Cephalosporins (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Medicine

Cephalosporins may be taken on a full or empty stomach. If this medicine upsets your stomach, it may help to take it with food.

Cefaclor extended-release tablets, cefditoren, cefpodoxime, and cefuroxime axetil should be taken with food to increase absorption of the medicine. Ceftibuten oral suspension should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours before or 1 hour after a meal.

For patients taking the oral liquid form of this medicine:

• This medicine is to be taken by mouth. Use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.
• Do not use after the expiration date on the label since the medicine may not work properly after that date. Check with your pharmacist if you have any questions about this.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment , even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you have a �strep� infection, you should keep taking this medicine for at least 10 days. This is especially important in �strep� infections since serious heart or kidney problems could develop later if your infection is not cleared up completely. Also, if you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood or urine. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times, day and night . For example, if you are to take four doses a day, the doses should be spaced about 6 hours apart. If this interferes with your sleep or other daily activities, or if you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your health care professional.

Dosing - The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. Your dose may be different if you have kidney disease. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules or tablets or teaspoonfuls of suspension that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking a cephalosporin .

For cefaclor
• For bacterial infections:
  • For capsule or oral suspension dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 to 500 milligrams (mg) every eight hours.
    • Infants and children 1 month of age and older - 6.7 to 13.4 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.04 to 6.09 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours, or 10 to 20 mg per kg (4.54 to 9.09 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours.
  • For extended-release tablet dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers 16 years of age and older - 375 to 500 mg every twelve hours for seven to ten days.
    • Children up to 16 years of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For cefadroxil
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (capsules, oral suspension, or tablets):
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams (mg) or 1 gram every twelve hours, or 1 or 2 grams once a day.
    • Children - 15 mg per kilogram (kg) (6.81 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours, or 30 mg per kg (13.63 mg per pound) of body weight once a day.

For cefamandole
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams (mg) to 2 grams every four to eight hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Infants and children 1 month of age and older - 8.3 to 50 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.77 to 22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every four to eight hours, injected into a muscle or vein.

For cefazolin
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 milligrams (mg) to 1.5 grams every six to twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Infants and children 1 month of age and older - 6.25 to 25 mg per kilogram (kg) (2.84 to 11.36 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, or 8.3 to 33.3 mg per kg (3.77 to 15.13 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Newborns - 20 mg per kg (9.09 mg per pound) of body weight every eight to twelve hours, injected into a vein.

For cefdinir
• For bacterial infections:
  • For capsule or oral suspension dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 300 milligrams (mg) ever twelve hours or 600 mg once a day for 5 to 10 days.
    • Infants and children 6 months of age and older - 7 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (3.18 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours or 14 mg per kilogram (6.36 mg per pound) once a day for 5 to 10 days.

For cefditoren
• For acute bacterial bronchitis
  • For tablets dosage form:
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older - 400 milligrams (mg) twice a day for 10 days
    • Children under 12 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor
• For bacterial throat infections or tonsillitis:
  • For tablets dosage form:
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older - 200 milligrams (mg) twice a day for 10 days
    • Children under 12 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor

For cefepime
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams to 2 grams every eight to twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein, for seven to ten days.
    • Infants and children 2 months to 16 years of age - 50 milligrams per kilogram body weight injected into muscle or vein, every eight to twelve hours, for seven to ten days.

For cefixime

Note:

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

• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (oral suspension or tablets):
    • Adults and teenagers - 200 milligrams (mg) every twelve hours, or 400 mg once a day. Gonorrhea is treated with a single, oral dose of 400 mg.
    • Children 6 months to 12 years of age - 4 mg per kilogram (kg) (1.81 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours, or 8 mg per kg (3.63 mg per pound) of body weight once a day.
    • Infants up to 6 months of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For cefonicid
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams (mg) to 2 grams every twenty-four hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For cefoperazone
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 1 to 6 grams every twelve hours, or 2 to 4 grams every eight hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For cefotaxime
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 1 to 2 grams every four to twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein. Gonorrhea is usually treated with a single dose of 500 milligrams (mg) or 1 gram, injected into a muscle.
    • Children over 50 kg of body weight (110 pounds) - 1 to 2 grams every four to twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Infants and children 1 month of age and older and up to 50 kg of body weight (110 pounds) - 8.3 to 30 mg per kg (3.77 to 13.63 mg per pound) of body weight every four hours, or 12.5 to 45 mg per kg (5.68 to 20.45 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Newborns 1 to 4 weeks of age - 50 mg per kg (22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours, injected into a vein.
    • Newborns up to 1 week of age - 50 mg per kilogram (kg) (22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours, injected into a vein.

For cefotetan
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams to 3 grams every twelve hours, or 1 or 2 grams every twenty-four hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For cefoxitin
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 1 to 3 grams every four to eight hours, injected into a vein.
    • Infants and children 3 months of age and older - 13.3 to 26.7 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (6.04 to 12.13 mg per pound) of body weight every four hours, or 20 to 40 mg per kg (9.09 to 18.18 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, injected into a vein.
    • Infants 1 to 3 months of age - 20 to 40 mg per kg (9.09 to 18.18 mg per pound) of body weight every six to eight hours, injected into a vein.
    • Newborns 1 to 4 weeks of age - 20 to 40 mg per kg (9.09 to 18.18 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours, injected into a vein.
    • Premature infants weighing 1500 grams and over to newborns up to 1 week of age - 20 to 40 mg per kg (9.09 to 18.18 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours, injected into a vein.

For cefpodoxime
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (oral suspension or tablets):
    • Adults and teenagers - 100 to 400 milligrams (mg) every twelve hours for five to fourteen days. Gonorrhea is treated with a single, oral dose of 200 mg.
    • Infants and children 5 months to 12 years of age - 5 mg per kilogram (kg) (2.27 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours for five to ten days, or 10 mg per kg (4.54 mg per pound) of body weight every twenty-four hours for ten days.
    • Infants up to 5 months of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For cefprozil
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (oral suspension or tablets):
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 or 500 milligrams (mg) every twelve to twenty-four hours for ten days.
    • Children 2 to 12 years of age - 7.5 to 20 mg per kilogram (kg) (3.4 to 9.09 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve to twenty-four hours for ten days.
    • Infants and children 6 months to 12 years of age - 7.5 to 15 mg per kg (3.4 to 6.81 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours for ten days.
    • Infants up to 6 months of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For ceftazidime
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 milligrams (mg) to 2 grams every eight to twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein. Patients with cystic fibrosis may receive 30 to 50 mg per kilogram (kg) (13.63 to 22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours, injected into a vein.
    • Infants and children 1 month to 12 years of age - 30 to 50 mg per kg (13.63 to 22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every eight hours, injected into a vein.
    • Newborns up to 4 weeks of age - 30 mg per kg (13.63 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours, injected into a vein.

For ceftibuten
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (capsules or oral suspension):
    • Adults and teenagers - 400 milligrams (mg) once a day for ten days.
    • Infants and children 6 months to 12 years of age - 9 mg per kilogram (4.09 mg per pound) of body weight once a day for ten days.
    • Infants up to 6 months of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For ceftizoxime
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams (mg) to 4 grams every eight to twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein. Gonorrhea is treated with a single dose of 1 gram, injected into a muscle.
    • Infants and children 6 months of age and older - 50 mg per kilogram (22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every six to eight hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Infants up to 6 months of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For ceftriaxone
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 1 to 2 grams every twenty-four hours, or 500 milligrams (mg) to 1 gram every twelve hours, injected into a muscle or vein. Gonorrhea is treated with a single 250-mg dose, injected into a muscle.
    • Infants and children - 25 to 37.5 mg per kilogram (kg) (11.36 to 17.04 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours, or 50 to 75 mg per kg (22.72 to 34.09 mg per pound) of body weight once a day, injected into a muscle or vein. Meningitis is treated with an initial dose of 100 mg per kg, then 100 mg per kg once a day or 50 mg per kg two times a day.

For cefuroxime
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral suspension dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - The oral suspension is usually used only for children. Refer to the dosing for cefuroxime tablets.
    • Infants and children 3 months to 12 years of age - 10 to 15 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (4.54 to 6.81 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours for ten days.
  • For tablet dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 to 500 mg every twelve hours. Gonorrhea is treated with a single, oral 1-gram dose.
    • Children up to 12 years of age who can swallow tablets whole - 250 mg every twelve hours for ten days.
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 750 mg to 3 grams every six to eight hours usually for 5 to 14 days, injected into a muscle or vein. Gonorrhea is treated with a single dose of 1.5 grams, injected into a muscle; the total 1.5-gram dose is divided into two doses and injected into muscles at two separate places on the body, and given along with a single, oral 1-gram dose of probenecid.
    • Infants and children 1 month of age and older - 12.5 to 150 mg per kg (5.68 to mg per pound) of body weight every six to eight hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Newborns - 10 to 100 mg per kg (4.54 to 45.5 mg mg per pound) of body weight every eight to twelve hours, injected into a vein.

For cephalexin
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (capsules, oral suspension, or tablets):
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 milligrams (mg) to 1 gram every six to twelve hours.
    • Children 40 kg (88 pounds) of body weight and over - 250 mg to 1 gram every six to twelve hours.
    • Children 1 year of age and older and up to 40 kg (88 pounds) of body weight - 6.25 to 25 mg per kilogram (kg) (2.84 to 11.36 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, or 12.5 to 50 mg per kg (5.68 to 22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours.
    • Infants and children 1 month to 1 year of age - 6.25 to 12.5 mg per kg (2.84 to 5.68 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours.

For cephalothin
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams (mg) to 2 grams every four to six hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Children - 13.3 to 26.6 mg per kilogram (kg) (6.04 to 12.09 mg per pound) of body weight every four hours, or 20 to 40 mg per kg (9.09 to 18.18 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, injected into a muscle or vein.

For cephapirin
• For bacterial infections:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers - 500 milligrams (mg) to 1 gram every four to six hours, injected into a muscle or vein.
    • Infants and children 3 months of age and older - 10 to 20 mg per kilogram (kg) (4.54 to 9.09 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, injected into a muscle or vein.

For cephradine
• For bacterial infections:
  • For oral dosage forms (capsules or oral suspension):
    • Adults and teenagers - 250 milligrams (mg) to 1 gram every six to twelve hours.
    • Infants and children 9 months of age and older - 6.25 mg to 1 gram per kilogram (kg) (2.84 to 454 mg per pound) of body weight every six hours, or 12.5 to 50 mg per kg (5.68 to 22.72 mg per pound) of body weight every twelve hours.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. This will help to keep a constant amount of medicine in the blood or urine. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Store the oral liquid form of most cephalosporins in the refrigerator because heat will cause this medicine to break down. However, keep the medicine from freezing. Follow the directions on the label. Cefixime oral suspension (Suprax ) , cefuroxime axetil oral suspension (Ceftin ), and cefdinir oral suspension (Omnicef ) do not need to be refrigerated.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.