Cefuroxime
Unchecked
Cefuroxime (axetil oral, sodium IV)
Ceftin (oral), Zinacef (IV)
Experience
No personal reports yet
No clinical reports yet
Log in to add your own experience.
Problems
No problems yet. Be the first to suggest one.
+ Add a problemTitration strategies
No titration strategies yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Effects
No effects listed yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Relevant anecdote
No anecdotes yet. Share a relevant one.
Relevant Literature
No literature entries yet.
Log in to submit relevant literature.
Summary
Common uses
Acute otitis media0, Acute bacterial sinusitis0, Streptococcal pharyngitis0, Community-acquired pneumonia (mild outpatient)0, Lyme disease (alternative to doxycycline)0, Uncomplicated gonorrhea (with azithromycin, historical; ceftriaxone now preferred)0
Pharmacy
Starting dose
250-500 mg PO BID × 7-14 days; IV 1.5 g q8h for serious infections
Preparations
125, 250, 500 mg tablets; 125 mg/5 mL, 250 mg/5 mL suspension; 750 mg, 1.5 g IV vials
US FDA Max
1 g/d (oral); 6 g/d (IV)
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral, IV, IM
Onset
Hours
Duration
8-12 hours
Half-life
~1.5 hours[1]
Bioavailability
~37% (oral, as axetil prodrug; food modestly improves absorption)[1]
Pregnancy
Generally considered safe in pregnancy.[citation needed]
Legal status
Rx-only in US
Purported mechanism
Cefuroxime axetil is a prodrug hydrolyzed by intestinal esterases to cefuroxime; like all β-lactams it binds penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and inhibits transpeptidation of peptidoglycan cross-links, producing bactericidal cell wall destabilization.0 Second-generation cephalosporin spectrum: improved gram-negative activity relative to first-generation cephalexin while retaining gram-positive activity and adding some β-lactamase stability. Cefuroxime crosses the blood-brain barrier sufficiently for Lyme disease but not reliably for bacterial meningitis (where third-generation agents are preferred)[1].
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 FDA Prescribing Information, Ceftin (cefuroxime axetil), GSK, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/050605s039lbl.pdf