CEFIXIME oral

Therapeutic action

– Third-generation cephalosporin antibacterial

Indications

– Typhoid fever
– Acute cystitis in girls over 2 years, pregnant women and lactating women
– Acute pyelonephritis in adults
– Cervicitis and urethritis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae (in combination with a treatment for chlamydia)

Forms and strengths

– 200 mg tablet
– 100 mg/5 ml powder for oral suspension, to be reconstituted with filtered water

Dosage

– Typhoid fever
Child: 10 mg/kg 2 times daily (max. 400 mg daily)
Adult: 200 mg 2 times daily

– Acute cystitis in girls over 2 years
8 mg/kg once daily

– Acute cystitis in pregnant and lactating women, acute pyelonephritis in adult
200 mg 2 times daily

– Cervicitis and urethritis due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Child: 8 mg/kg single dose
Adult: 400 mg single dose

Duration

– Typhoid fever: 7 days; acute cystitis: 3 days for girls and 5 days for adults; acute pyelonephritis: 10 to 14 days

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

– Do not administer to patients with allergy to cephalosporins.
– Administer with caution to penicillin-allergic patients (cross-sensitivity may occur) and in patients with severe renal impairment (reduce dosage).
– May cause: gastrointestinal disturbances (especially diarrhoea), headache, dizziness, allergic reactions (rash, pruritus, fever). In the event of allergic reaction, stop treatment immediately.
– Pregnancy: no contra-indication
– Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

Remarks

– Cefixime is also used in the second-line treatment of shigellosis (child: 8 mg/kg once daily; adult: 400 mg once daily) for 5 days.
– Also comes in 400 mg capsules.
–  Storage: below 25 °C -  - 
For the oral suspension (powder or reconstituted suspension): follow manufacturer’s instructions.