Cefpodoxime can be used to treat:  

• infection of the middle ear   
• sinus infection  
• throat infection  
• infection causing sudden worsening of long-standing bronchitis  
• serious lung infections (pneumonia) acquired outside of hospital  
•  infections in the urinary tract 
• Infection of skin and soft tissue.

Your doctor will decide the right dose of Cefpodoxime and will tell you how long to take your medicine. The number of Cefpodoxime tablets you need to take will depend on your condition. Follow your doctor’s instructions exactly and never change the dose yourself. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about how much medicine to take or when to take it.

Usual dose for adults:

The usual adult dosage is Cefpodoxime 200mg-400mg in divided dose. If your doctor has prescribed one dose a day, it should be taken every 24 hours. If your doctor has prescribed two doses a day, each dose should be taken every 12 hours (you may find it convenient to take one dose in the morning and the other in the evening). The medicine should always be taken at the same time each day.  

Elderly:

For elderly patients, the doses are the same as adults provided the kidney functions are normal.  

Patients with kidney problems:

The dosage of cefpodoxime does not require modification if creatinine clearance exceeds 40 ml/min. Below this value, pharmacokinetic studies indicate an increase in plasma elimination half-life and the maximum plasma concentrations, and hence the dosage should be adjusted appropriately.

There are insufficient data regarding the use of Cefpodoxime in children and adolescents with kidney problems. Cefpodoxime is therefore not recommended for use in these patients.

Hepatic Impairment:

The dosage does not require modification in cases of hepatic impairment.  

Pediatric population:

Pediatric formulation of cefpodoxime is available for infants and children.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. 

• Cephalosporins potentially enhance the anticoagulant effect of coumarins and reduce the contraceptive effect of oestrogens.

Like all medicines, Cefpodoxime can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. 

The following side effects are important and will require immediate action if you experience them. You should stop taking Cefpodoxime and see your doctor immediately if the following symptoms occur:  

Rare side effects (affect less than 1 in 1,000 patients) include:  

• If severe or persistent diarrhoea during or after therapy thought to be Pseudomembranous enterocolitis (rare in children)

Very rare side effects (affect less than 1 in 10,000 patients) include:  

• blood disorders (thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, decreased haemoglobin values)
• bullous skin reactions
• an increase of uremic substance (creatinine and urea) in serum

The following side-effects have also been reported:  

Common side effects (affect less than 1 in 10 patients) include:  

• Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating or diarrhoea. Bloody diarrhoea may occur as a symptom of enterocolitis.
• Allergic reactions have been observed, mostly in the form of skin lesions with or without itching

Uncommon side effects (affect less than 1 in 100 patients) include:  

• Haemolytic anaemia    
• Headache, tinnitus, paresthesias and dizziness   
• Asthenia, fatigue and discomfort (malaise).
• Elevation of liver enzymes

Do not take Cefpodoxime if you:   

• Are allergic (hypersensitive) to Cefpodoxime or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine.
• An allergic reaction may include rash, itching, difficulty in breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue. 
• Are allergic (hypersensitive) to any other Cephalosporin type of antibiotic.     
• Ever had a severe allergic reaction to Penicillin antibiotic or to any other beta-lactam type of antibiotic.  

Warning and Precautions:

Before you take Cefpodoxime you should tell your doctor if you:      

• Are allergic to Penicillin antibiotics or to any other beta-lactam type of antibiotics. Not all people who are allergic to Penicillins are also allergic to Cephalosporins. However, you should take special care if you ever had an allergic reaction to any Penicillin. This is because you might also be allergic to this medicine.  

In patients who develop severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis (serious allergic reaction which causes difficulty in breathing or dizziness) after administration of Cefpodoxime, the medicine should be withdrawn and appropriate treatments should be given. 

• Have ever been told that your kidneys do not work very well. Also, if you are taking any sort of treatment (like dialysis) for kidney failure. You may take Cefpodoxime but you may need a lower dose.         
• Have severe or persistent diarrhea that may be bloody and that may be associated with stomach pain or  cramps: these symptoms may occur during or shortly after treatment and signal a rare, but potentially life  threatening adverse reaction. Stop taking Cefpodoxime and contact your doctor immediately. Medicines which may slow or stop bowel movements must not be taken. 

As with other antibiotics, prolonged use of cefpodoxime may result in the overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms (candida and Clostridium difficile), which may require interruption of treatment.

Effect on laboratory tests:

• A false positive reaction for glucose in the urine may occur with Benedict’s or Fehling’s solutions or with copper sulphate test tablets, but not with tests based on enzymatic glucose oxidase reactions.
•  Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Taking Cefpodoxime with food and drink: Cefpodoxime may be taken with or without food. You should swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.  

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you are pregnant, likely to become pregnant or breast- feeding, you must tell your doctor before taking this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.  

Driving and using machines:  Cefpodoxime do not usually affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, if you feel light-headed or dizzy, do not drive or operate machinery.