Detailed Drug Information:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Cefuroxime is a semisyntheticcephalosporin antibiotic, chemically similar to penicillin. It iseffective against a wide variety of bacteria organisms, such asStaphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae,E. coli, N. gonorrhoeae, and many others.

PRESCRIPTION: yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: yes

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg. Suspension: 125mg per 5 ml teaspoon.

STORAGE: Tablets should be stored at room temperature in atightly closed container. The oral suspension should be stored in therefrigerator in a tightly closed container.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Cefuroxime is effective against susceptiblebacterias causing infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, throatinfections, laryngitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. It is also used intreating urinary tract infections, skin infections, and gonorrhea.Additionally, it is useful in treating acute bacterial bronchitis inpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

DOSING: Should be taken with food.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Cefuroxime should be avoided by patients witha known allergy to cephalosporin type antibiotics. Since cefuroxime ischemically related to penicillin, an occasional patient can have anallergic reaction (sometimes even anaphylaxis) to both medications.Treatment with cefuroxime and other antibiotics can alter the normalbacteria flora of the colon and permit overgrowth of C. difficile, abacteria responsible for pseudomembranous colitis. Patients who developpseudomembranous colitis as a result of antibiotics treatment canexperience diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes even shock.Probenecid may increase the blood levels of cefuroxime. Cefuroxime can beused by children. It is not habit forming.

SIDE EFFECTS: Cefuroxime is generally well tolerated and side effects are usually transient. Reported side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, rash, hives, vaginitis,headache, and mouth ulcers.