroxime?
Cefuroxime images
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References
Best studies we foundBerkovitch, M., et al. (2000). First trimester exposure to cefuroxime: A prospective cohort study. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Chaudhry, S. B., et al. (2019). Cephalosporins: A focus on side chains and β-lactam cross-reactivity. Pharmacy.
DeBoer, D. L., et al. (2023). Acute sinusitis. StatPearls.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (2022). Cefuroxime injection, powder, for solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Cefuroxime acetil- cefuroxime axetil tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
McFarland, L. V., et al. (2016). Comparison of pediatric and adult antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections. World Journal of Gastroenterology.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Septicemia.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Chronic bronchitis.
Pandey, N., et al. (2023). Beta-lactam antibiotics. StatPearls.
Pegler, S., et al. (2007). In patients allergic to penicillin, consider second and third generation cephalosporins for life threatening infections. The British Medical Journal.
Salisbury, B. H., et al. (2023). Antacids. StatPearls.
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