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03072.txt
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1994-01-17
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$Unique_ID{BRK03072}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{cephradine}
$Subject{Anspor Smith Kline French Velosef Apothecon Cephalosporin antibiotic
cephradine bacterial infections middle ear prostate skin upper lower
respiratory tract urinary injuring cell walls bacteria}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Velosef 250 mg*0307201.scf
Velosef 500 mg*0307202.scf}
Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
cephradine
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
Anspor (Smith Kline & French)
cephradine (various manufacturers)
Velosef (Apothecon)
TYPE OF DRUG
Cephalosporin antibiotic
INGREDIENT
cephradine
DOSAGE FORMS
Capsules (250 mg and 500 mg)
Oral suspension (125 mg and 250 mg per 5-ml spoonful)
STORAGE
Cephradine capsules should be stored at room temperature in tightly
closed containers. The oral suspension form of this drug should be stored in
the refrigerator in a tightly closed container. Any unused portion of the
oral suspension should be discarded after 14 days because the drug loses its
potency after that time. This medication should never be frozen.
USES
This medication is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections,
including those of the middle ear, prostate, skin, upper and lower respiratory
tract, and urinary tract. This drug acts by severely injuring the cell walls
of the infecting bacteria, thereby preventing them from growing and
multiplying. Cephradine kills susceptible bacteria, but it is not effective
against viruses, parasites, or fungi.
TREATMENT
You can take cephradine either on an empty stomach or, in order to avoid
an upset stomach, with food or milk.
The contents of the suspension form of cephradine tend to settle on the
bottom of the bottle; it is important to shake the container well to
distribute the ingredients evenly and equalize the doses. Each dose should
then be measured carefully with a specially designed 5-ml measuring spoon or
with the dropper provided. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not accurate
enough, and often kitchen teaspoons vary in size.
Cephalosporin antibiotics work best when the level of medicine in your
bloodstream is kept constant. It is best, therefore, to take the doses at
evenly spaced intervals day and night. For example, if you are to take four
doses a day, the doses should be spaced six hours apart.
If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose immediately.
However, if you do not remember to take the missed dose until it is almost
time for your next dose, take it and space the following dose halfway through
the regular interval between doses; then return to your regular dosing
schedule. It is important that you try not to skip any doses of this
medication.
It is important to continue to take this medication for the entire time
prescribed by your doctor (usually seven to 14 days), even if the symptoms
disappear before the end of that period. If you stop taking this drug too
soon, resistant bacteria are given a chance to continue growing, and the
infection could recur.
SIDE EFFECTS
Minor.
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, headache, heartburn, loss
of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as your
body adjusts to the medication.
If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a
sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs.
Major.
Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
darkened tongue, difficulty in breathing, fever, itching, joint pain, rash,
rectal or vaginal itching, severe diarrhea (which can be watery, or contain
pus or blood), sore mouth, stomach cramps, tingling in the hands or feet, or
unusual bleeding or bruising. Also, if your symptoms of infection seem to be
getting worse rather than improving, you should contact your doctor
immediately.
INTERACTIONS
Cephradine interacts with several other types of medications:
1. Probenecid can increase the blood concentrations and side effects of
this medication.
2. The side effects, especially effects on the kidneys, of furosemide,
bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, colistin, vancomycin, polymyxin B, and
aminoglycoside antibiotics can be increased by cephradine.
BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
taking, especially any of the medications that are listed above.
WARNINGS
* Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medication, especially to cephradine or other cephalosporin antibiotics
(such as cefamandole, cephalexin, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefazolin,
cefoperazone, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, cephalothin, cephapirin, cefoxitin,
cefuroxime, and moxalactam) or to penicillin antibiotics.
* Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had kidney
disease.
* This medication has been prescribed for your current infection only.
Another infection later on, or one that someone else has, may require a
different medicine. You should not give your medication to other people or
use it for other infections, unless your doctor specifically directs you to do
so.
* Diabetics taking cephradine should know that this drug can cause a
false-positive sugar reaction with a Clinitest urine glucose test. To avoid
this problem while taking cephradine, you should switch to Clinistix or
Tes-Tape.
* Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although the
cephalosporin antibiotics appear to be safe during pregnancy, extensive
studies in humans have not been conducted. Also, tell your doctor if you are
breast-feeding. Small amounts of this medication pass into breast milk and
may alter the bacterial balance in the intestinal tract of the nursing infant,
resulting in diarrhea.
----------------
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.