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 and throat infections, and ear infections. 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.

Before taking cefixime

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:

• Wenn Sie schon einmal allergisch auf ein Medikament reagiert haben. Es ist besonders wichtig, dass Sie Ihren Arzt informieren, wenn Sie eine schwere Reaktion auf ein Penicillin- oder Cephalosporin-Antibiotikum gezeigt haben.

• Wenn Sie Probleme mit der Funktionsweise Ihrer Nieren haben.

• 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.)

• Wenn Sie andere Arzneimittel einnehmen oder verwenden. Dazu gehören alle Arzneimittel, die Sie einnehmen und die rezeptfrei erhältlich sind, sowie pflanzliche und ergänzende Arzneimittel.

How to take cefixime

• 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.

Das Beste aus Ihrer Behandlung herausholen

• Manche Menschen entwickeln nach der Einnahme von Antibiotika Soor (Rötung und Juckreiz im Mund oder in der Vagina). Wenn Sie denken, dass Sie Soor haben, fragen Sie Ihren Arzt oder Apotheker um Rat.

• Wenn Sie eine orale kombinierte hormonelle Empfängnisverhütung (die "Pille") anwenden, werden bei Übelkeit (Erbrechen) oder Durchfall, die länger als 24 Stunden andauern, vorübergehend zusätzliche empfängnisverhütende Maßnahmen wie Kondome empfohlen. Sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker, wenn Sie weiteren Rat brauchen.

• 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.

Can cefixime cause problems?

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.

Important: 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.

Wenn Sie andere Symptome haben, von denen Sie glauben, dass sie auf dieses Arzneimittel zurückzuführen sind, wenden Sie sich an Ihren Arzt oder Apotheker, um weiteren Rat zu erhalten.

How to store cefixime

• Bewahren Sie alle Arzneimittel außerhalb der Reichweite und Sichtweite von Kindern auf.

• An einem kühlen, trockenen Ort aufbewahren, vor direkter Hitze und Licht schützen.

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