Cefuroxime
Cefuroxime tablets in 250mg and 500mg strengths, a cephalosporin antibiotic used for chest, urinary tract and skin infections, available in packs of 12 to 92.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250mg | 12 tablets | $64.56 | $5.38 |
| 250mg | 24 tablets | $92.64 | $3.86 |
| 250mg | 32 tablets | $137.60 | $4.30 |
| 250mg | 60 tablets | $232.80 | $3.88 |
| 250mg | 92 tablets | $321.08 | $3.49 |
| 500mg | 12 tablets | $110.52 | $9.21 |
| 500mg | 24 tablets | $176.88 | $7.37 |
| 500mg | 36 tablets | $262.08 | $7.28 |
- Category
- Antibiotics
- Active ingredient
- Cefuroxime
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet, Suspension
- Strengths
- 250/500mg
You will receive a quality generic, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Bacterial infections
- Therapeutic Class
- Cephalosporin
- Pharmacological Class
- Beta-lactam Antibiotic
- Minor Side Effects
- Diarrhoea, Nausea
- Moderate Side Effects
- Skin rash, Headache
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet, Suspension
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- GSK
- Onset Time
- 30–60 minutes
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store in a cool place; keep liquid form refrigerated.
- Drug Interactions
- Probenecid, Antacids
- Age Restrictions
- Safe for children
What you will receive
Cefuroxime is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Cefuroxime.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
Which Cefuroxime strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Cefuroxime tablets come in 250mg and 500mg, with packs of 12 to 92 tablets. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
What happens if a Cefuroxime parcel goes missing?
If a Cefuroxime parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free. If that is not possible, the order is refunded. This applies to Hong Kong deliveries.
What are the other names for cefuroxime?
Brand names for cefuroxime include Zinacef, Ceftin, Ceftum, Xorimax and Zinnat. Cefuroxime tablets are a pure generic cefuroxime product and are not any of those brands.
How long does cefuroxime take to work?
Expect to feel better after two or three days, although a chest infection may take longer. The full course runs 5 to 20 days, while gonorrhoea needs just one tablet. Symptoms fading does not mean the infection has gone, so the remaining tablets still matter.
Can I drink alcohol with cefuroxime?
Alcohol does not interfere with cefuroxime, so a drink now and then will not stop the antibiotic working. Some people find that drinking makes the nausea or stomach upset worse while they are unwell. Heavy drinking is best left until the infection has cleared.
What if I forget a dose of cefuroxime?
Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember it, as long as the next one is not due within a few hours. If the next dose is nearly due, leave the missed one out and carry on with your usual morning and evening routine. Taking two tablets at once to catch up is not a good idea.
What is the difference between cefuroxime axetil and cefuroxime sodium?
Cefuroxime axetil is the oral version: the body converts it into cefuroxime once the tablet is swallowed. Cefuroxime sodium is the injectable form, given into a vein or muscle in hospital when a high dose is needed quickly. Both deliver the same active antibiotic.
Is cefuroxime the same as cephalexin?
Both are cephalosporins, so they work in the same broad way, but they are not the same antibiotic. Cephalexin is a first-generation cephalosporin taken at more frequent intervals, while cefuroxime is second-generation and suits a twice-daily routine. Which one is used depends on the bacteria behind the infection.
About Cefuroxime
Infections these tablets clear
Cefuroxime is an antibiotic from the cephalosporin family. It stops bacteria from finishing the outer wall that holds each cell together, so they cannot multiply and the infection fades. It is used for chest infections, sinus, ear and throat infections, urinary tract infections and skin infections. Lyme disease, picked up from a tick bite, is treated with it too, and so is gonorrhoea — that one clears with a single tablet. Viruses are a different story, so a cold or flu will not improve.
Taking a tablet twice a day
Take one tablet at breakfast time and another at the end of the day, 250mg or 500mg depending on the strength you ordered. Most infections need between 5 and 20 days of this. Gonorrhoea is the one exception, treated with a single dose. Water is all you need to get the tablet down, and it should not be chewed because of the bitter taste. Meals do not matter. Symptoms often vanish before the pack does, and the last tablets are still worth taking, since the bacteria that survive a short course can multiply again.
Side effects to watch for
Feeling sick, being sick and looser stools than usual are the complaints that come up most, and they tend to settle as the course goes on. A severe allergic reaction needs emergency care: hives, a rash that spreads, wheezing, breathing or swallowing that becomes difficult, or swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat. Diarrhoea that turns bloody or watery, or stomach cramps with a fever, also needs fast attention, whether it starts while you are taking the tablets or within two months of finishing them.
Strengths, packs and other medicines
Both strengths are stocked: 250mg and 500mg, in packs of 12 to 92 tablets. The strength you order follows the dose the infection needs, and the twice-daily pattern is the same either way. Antacids made with magnesium or aluminium reduce how much cefuroxime gets into the bloodstream, so keep an antacid at least a couple of hours away from your tablet. Heartburn medicines such as cimetidine, famotidine, omeprazole and ranitidine can interfere in much the same way. Store the pack closed, somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, and use the tablets before the date on it.
Sources
- Cefuroxime: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- CDC - Antibiotic Use — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention