Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Suprax
What is SUPRAX used for?
Antibacterial drugs like SUPRAX treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold.
SUPRAX is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. These include infections of the:
- Upper respiratory tract
- Middle ear
- Sinuses that surround the nasal cavity
- Lower respiratory tract
- Urinary tract
It is also used to treat uncomplicated gonorrhea.
How does SUPRAX work?
SUPRAX is an antibiotic. It is used to treat certain types of bacterial infections. SUPRAX is from a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. It kills bacteria by interfering with their cell wall.
What are the ingredients in SUPRAX?
Medicinal ingredient: Cefixime
Non-medicinal ingredients:
Tablets: Calcium phosphate dibasic dihydrate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, light mineral oil, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, sodium lauryl sulfate and titanium dioxide.
Powder for Oral Suspension: artificial strawberry flavour, sodium benzoate, sucrose and xanthan gum.
SUPRAX comes in the following dosage forms:
Tablets: 400 mg.
Powder for Oral Suspension: 100 mg / 5 mL when reconstituted
Do not use SUPRAX if:
- You are allergic to the cephalosporin or any of the ingredients in SUPRAX.
- You are allergic to penicillin.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take SUPRAX. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have or have had gastrointestinal disease (diseases of the stomach or gut)
- have had a condition called hemolytic anemia (loss of red blood cells) after taking an antibiotic
- have kidney problems
- have had an allergic reaction in the past, including to a medicine
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with SUPRAX:
- carbamazepine, a medicine used to treat seizures
- medicines used to thin your blood and prevent clots such as warfarin
How to take SUPRAX:
- Swallow SUPRAX tablets with water.
- The SUPRAX oral suspension should be taken by mouth.
- Take SUPRAX exactly how your healthcare professional has told you to.
- Take SUPRAX for the full number of days that your healthcare professional has told you to.
- Although you may feel better early in treatment, SUPRAX should be used exactly as directed.
- Misuse or overuse of SUPRAX could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by SUPRAX (resistance). This is means that SUPRAX may not work for you in the future.
- Do not share your medicine.
The pharmacist will usually provide you the reconstituted suspension. If product was not previously reconstituted by the pharmacist and provided in powder form, reconstitute as follows for 50 mL of suspension (provides 20 mg/mL):
- Tap the bottle several times to loosen powder contents
Add a total volume of 33 mL of water. The total volume of water (33 mL) should be split into TWO SEPARATE PORTIONS when added to the powder.
Mix well after each addition
Usual dose:
- Your healthcare professional will decide how much SUPRAX you should take and for how long you should take it.
- Adults: 400 mg tablet once a day
- Children (6 months or older): 8 mg/kg/day once a day or 4 mg/kg/day twice a day
Children weighing more than 50 kg or those older than 12 years should be treated with the recommended adult dose
Overdose:
| If you think you have taken too much SUPRAX, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
Missed Dose:
- If you miss a dose of SUPRAX by a few hours, take it as soon as you remember.
- However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
What are possible side effects from using SUPRAX?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking SUPRAX. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- upset stomach
- gas
- headache
- dizziness
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Seizures | ✓ | ||
| Kidney problems, including kidney failure: abdominal or back pain, changes in your urine, confusion, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, nausea, shortness of breath, swelling, weakness. | ✓ | ||
| Severe allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, hives, itching, skin rash, swelling of your tongue or throat, weakness. | ✓ | ||
| Severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis and erythema multiforma: blistering, hives, itching blistering, inflamed, peeling, red and dying skin and severe rash | ✓ | ||
| Clostridium difficile colitis (inflamed bowel), fever, severe diarrhea (bloody or watery) and stomach pain or tenderness. | ✓ | ||
| Blood problems such as: decreased blood platelets (thrombocytopenia) leads to increased bleeding , decreased red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) leads to fatigue, shortness of breath and decreased white blood cells ( neutropenia, leucopenia, agranulocytosis) leads to increased infection | ✓ | ||
| Liver problems with symptoms such as: abdominal pain, dark urine, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). | ✓ | ||
| Breathing problems including asthma: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing. | ✓ | ||
Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR) (severe skin reactions that may also affect other organs):
| ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
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. |
Storage:
Store tablets or dry powder at room temperature between15°C and 30°C.
Store reconstituted oral suspension at room temperate between 15°C and 30°C; or refrigerate for up to 14 days. Discard unused portion after 14 days.
Keep out of reach and sight of children
If you want more information about SUPRAX:
Talk to your healthcare professional
Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php ); or by calling the manufacturer at 1-800-387-9342.
Date of Revision: March 17, 2020