Cefuroxime (Systemic)

Brand Names : Zinacef

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cefuroxime, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cefuroxime. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to any of the cephalosporins, cephamycins, penicillins, penicillin-like medicines, or penicillamine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Cefuroxime has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have not shown that cefuroxime causes problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Cefuroxime passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in the elderly and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cefuroxime, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as
  Amikacin (e.g., Amikin) or
  Gentamicin (e.g., Apogen) or
  Neomycin (e.g., Mycifradin) - may result in increased chance of serious side effects

• Diuretics, potent such as
  Furosemide (e.g., Lasix) - may cause higher blood levels of cefuroxime and result in increased side effects

• Probenecid (e.g., Benemid) - will cause higher blood levels of cefuroxime; sometimes your doctor may wish you to take these two drug together to increase the effects of cefuroxime.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cefuroxime. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Colitis, history of or
• Gastrointestinal disease, history of - cefuroxime may make these worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Poor nutritional status - these may be worsened by cefuroxime and you may need to have vitamin K

• Kidney problems, temporary or permanent - these may effect how much cefuroxime is in your body, reducing your dose might be needed.