cefpodoxime

sef-poe-DOX-eem PROX-e-til

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Vantin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Suspension


• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Pharmacologic Class: 3rd Generation Cephalosporin

Uses For cefpodoxime

Cefpodoxime is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It belongs to the class of medicines known as cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, cefpodoxime will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

cefpodoxime is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using cefpodoxime

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cefpodoxime, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cefpodoxime or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefpodoxime in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in infants younger than 2 months of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefpodoxime in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving cefpodoxime.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	B	Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

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. When you are taking cefpodoxime, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using cefpodoxime with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Cimetidine


• Famotidine


• Nizatidine


• Probenecid


• Ranitidine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cefpodoxime. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Colitis (inflammation in gut), history of or


• Diarrhea, severe, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. Effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use of cefpodoxime

Take cefpodoxime only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

You or your child must take the tablets with food, while the oral liquid may be taken with or without food.

Shake the oral liquid well before each use. Measure the medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Keep using cefpodoxime for the full treatment time, even if you or your child feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of cefpodoxime will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of cefpodoxime. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (suspension or tablets):
  
  • For bronchitis:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For ear infections:
    
    • Infants and children 2 months to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For gonorrhea:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) taken as a single dose.
    
    
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For pneumonia:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For sinusitis:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Infants and children 2 months to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For skin infections:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—400 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For sore throat and tonsillitis:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Infants and children 2 months to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For urinary tract infections:
    
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    
    
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of cefpodoxime, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the tablets in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Store the oral liquid in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medicine after 14 days.

Precautions While Using cefpodoxime

If your symptoms or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Cefpodoxime may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. Do not take any medicine or give medicine to your child to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Before you or your child have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using cefpodoxime. The results of some tests may be affected by cefpodoxime.

cefpodoxime Side Effects

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

• Diarrhea


• loose stools

Less common

• Change in the color, amount, or odor of vaginal discharge

Rare

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness


• black, tarry stools


• bladder pain


• bleeding gums


• bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet


• bloody nose


• bloody or cloudy urine


• blurred vision


• burning while urinating


• chest pain


• collection of blood under the skin


• confusion


• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears


• cough or hoarseness


• cough producing mucus


• dark urine


• decreased urination


• decreased urine output


• deep, dark purple bruise


• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody


• difficult or labored breathing


• difficult, burning, or painful urination


• difficulty with breathing or troubled breathing


• dilated neck veins


• dizziness


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position


• dry mouth


• extreme fatigue


• fainting


• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse


• feeling of warmth or heat


• fever or chills


• flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck


• frequent urge to urinate


• general body swelling


• headache


• hearing loss


• heavier menstrual periods


• increase in heart rate


• increased thirst


• increased urge to urinate during the night


• increased weight


• irregular breathing


• irregular heartbeat


• itching of the vagina or genital area


• itching, pain, redness, or swelling


• loss of appetite


• lower back or side pain


• nausea or vomiting


• nervousness


• noisy breathing


• nosebleeds


• pain


• pain during sexual intercourse


• pain or swelling of the treated skin


• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones


• pain, warmth, or burning in the fingers, toes, and legs


• pale skin


• pinpoint red spots on the skin


• pounding in the ears


• problems with vision or hearing


• rapid breathing


• rapid weight gain


• runny nose


• shortness of breath or troubled breathing


• skin rash


• slow or fast heartbeat


• sneezing


• sore throat


• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth


• stuffy or runny nose


• sunken eyes


• sweating


• swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs


• swelling or puffiness of the face


• swollen glands


• thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor


• thirst


• tightness of the chest or wheezing


• tingling of the hands or feet


• troubled breathing


• troubled breathing with exertion


• unusual bleeding or bruising


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• unusual weight gain or loss


• waking to urinate at night


• weight gain


• wheezing


• wrinkled skin


• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach pain


• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin


• bloody, black, or tarry stools


• clay-colored stools


• feeling of discomfort


• fever with or without chills


• general feeling of tiredness or weakness


• high fever


• inflammation of the joints


• irritation or inflammation of the eyelid


• itching


• joint or muscle pain


• muscle aches


• rectal bleeding


• red skin lesions, often with a purple center


• red, irritated eyes


• seizures


• sudden decrease in the amount of urine


• swollen lymph glands


• swollen or painful glands


• unpleasant breath odor


• 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

• Accumulation of pus


• acid or sour stomach


• ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain


• bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste


• belching


• blemishes on the skin


• bloated or full feeling


• burning feeling in the chest or stomach


• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings


• change in taste


• constipation


• cracks in the skin


• decreased appetite


• difficulty with moving


• dry skin


• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines


• fear or nervousness


• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings


• frequent urge to defecate


• general feeling of discomfort or illness


• hair loss


• headache, severe and throbbing


• heartburn


• hives or welts


• increase in body movements


• increased sweating


• increased thirst


• indigestion


• irritation or soreness of the mouth


• joint stiffness or swelling


• lack or loss of strength


• loss of heat from the body


• lower back or side pain


• muscle aching or cramping


• muscle pains or stiffness


• passing of gas


• peeling of the skin


• pimples


• poor concentration


• pressure in the stomach


• red, sore eyes


• red, swollen skin


• redness of the skin


• scaly skin


• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there


• sensation of spinning


• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness


• sleeplessness


• sore mouth or tongue


• soreness or redness around the fingernails and toenails


• stomach discomfort, upset, or pain


• stomach upset


• straining while passing stool


• swelling of the abdominal or stomach area


• swelling or inflammation of the mouth


• swollen, red, or tender area of infection


• trouble with sleeping


• unable to sleep


• white patches in the mouth, tongue, or throat

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.

See also: cefpodoxime side effects (in more detail)

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More cefpodoxime resources

• Cefpodoxime Side Effects (in more detail)
• Cefpodoxime Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Cefpodoxime Drug Interactions
• Cefpodoxime Support Group
• 2 Reviews for Cefpodoxime - Add your own review/rating

• cefpodoxime Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Cefpodoxime MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Cefpodoxime Proxetil Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Vantin Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare cefpodoxime with other medications

• Bladder Infection
• Bronchitis
• Gonococcal Infection, Disseminated
• Gonococcal Infection, Uncomplicated
• Kidney Infections
• Otitis Media
• Pneumonia
• Sinusitis
• Skin Infection
• Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis
• Upper Respiratory Tract Infection