KEFUROX

Who is Kefurox for ?

Your doctor has ordered cefuroxime, an antibiotic, to help treat your infection. The drug will be either injected into a large muscle (such as your buttock or hip) or added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for 30 minutes, two to four times a day. Cefuroxime eliminates bacteria that cause many kinds of infections, including lung, skin, bone, joint, stomach, blood, and urinary tract infections. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how your infection and symptoms respond to the medication.

How does it work?

Cefuroxime is an antibiotic used to treat infections caused by bacteria. It prevents bacteria from spreading by blocking the formation of the bacterial cell wall. This prevents the bacteria from reproducing.

When should I be careful taking Kefurox ?

Before administering cefuroxime,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cefuroxime, any other cephalosporin [e.g., cefaclor (Ceclor), cefadroxil (Duricef), or cephalexin (Keflex)], penicillins, or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other antibiotics, probenecid (Benemid), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney, liver, or gastrointestinal disease (especially colitis).
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cefuroxime, call your doctor.
• if you have diabetes and regularly check your urine for sugar, use Clinistix or TesTape. Do not use Clinitest tablets because cefuroxime may cause false positive results.

Side Effects

Although side effects from cefuroxime are not common, they can occur. If you are administering cefuroxime into a muscle, it may be mixed with lidocaine (Xylocaine) to reduce pain at the injection site. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• upset stomach
• vomiting

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your health care provider immediately:

• unusual bleeding or bruising
• difficulty breathing
• itching
• rash
• hives
• sore mouth or throat