Cephalosporins (Systemic)

Category

• Antibacterial, systemic - Cefaclor; Cefadroxil; Cefamandole; Cefazolin; Cefdinir; Cefditoren; Cefepime; Cefixime; Cefonicid; Cefoperazone; Cefotaxime; Cefotetan; Cefoxitin; Cefpodoxime; Cefprozil; Ceftazidime; Ceftibuten; Ceftizoxime; Ceftriaxone; Cefuroxime; Cephalexin; Cephalothin; Cephapirin; Cephradine

Description

Cephalosporins (sef-a-loe-SPOR-ins) are used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing bacteria or preventing their growth.

Cephalosporins are used to treat infections in many different parts of the body. They are sometimes given with other antibiotics. Some cephalosporins given by injection are also used to prevent infections before, during, and after surgery. However, cephalosporins will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Cephalosporins are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Cefaclor
  • Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
  • Extended-release tablets (U.S.)
• Cefadroxil
  • Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Oral suspension (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Cefdinir
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Oral Suspension (U.S.)
• Cefditoren
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Cefixime
  • Oral suspension (Canada)
  • Tablets (Canada)

    Note:

    Cefixime was withdrawn from the U.S. market by Wyeth in October 2002

• Cefpodoxime
  • Oral suspension (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Cefprozil
  • Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Ceftibuten
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Oral suspension (U.S.)
• Cefuroxime
  • Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Cephalexin
  • Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Cephradine
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Oral suspension (U.S.)

Parenteral
• Cefamandole
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cefazolin
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cefepime
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cefonicid
  • Injection (U.S.)
• Cefoperazone
  • Injection (U.S.)
• Cefotaxime
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cefotetan
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cefoxitin
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Ceftazidime
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Ceftizoxime
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Ceftriaxone
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cefuroxime
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Cephalothin
  • Injection (Canada)
• Cephapirin
  • Injection (U.S.)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Ancef ⁴
• Ceclor ¹
• Ceclor CD ¹
• Cedax ¹⁷
• Cefadyl ²³
• Cefditoren ⁸
• Cefizox ¹⁸
• Cefobid ¹⁰
• Cefotan ¹²
• Ceftin ²⁰
• Cefzil ¹⁵
• Ceptaz ¹⁶
• Claforan ¹¹
• Duricef ²
• Fortaz ¹⁶
• Keflex ²¹
• Keftab ²¹
• Kefurox ²⁰
• Kefzol ⁴
• Mandol ³
• Maxipime ⁶
• Mefoxin ¹³
• Monocid ⁹
• Omnicef ⁵
• Rocephin ¹⁹
• Tazicef ¹⁶
• Tazidime ¹⁶
• Vantin ¹⁴
• Velosef ²⁴
• Zinacef ²⁰

Note:

Suprax was withdrawn from the U.S. market by Wyeth in October 2002

In Canada -

• Ancef ⁴
• Apo-Cefaclor ¹
• Apo-Cephalex ²¹
• Ceclor ¹
• Cefizox ¹⁸
• Cefotan ¹²
• Ceftin ²⁰
• Cefzil ¹⁵
• Ceporacin ²²
• Ceptaz ¹⁶
• Claforan ¹¹
• Duricef ²
• Fortaz ¹⁶
• Keflex ²¹
• Keflin ²²
• Kefurox ²⁰
• Kefzol ⁴
• Mandol ³
• Maxipime ⁶
• Mefoxin ¹³
• Novo-Lexin ²¹
• Nu-Cephalex ²¹
• PMS-Cephalexin ²¹
• Rocephin ¹⁹
• Suprax ⁷
• Tazidime ¹⁶
• Zinacef ²⁰