Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Vantin

Descriptions

Cefpodoxime is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It belongs to the class of medicines known as cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Powder for Suspension
• Tablet

Before Using

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 this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefpodoxime in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in infants younger than 2 months of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of cefpodoxime in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving cefpodoxime.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

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 this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Cimetidine
• Famotidine
• Nizatidine
• Probenecid
• Ranitidine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

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

• Colitis (inflammation in gut), history of or
• Diarrhea, severe, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. Effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

You or your child must take the tablets with food, while the oral liquid may be taken with or without food.

Shake the oral liquid well before each use. Measure the medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Keep using this medicine for the full treatment time, even if you or your child feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (suspension or tablets):
  • For bronchitis:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For ear infections:
    • Infants and children 2 months to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours.
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For gonorrhea:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) taken as a single dose.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For pneumonia:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For sinusitis:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—200 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    • Infants and children 2 months to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours.
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For skin infections:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—400 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For sore throat and tonsillitis:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    • Infants and children 2 months to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every 12 hours.
    • Infants younger than 2 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For urinary tract infections:
    • Adults and teenagers 12 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the tablets in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Store the oral liquid in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medicine after 14 days.

Precautions

If your symptoms or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Cefpodoxime may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. Do not take any medicine or give medicine to your child to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Before you or your child have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

1. Diarrhea
2. loose stools

Less common

1. Change in the color, amount, or odor of vaginal discharge

Rare

1. Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness
2. black, tarry stools
3. bladder pain
4. bleeding gums
5. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
6. bloody nose
7. bloody or cloudy urine
8. blurred vision
9. burning while urinating
10. chest pain
11. collection of blood under the skin
12. confusion
13. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
14. cough or hoarseness
15. cough producing mucus
16. dark urine
17. decreased urination
18. decreased urine output
19. deep, dark purple bruise
20. diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
21. difficult or labored breathing
22. difficult, burning, or painful urination
23. difficulty with breathing or troubled breathing
24. dilated neck veins
25. dizziness
26. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
27. dry mouth
28. extreme fatigue
29. fainting
30. fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
31. feeling of warmth or heat
32. fever or chills
33. flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
34. frequent urge to urinate
35. general body swelling
36. headache
37. hearing loss
38. heavier menstrual periods
39. increase in heart rate
40. increased thirst
41. increased urge to urinate during the night
42. increased weight
43. irregular breathing
44. irregular heartbeat
45. itching of the vagina or genital area
46. itching, pain, redness, or swelling
47. loss of appetite
48. lower back or side pain
49. nausea or vomiting
50. nervousness
51. noisy breathing
52. nosebleeds
53. pain
54. pain during sexual intercourse
55. pain or swelling of the treated skin
56. pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
57. pain, warmth, or burning in the fingers, toes, and legs
58. pale skin
59. pinpoint red spots on the skin
60. pounding in the ears
61. problems with vision or hearing
62. rapid breathing
63. rapid weight gain
64. runny nose
65. shortness of breath or troubled breathing
66. skin rash
67. slow or fast heartbeat
68. sneezing
69. sore throat
70. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
71. stuffy or runny nose
72. sunken eyes
73. sweating
74. swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
75. swelling or puffiness of the face
76. swollen glands
77. thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
78. thirst
79. tightness of the chest or wheezing
80. tingling of the hands or feet
81. troubled breathing
82. troubled breathing with exertion
83. unusual bleeding or bruising
84. unusual tiredness or weakness
85. unusual weight gain or loss
86. waking to urinate at night
87. weight gain
88. wheezing
89. wrinkled skin
90. yellowing of the eyes or skin

Incidence not known

1. Abdominal or stomach pain
2. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
3. bloody, black, or tarry stools
4. clay-colored stools
5. feeling of discomfort
6. fever with or without chills
7. general feeling of tiredness or weakness
8. high fever
9. inflammation of the joints
10. irritation or inflammation of the eyelid
11. itching
12. joint or muscle pain
13. muscle aches
14. rectal bleeding
15. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
16. red, irritated eyes
17. seizures
18. sudden decrease in the amount of urine
19. swollen lymph glands
20. swollen or painful glands
21. unpleasant breath odor
22. vomiting of blood

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

1. Accumulation of pus
2. acid or sour stomach
3. ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain
4. bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
5. belching
6. blemishes on the skin
7. bloated or full feeling
8. burning feeling in the chest or stomach
9. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
10. change in taste
11. constipation
12. cracks in the skin
13. decreased appetite
14. difficulty with moving
15. dry skin
16. excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
17. fear or nervousness
18. feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
19. frequent urge to defecate
20. general feeling of discomfort or illness
21. hair loss
22. headache, severe and throbbing
23. heartburn
24. hives or welts
25. increase in body movements
26. increased sweating
27. increased thirst
28. indigestion
29. irritation or soreness of the mouth
30. joint stiffness or swelling
31. lack or loss of strength
32. loss of heat from the body
33. lower back or side pain
34. muscle aching or cramping
35. muscle pains or stiffness
36. passing of gas
37. peeling of the skin
38. pimples
39. poor concentration
40. pressure in the stomach
41. red, sore eyes
42. red, swollen skin
43. redness of the skin
44. scaly skin
45. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
46. sensation of spinning
47. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
48. sleeplessness
49. sore mouth or tongue
50. soreness or redness around the fingernails and toenails
51. stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
52. stomach upset
53. straining while passing stool
54. swelling of the abdominal or stomach area
55. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
56. swollen, red, or tender area of infection
57. trouble with sleeping
58. unable to sleep
59. white patches in the mouth, tongue, or throat

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cefpodoxime-oral-route/before-using/drg-20073381