What Are the Side Effects and Usage Considerations of Cefixime?
The side effects of cefixime mainly manifest as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal reactions, respiratory system reactions, liver and kidney reactions, etc. Cefixime is a medication used to treat diseases caused by sensitive bacteria, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, and otitis media. It is a prescription drug that requires doctor's guidance for use, and there are many points to be noted. Side Effects of Cefixime:
1. Allergic reactions: Common symptoms include rash, urticaria, and erythema. Less common symptoms include itching, fever, edema, dyspnea, generalized flushing, angioneurotic edema, and anaphylactic shock.
2. Gastrointestinal reactions: Common symptoms include diarrhea and gastric discomfort. Less common symptoms include chest burning sensation, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, constipation, and stomatitis, oral candidiasis, and pseudomembranous colitis caused by flora imbalance.
3. Respiratory system: Less common symptoms include interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary eosinophilia with eosinophilia syndrome (PIE syndrome) accompanied by fever, cough, dyspnea, abnormal chest X-ray findings, and eosinophilia.
4. Hematological system: Commonly seen eosinophilia, less commonly seen neutropenia, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia.
5. Liver: Commonly seen elevations in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, less commonly seen jaundice.
6. Kidney: Less commonly seen increased urea nitrogen and acute renal insufficiency.
Precautions for Use of Cefixime:
1. The safety and effectiveness of cefixime in pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children under 6 months of age have not been established. Pregnant women should weigh the pros and cons before use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified cefixime as category B for pregnancy safety. Breastfeeding women should suspend breastfeeding when using cefixime.
2. The following patients should use cefixime with caution: ① patients with a history of penicillin allergy; ② patients and their immediate family members with allergic tendencies; ③ patients with renal insufficiency; ④ patients with difficulty swallowing or receiving nutrition non-orally, and patients with systemic cachexia (due to possible vitamin K deficiency); ⑤ patients with pseudomembranous colitis.
3. The treatment duration for suppurative streptococcal infection should be at least 10 days.
4. When using the same dose, the blood concentration of oral suspension is 25% to 50% higher than that of oral tablets. Patients with otitis media should be treated with suspension.
