What is cefixime?

Cefixime is an antibiotic in a class of drugs called cephalosporins. Cefixime fights bacteria in the body.

Cefixime is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections such as bronchitis, tonsillitis, ear infections, skin infections, gonorrhea, and urinary tract infections.

Cefixime may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about cefixime?

Take all of the cefixime that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated. Take cefixime with food or milk if it causes stomach upset.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cefixime?

Do not take cefixime if you have ever had an allergic reaction to another cephalosporin or to a penicillin without first talking to your doctor.

Before taking cefixime, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease. You may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy.

Cefixime is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not, however, take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is unknown whether cefixime passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take cefixime?

Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Take cefixime with food or milk if it causes stomach upset. Measure the liquid form of cefixime with a dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular tablespoon, to be sure that you measure the correct dose. If you do not have one of these, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose. Take all of the cefixime that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

Take cefixime at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night to keep a constant level of drug in your body. It is important to take cefixime regularly to get the most benefit.

Store the tablets and capsules at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Store the suspension in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medication after 14 days.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember and then try to space the rest of the doses for that day evenly until you can return to a normal schedule. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a cefixime overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

What should I avoid while taking cefixime?

There are no special restrictions on food, beverages, or activities during cefixime therapy unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Cefixime side effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, discontinue taking cefixime and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; hives; or a rash);
• rash, redness, or itching;
• severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• mucous or blood in the stool; or
• unusual bleeding or bruising.

Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take your medication and talk to your doctor if you experience

• mild nausea or diarrhea, or
• yeast infection of the mouth or vagina.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect cefixime?

Probenecid (Benemid) may increase the effects of cefixime, and you may require a lower dose.

Cefixime may increase the risk of bleeding if it is taken with warfarin (Coumadin). You may need a lower dose of warfarin or special monitoring during therapy with cefixime.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with cefixime. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy waves often used in medicine. 2. The use of energy waves to diagnose or treat disease.

Replantation: 1. Literally, the act of planting again. 2. In surgery, the restoration of any part of the body to its original site. Also known as reimplantation.

The Chinese surgeon Zhong Wei Chen (1929-2004) was the "father of replantation." Dr. Chen was the first to reattach a severed hand with success which he did in 1963. Dr. Chen also developed many microsurgical procedures including techniques for preserving severed extremities, reattaching amputated fingers and thumbs, reconstructing muscles and repairing nerves and blood vessels.

Rheumatism: Rheumatism is an older term, used to describe any of a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones.

Rheumatism conditions have been classified as either localized, regional, or generalized. Localized rheumatism conditions include bursitis and tendinitis. Regional rheumatism conditions include chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndromes. Generalized rheumatism conditions include fibromyalgia.

Another category of rheumatism is psychogenic rheumatism. With this term it is understood that the patient is reporting inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for the symptoms.

Rheumatology: A subspecialty of internal medicine that involves the non-surgical evaluation and treatment of the rheumatic diseases and conditions. Rheumatic diseases and conditions are characterized by symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system. Many of the rheumatic diseases and conditions feature immune system abnormalities. Therefore, rheumatology also involves the study of the immune system. Classical rheumatology training includes 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship in internal medicine, 2 years of internal medicine residency, and 2 years of rheumatology fellowship. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification. The American College of Rheumatology is the official organization acting on behalf of the field of rheumatology in the United States.

T cell: A type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system and is at the core of adaptive immunity, the system that tailors the body's immune response to specific pathogens. The T cells are like soldiers who search out and destroy the targeted invaders.

Immature T cells (termed T-stem cells) migrate to the thymus gland in the neck, where they mature and differentiate into various types of mature T cells and become active in the immune system in response to a hormone called thymosin and other factors. T-cells that are potentially activated against the body's own tissues are normally killed or changed ("down-regulated") during this maturational process.

There are several different types of mature T cells. Not all of their functions are known. T cells can produce substances called cytokines such as the interleukins which further stimulate the immune response. T-cell activation is measured as a way to assess the health of patients with HIV/AIDS and less frequently in other disorders.

T cell are also known as T lymphocytes. The "T" stands for "thymus" -- the organ in which these cells mature. As opposed to B cells which mature in the bone marrow.

Teleology: The study of the ultimate purpose of the design of something in nature.

For example, "what is the true purpose of the nose?" is a teleological question and, to say that all evolutionary changes occur for a definite purpose is a teleological explanation of evolution.

"Teleology" comes from ancient Greek roots but it (and teleological) did not enter English until the 18th century. It is a compound of the Greek "tele-, telos," meaning "end or purpose" + the ending "logos" meaning "the science or study of" = the study of the ends or purposes.

Testosterone: A "male hormone" -- a sex hormone produced by the testes that encourages the development of male sexual characteristics, stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics, and prevents changes in them following castration. Chemically, testosterone is 17-beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3-one.

Testosterone is the most potent of the naturally occurring androgens. The androgens cause the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deep voice and a beard; they also strengthen muscle tone and bone mass.

High levels of testosterone appear to promote good health in men, for example, lowering the risks of high blood pressure and heart attack. High testosterone levels also correlate with risky behavior, however, including increased aggressiveness and smoking, which may cancel out these health benefits.

Testosterone may be given to treat medical conditions, including female (but not male) breast cancer, hypogonadism (low gonadal function) in the male, cryptorchism (nondescent of the testis into the scrotum), and menorrhagia (irregular periods).