Cefpodoxime Proxetil

Last Reviewed: Nov 07, 2024

Warnings

Cefpodoxime Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Cefpodoxime can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options if you are at a greater risk of adverse effects from this antibiotic.

SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Rarely, cefpodoxime can cause a severe acute allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis (throat closing). Stop taking cefpodoxime and seek emergency medical care if you develop a skin rash, hives, itching, swelling anywhere in the body, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE-ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA: All antibiotics, including cefpodoxime, can cause a severe intestinal condition called Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). This can cause diarrhea ranging in severity from mild diarrhea to potentially fatal colitis. Colectomy (surgical removal of parts of the large intestine) may be necessary to treat diarrhea associated with antibiotic therapy. This condition develops due to changes in the gut microbiome after treatment with antibiotics, which allow the overgrowth of a bacteria called C. difficile that produces toxins that cause CDAD. Symptoms of CDAD can occur up to 2 months or more after finishing antibiotic treatment. Seek emergency medical attention for severe watery or bloody diarrhea with or without fever and stomach cramps.
DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA: Cefpodoxime and other antibiotics cannot treat viral infections such as the common cold or flu. Using antibiotics when they are not needed or using them for prolonged or repeated periods can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This can make bacterial infections harder to treat in the future. Take cefpodoxime exactly as prescribed by your healthcare professional. Do not change the dose, dosing frequency, or treatment duration without your provider’s approval. Do not share your antibiotic with others or take someone else’s antibiotic.

Precautions Before Starting Cefpodoxime

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to cefpodoxime, any of the active or inactive ingredients in cefpodoxime tablets or liquid suspension, other cephalosporins, penicillins, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients. Examples of other cephalosporin antibiotics include cephalexin (Keflex), cefadroxil, cefaclor, cefazolin (Kefzol, Ancef), cefditoren (Spectracef), cefdinir, cefepime (Maxipime), cefotaxime (Claforan), cefixime (Suprax), cefotetan, cefprozil, cefoxitin (Mefoxin), ceftaroline (Teflaro), ceftriaxone (Rocephin), ceftibuten (Cedax), ceftazidime (Tazicef, Fortaz, in Avycaz), and cefuroxime (Zinacef).

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of all the medications you are on, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Cefpodoxime may not be safe for people with a medical condition such as a history of colitis (inflammation of the large intestine), other gastrointestinal conditions, or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant soon, or are breast-feeding. This drug passes into breast milk.

Precautions During Use of Cefpodoxime

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while taking cefpodoxime. Your healthcare provider may want to order certain lab tests to check if your infection has cleared.

Do not take the liquid suspension of cefpodoxime if you have a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU). The liquid form of the medicine contains aspartame which is converted to phenylalanine in the body.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on cefpodoxime.

Tell all your doctors you are on cefpodoxime before any surgery, including dental procedures. Also, give lab personnel a list of your current medications as some medicines can cause false test results.

Cefpodoxime Drug Interactions

Certain drugs can affect how cefpodoxime works. Possible interactions with other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Cefpodoxime can have interactions with the following medicines:

Antacids (Mylanta, Maalox, others)
Proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers (stomach acid reducers) such as cimetidine, famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), ranitidine (Zantac)
Other antibiotics such as colistimethate (Coly-Mycin M), gentamicin, neomycin (Neo-Fradin), kanamycin, polymyxin B, vancomycin (Vancocin), streptomycin, and tobramycin
Diuretics or water pills
Gout medications such as probenecid (Probalan)

The above list may not describe all the potential interactions of cefpodoxime. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

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