Cefpodoxime Proxetil 50 mg / 5ml
Cefpodoxime proxetil (Vantin, Banan) is an oral antibiotic prescription drug in the cephalosporin family of antibiotics.
The cephalosporin family includes:
- Cephalexin (Keflex)
- Cefaclor (Ceclor)
- Cefuroxime (Zinacef)
- Cefprozil (Cefzil)
- Many injectable forms
Cefpodoxime proxetil is converted to cefpodoxime, its active form, in the body. Like other cephalosporins, cefpodoxime stops bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together; most bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall. Cefpodoxime is active against a wide spectrum of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes (the cause of strep throat), Streptococcus agalactiae, Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Uses
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Cefpodoxime is effective for the medical treatment of these infections.
- Middle ear (otitis media)
- Tonsillitis
- Throat (pharyngitis)
- Laryngitis
- Sinusitis
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin structure or skin infections caused by susceptible bacteria
It also is used for the treatment of gonorrhea as well as acute and chronic bronchitis (bacterial) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cefpodoxime proxetil side effects
Side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Skin rash
- Diaper rash
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Allergic reactions
- Vaginitis
- Vaginal infections
- Itching
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
Cefpodoxime should be avoided by patients who are allergic to cephalosporin type antibiotics. Since this drug is chemically related to penicillin, some patients allergic to penicillin also may have an allergic reaction (sometimes even life-threatening anaphylaxis) to cefpodoxime.
Possible serious side effects.
Like other antibiotics, cefpodoxime may cause a condition called pseudomembranous colitis, a potentially serious bacterial infection of the colon caused by a bacterium called Clostridium difficile (C. difficile colitis). Patients who develop this type of colitis as a result of antibiotic treatment can have signs and symptoms of:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Shock