Drug Status in USA : Approved Drug Status in Canada : Approved
pronunciation
pronounced as (sef pode ox' eem)
Why is this medication prescribed?
Cefpodoxime is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as bronchitis (infection of the airway tubes leading to the lungs); pneumonia; gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease); and infections of the skin, ear, sinuses, throat, tonsils, and urinary tract. Cefpodoxime is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Antibiotics such as cefpodoxime will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
How should this medicine be used?
Cefpodoxime comes as a tablet and suspension (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 12 hours for 5 to 14 days depending on the condition being treated. A single dose is given to treat gonorrhea. Take the tablet with food; the suspension can be taken with or without food. Take cefpodoxime at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cefpodoxime exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Shake the suspension well before each use to mix the medication evenly.
You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with cefpodoxime. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.
Continue to take cefpodoxime until you finish the prescription even if you feel better. If you stop taking cefpodoxime too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics..
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before taking cefpodoxime,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cefpodoxime; any other cephalosporin antibiotic such as cefaclor, cefadroxil,cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cefdinir, cefditoren (Spectracef), cefepime (Maxipime), cefixime (Suprax), cefotaxime (Claforan), cefotetan, cefoxitin (Mefoxin), cefprozil, ceftaroline (Teflaro), ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz), ceftibuten (Cedax), ceftriaxone (Rocephin), cefuroxime (Zinacef) and cephalexin (Keflex);penicillin antibiotics; or any other medications. Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in cefpodoxime tablets or suspension.Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, others), cimetidine, colistimethate (Coly-Mycin M), diuretics ('water pills'), famotidine (Pepcid), gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin (Neo-Fradin), nizatidine (Axid), polymixin B, probenecid (Probalan), ranitidine (Zantac), streptomycin, tobramycin. and vancomycin (Vancocin). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had gastrointestinal disease (GI; affecting the stomach or intestines), especially colitis (condition that causes swelling in the lining of the colon
large intestine
), or kidney disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking cefpodoxime, call your doctor.
if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent mental retardation), you should know that cefpodoxime suspension is sweetened with aspartame that forms phenylalanine.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Cefpodoxime may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
stomach pain
swelling, redness, irritation, burning, or itching of the vagina
white vaginal discharge
headache
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
watery or bloody stools, stomach cramps, or fever during treatment or for up to two or more months after stopping treatment
rash
itching
hives
difficulty breathing or swallowing
wheezing
a return of fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store the tablets at room temperature and away from light and excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Keep liquid medicine in the refrigerator, tightly closed, and dispose of any unused medication after 14 days.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.
Drug Category/Class
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cephalosporins
Third-Generation Cephalosporins
Antibacterials for Systemic Use
Antiinfectives for Systemic Use
Third-generation cephalosporins
Prescribed
For the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms.