Cefixime for infection

About cefixime

Cefixime is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which means that it is active against a wide variety of bacteria. It is used to treat short-term (acute) bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections, chest och throat infections, and öroninfektioner. Cefixime treats an infection by killing the bacteria that are causing it.

Some people who are allergic to penicillin antibiotics may not be able to take cefixime, so make sure your doctor knows if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any other antibiotic.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking cefixime it is important that your doctor knows:

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot ett läkemedel. Det är särskilt viktigt att du berättar för din läkare om du har haft en dålig reaktion på ett penicillin- eller cefalosporinantibiotikum.

• Om du har några problem med hur dina njurar fungerar.

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding. (Although cefixime is not known to be harmful to babies, it is still important that you tell your doctor if you are expecting or breastfeeding a baby.)

• Om du tar eller använder några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Before you start taking cefixime, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about the antibiotic and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• You should take cefixime exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose for adults and for children over 10 years of age, is 1 or 2 tablets daily. You will be told whether to take this as a single dose each day, or as two doses, morning and evening. The dose for younger children is calculated from their age or weight. Your doctor will tell you what dose is right for you (or your child), and this information will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you.

• You can take cefixime before or after food. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. If you are taking more than one dose a day, space your doses out evenly throughout the day.

• Keep taking the antibiotic until the course is finished unless you are told to stop by your doctor. Taking the full course is important (even if you feel your infection has cleared up) in order to prevent the infection from coming back.

• If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember. Try to take the correct number of doses each day.

• Vissa människor utvecklar svampinfektion (rodnad och klåda i munnen eller slidan) efter att ha tagit en antibiotikakur. Om du tror att du har svampinfektion, prata med din läkare eller apotekare för råd.

• If you are using oral combined hormonal contraception (the 'pill'), additional contraceptive precautions such as condoms are recommended for a time if you have sickness (vomiting) or diarrhoea which lasts for more than 24 hours. If you need further advice about this, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

• If you are having an operation or any other medical treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking an antibiotic. This is because cefixime may interfere with the results of some tests to check for sugar in urine.

• Cefixime may stop the oral typhoid vaccine from working. If you are having any vaccinations, make sure the person treating you knows that you are taking this antibiotic.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with cefixime. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Viktigt: if you develop an itchy rash, swollen face or mouth, or have difficulty breathing, these can be signs that you are allergic to the antibiotic. Do not take any more cefixime and speak with your doctor or go to your local accident and emergency department straightaway.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på denna medicin, tala med din läkare eller apotekare för vidare råd.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.