Ceftin Side Effects
Generic name: cefuroxime
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 13, 2023.
Note: This document provides detailed information about Ceftin.
For healthcare professionals
Applies to cefuroxime: injectable powder for injection, intravenous solution, oral powder for reconstitution, oral tablet Side Effects associated with cefuroxime. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Ceftin.
For healthcare professionals
Applies to cefuroxime: injectable powder for injection, intravenous solution, oral powder for reconstitution, oral tablet.
General
This drug was generally well tolerated. The side effects most commonly reported with the parenteral formulation have included neutropenia, eosinophilia, transient liver enzyme/bilirubin elevations, and injection site reactions. The side effects most commonly reported with the oral formulations have included Candida overgrowth, eosinophilia, headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbances, and transient liver enzyme elevations.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
- Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea/loose stools, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal cramps, flatulence, indigestion, mouth ulcers, swollen tongue, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal (GI) infection, ptyalism/excess salivation, GI disturbance, vomiting
- Frequency not reported: Abdominal discomfort, dry mouth, Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea
- Postmarketing reports: GI disturbances (including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), pseudomembranous colitis
Cephalosporin-class:
- Frequency not reported: Vomiting, abdominal pain, colitis[Ref]
The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms has been reported during or after antibacterial therapy.[Ref]
Hepatic
- Common (1% to 10%): Transient increase in AST, transient increase in ALT, transient increase in liver enzyme levels
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Transient increase in bilirubin
- Postmarketing reports: Hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis, cholestasis, jaundice (mainly cholestatic)
Cephalosporin-class:
- Frequency not reported: Hepatic dysfunction (including cholestasis)[Ref]
Nervous system
- Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sleepiness, somnolence, hyperactivity
- Postmarketing reports: Seizures, encephalopathy[Ref]
Cephalosporin-class antibiotics (including this drug) have been associated with seizures, especially in patients with renal dysfunction when the dose was not reduced.[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
- Common (1% to 10%): Delayed hypersensitivity reaction
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions (including rash, pruritus, urticaria)
- Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Severe hypersensitivity reactions
- Frequency not reported: Serum sickness
- Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis, serum sickness-like reaction[Ref]
Delayed hypersensitivity reaction to this drug has been reported in 2.9% of patients with history of delayed hypersensitivity to penicillin (but not a cephalosporin).
Rare cases of severe hypersensitivity reactions (including erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis [exanthematic necrolysis], drug fever, serum sickness-like reaction, anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) have been reported.[Ref]
Hematologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Eosinophilia, decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, neutropenia, decreased hemoglobin concentration
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Positive Coombs test, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
- Frequency not reported: Autoimmune granulocytopenia, increased coagulation time
- Postmarketing reports: Hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, increased prothrombin time
Cephalosporin-class:
- Frequency not reported: Aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, prolonged prothrombin time, pancytopenia, agranulocytosis, positive Coombs test[Ref]
Profound leukopenia has sometimes been profound with oral therapy.[Ref]
Renal
- Frequency not reported: Increased BUN, increased creatinine, decreased CrCl, acute renal failure
- Postmarketing reports: Renal dysfunction, interstitial nephritis (including reversible fever, azotemia, pyuria, eosinophilia)
Cephalosporin-class:
- Frequency not reported: Toxic nephropathy[Ref]
Acute renal failure has been reported. Renal function improved after this drug was stopped, and deteriorated upon rechallenge.[Ref]
Genitourinary
- Common (1% to 10%): Vaginitis
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vulvar itch, dysuria, vaginal candidiasis, vaginal discharge, vaginal itch, urethral pain/bleeding, kidney pain, urinary tract infection, vaginal irritation
Cephalosporin-class:
- Frequency not reported: Vaginitis (including vaginal candidiasis)[Ref]
Dermatologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Diaper/nappy rash
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash, urticaria/hives, pruritus, erythema
- Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis (exanthematic necrolysis), Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Frequency not reported: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
- Postmarketing reports: Angioedema/angioneurotic edema, urticaria, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, cutaneous vasculitis
Beta-lactam antibiotics:
- Frequency not reported: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms [DRESS], acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis)[Ref]
A case of occupational contact dermatitis due to cephalosporin allergy has been reported in a nurse who prepared cephalosporin solutions for administration to patients. The dermatitis resolved after the nurse stopped preparing the solutions.[Ref]
Metabolic
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anorexia
Cephalosporin-class:
- Frequency not reported: Urine glucose false positive[Ref]
Other
- Common (1% to 10%): Transient increase in LDH, transient increase in alkaline phosphatase, Candida overgrowth, dislike of taste
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest pain/tightness, chills, thirst, viral illness, candidiasis, fever
- Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Drug fever
- Frequency not reported: C difficile overgrowth, disulfiram reaction[Ref]
Respiratory
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Shortness of breath, sinusitis, cough, upper respiratory infection[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Muscle cramps, muscle stiffness, muscle spasm of the neck, lockjaw-type reaction, joint swelling, arthralgia[Ref]
Cardiovascular
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia
- Frequency not reported: Kounis syndrome type I variant
- Postmarketing reports: Acute myocardial ischemia (with or without myocardial infarction)[Ref]
A 90-year-old man, with no history of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia, was administered 750 mg cefuroxime axetil IM for urinary tract infection. About 10 minutes after the injection, the patient developed chest pain and pruritic skin rashes. Kounis syndrome type I variant was diagnosed secondary to the drug. Five days after stopping the drug, the patient's symptoms had resolved.
Acute myocardial ischemia (with or without myocardial infarction) has occurred as part of an allergic reaction.[Ref]
Local
- Common (1% to 10%): Injection site reactions (including pain, thrombophlebitis), thrombophlebitis with IV administration, phlebitis, transient pain at injection site
- Frequency not reported: Pain at IM injection site[Ref]
Immunologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction[Ref]
Psychiatric
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Irritable behavior
References
1. Bulpitt D, Potter CE, Jaderberg M (1991) "A large scale, general practice based investigation into the clinical efficacy and tolerability of cefuroxime axetil in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infect." Curr Med Res Opin, 12, p. 318-24
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4. Sommers D, Van Wyk M, Williams PE, Harding SM (1984) "Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of cefuroxime axetil in volunteers during repeated dosing." Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 25, p. 344-7
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13. Henry D, Ruoff GE, Rhudy J, Puopolo A, Drehobl M, Schoenberger J, Giguere G, Collins JJ (1995) "Clinical comparison of cefuroxime axetil and amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of patients with secondary bacterial infections of acute bronchitis." Clin Ther, 17, p. 861-74
14. Holloway KL, Smith KW, Wilberger JE, Jemsek JG, Giguere GC, Collins JJ (1996) "Antibiotic prophylaxis during clean neurosurgery: a large, multicenter study using cefuroxime." Clin Ther, 18, p. 84-94
15. Higuera F, Hidalgo H, Feris J, Giguere G, Collins JJ (1996) "Comparison of oral cefuroxime axetil and oral amoxycillin/clavulanate in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia." J Antimicrob Chemother, 37, p. 555-64
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17. Viken R, Van Arsdel PP (1991) "Allergy to cephalosporins." JAMA, 265, p. 2254
18. Filipe P, Almeida RSLS, Rodrigo FG (1996) "Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from cephalosporins." Contact Dermatitis, 34, p. 226
19. Romano A, Quaratino D, Venuti A, Venemalm L, Mayorga C, Blanca M (1998) "Selective type-1 hypersensitivity to cefuroxime." J Allergy Clin Immunol, 101, p. 564-5
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21. Romano A, Mayorga C, Torres MJ, Artesani MC, Suau R, Sanchez F, Perez E, Venuti A, Blanca M (2000) "Immediate allergic reactions to cephalosporins: Cross-reactivity and selective responses." J Allerg Clin Immunol, 106, p. 1177-83
22. Baniasadi S, Fahimi F, Mansouri D (2007) "Serum sickness-like reaction associated with cefuroxime and ceftriaxone." Ann Pharmacother, 41
23. Murphy MF, Metcalfe P, Grint PC, et al. (1985) "Cephalosporin-induced immune neutropenia." Br J Haematol, 59, p. 9-14
24. Malloy CA, Kiss JE, Challapalli M (2003) "Cefuroxime-induced immune hemolysis." J Pediatr, 143, p. 130-2
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Ceftin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.