Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Ratio-Cefuroxime
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
ratio-CEFUROXIME is an antibiotic medicine. It is similar to other antibiotic medicines called cephalosporins. Your doctor has prescribed ratio-CEFUROXIME because you have an infection.
Your doctor should test the type of bacteria causing your infection and monitor whether the bacteria are sensitive to ratio-CEFUROXIME during your treatment.
Antibacterial drugs like ratio-CEFUROXIME treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, ratio-CEFUROXIME should be used exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of ratio-CEFUROXIME could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by ratio-CEFUROXIME (resistance). This means that ratio-CEFUROXIME may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.
What it does:
ratio-CEFUROXIME is used to kill the bacteria or "germs" which cause infections. The infection can be cleared up if you take your medication in the proper way.
When it should not be used:
Do not use ratio-CEFUROXIME if you are allergic to cefuroxime or to cephalosporin antibiotics or to an of the other ingredients in ratio-CEFUROXIME (see What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are).
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Cefuroxime (as cefuroxime axetil)
What the important non-medicinal ingredients are:
Tablets: Non-medicinal ingredients include colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylparaben, microcrystalline cellulose, propylene glycol, propylparaben, sodium benzoate, sodium lauryl sulphate, and titanium dioxide.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Tablets: ratio-CEFUROXIME Tablets are supplied in two strengths, containing 250 mg or 500 mg of cefuroxime (as cefuroxime axetil). Your doctor will decide which strength you need.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
BEFORE you use ratio-CEFUROXIME talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:
- you are allergic to or react badly to penicillins or other antibiotics.
- you have kidney problems, as your doctor may reduce your dose.
- you are having a urine test for sugar. False positive reactions may occur if using methods dependent on copper reduction such as Fehling's or Benedict's solution or with Clinitest® Tablets. For this reason, enzyme-based tests such as Tes-Tape® or Clinistix® should be used.
you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Cefuroxime is excreted in human breast milk. Discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
- you are taking other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking, including non-prescription drugs and natural health products.
As this medication may cause dizziness, do not drive or operate machinery if you are feeling dizzy.
Talk to your doctor if the following occurs while taking ratio-CEFUROXIME:
- you develop hemolytic anemia (breakdown of red blood cells) with symptoms such as pale skin, weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath, yellowing of your skin and/or the whites of your eyes.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Drugs that may interact with ratio-CEFUROXIME include:
- Medicines used to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach (e.g. antacids used to treat heartburn) can affect how ratio-CEFUROXIME works.
- Medicines that promote the production of urine (such as furosemide and ethacrynic acid) may increase the risk of kidney problems when taken while being treated with ratio-CEFUROXIME.
- ratio-CEFUROXIME may reduce how well the contraceptive pill works. If you are taking the contraceptive pill while you are being treated with ratio-CEFUROXIME, you also need to use a barrier method of contraception (such as condoms). Ask your doctor for advice.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Usual Dose:
The usual length of treatment is 7 - 10 days, although your doctor may adjust the prescription to suit your treatment. During the course of treatment, all the tablets must be taken to make sure that all germs have been killed. CONTINUE TAKING THE TABLETS UNTIL FINISHED, EVEN IF YOU BEGIN TO FEEL BETTER.
YOU SHOULD NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE THE PRESCRIBED DOSE UNLESS ADVISED BY YOUR DOCTOR.
Take ratio-CEFUROXIME Tablets with food. This will help to make the treatment more effective.
Tablets:
You must take the medicine as prescribed by your doctor. If you are not sure how many tablets to take, or how often to take them, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
The usual dose for adults is one 250 mg tablet twice a day. ratio-CEFUROXIME has a bitter taste, therefore, do not chew or crush the tablets but swallow each one whole with a drink of water.
Infants and Children less than 12 Years of Age:
ratio-CEFUROXIME tablets are not recommended for infants and children less than 12 years of age.
Overdose:
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
It is important to follow the dosage instructions on the label of your medicine. Taking more than this dose is unlikely to be dangerous unless a large quantity of tablets is taken all at once. In this case, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
Missed Dose:
If you forget to take a dose, take another as soon as possible. Then continue with the normal dose. Do not double doses.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
If you experience wheeziness and tightness of chest, swelling of eyelids, face or lips, or develop skin lumps or hives, or a skin rash (red spots), tell your doctor immediately. Do not take any more medicine unless your doctor tells you to do so. Your doctor may decide to stop your treatment.
You may experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, diaper rash, drowsiness, inflammation of the vagina or symptoms that you do not understand. There is no need to stop taking your tablets, but you should tell your doctor of any of these symptoms as soon as possible.
If you experience symptoms such as severe diarrhea (bloody or watery) with or without fever, abdominal pain, or tenderness, you may have Clostridium difficile colitis (bowel inflammation). If this occurs, stop taking ratio-CEFUROXIME and contact your doctor immediately.
Other side effects include seizure and kidney problems. ratio-CEFUROXIME may also cause an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia), a decrease in the number of white blood cells (leukopenia), decrease in number of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot) called thrombocytopenia or an increase in some substances (enzymes) produced by the liver. If you are taking a blood test, you should tell your doctor that you are taking ratio-CEFUROXIME, as it may affect your result.
On rare occasions, medicines like ratio-CEFUROXIME can cause an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the body which can lead to fungal infections (such as thrush). This side effect is more likely if you take ratio-CEFUROXIME for a long time. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you think you have a fungal infection. Your doctor may need to stop your treatment.
Very rarely, ratio-CEFUROXIME may cause severe skin reactions, such as skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge) known as erythema multiforme, and widespread rash with blisters and skin peeling on much of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis), particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). If these severe skin reactions occur, stop taking ratio-CEFUROXIME and contact your doctor immediately.
Very rarely, ratio-CEFUROXIME may cause effects such as:
- high temperature (fever)
- yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and jaundice, and
- a faster breakdown of red blood cells leading to a form of anemia (hemolytic anemia) with symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and looking pale
If these symptoms occur or persist, contact your doctor.
If you feel worse or you have taken all the tablets and do not feel better TELL YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
| Symptom/Effect | Talk with your doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and call your doctor or pharmacist | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| Rare | Overgrowth of Yeast (Candida): fungal infections (such as thrush) | √ | ||
| Rare | Bowel Inflammation: severe diarrhea (bloody or watery) with or without fever, abdominal pain, or tenderness | √ | ||
| Very rare | Allergic Reactions: wheeziness and tightness of chest, swelling of eyelids, face or lips, or develop skin lumps or hives, or a skin rash (red spots) | √ | ||
| Skin Reactions: skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge); widespread rash with blisters and skin peeling on much of the body surface, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals | √ | |||
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking ratio-CEFUROXIME, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
Keep your tablets in a safe place where children cannot reach or see them.
Store ratio-CEFUROXIME Tablets at 15ºC to 30ºC.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345. NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
MORE INFORMATION
This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting Teva Canada Limited by:
Phone: 1-800-268-4127 ext. 3;
Email: druginfo@tevacanada.com ; or
Fax: 1-416-335-4472
Teva Canada Limited
30 Novopharm Court
Toronto, Ontario
M1B 2K9
www.tevacanada.com