Drug without Prescription:
Cefdinir is a member of the family of antibiotics known as cephalosporins. It is used to treat mild to moderate infections, including:
Acute flare-ups of chronic bronchitis
Middle ear infections (otitis media)
Throat and tonsil infections (pharyngitis/tonsillitis)
Pneumonia
Sinus infections
Skin infections
Cefdinir, like other antibiotics, works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To maintain effective blood levels, be sure to take every dose on schedule.
No Prescription:
Cefdinir is a semi-synthetic (partially man-made) oral antibiotic in the cephalosporin family of antibiotics. The cephalosporin family includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefixime (Suprax), cefprozil and many injectable antibiotics. Like other cephalosporins cefdinir stops bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall. Cefdinir is active against a very wide spectrum of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes (the cause of strep throat); Hemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis; E. coli ; Klebsiella; and Proteus mirabilis. It is not active against Pseudomonas. Therapeutic uses of cefdinir include otitis media (infections of the middle ear), infections of soft tissues, and respiratory tract infections. It was approved by the FDA in December of 1997.
Prescription is used for:
Cefdinir is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the middle ear (otitis media), tonsils (tonsillitis ), throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia), and skin and other soft tissues.
Prescription Side Effects:
Abdominal pain;
Diarrhea;
Headache;
Loose stools;
Nausea;
Rash;
Vaginal infection;
Vomiting;
Prescription Form:
Capsules: 300 milligrams;
Oral suspension: 125 milligrams/5 milliliters,
Oral suspension: 250 milligrams/5 milliliters
Prescription Recommended Dosage:
ADULTS
For adults and adolescents 13 years and over, the maximum daily dose is 600 milligrams, regardless of the infection under treatment.
Flare-ups of Chronic Bronchitis
300 milligrams every 12 hours for 5 to 10 days or 600 milligrams once a day for 10 days.
Throat and Tonsil Infections
300 milligrams every 12 hours for 5 to 10 days or 600 milligrams once a day for 10 days.
Pneumonia
300 milligrams every 12 hours for 10 days.
Sinus Infections
300 milligrams every 12 hours or 600 milligrams once a day for 10 days.
Skin Infections
300 milligrams every 12 hours for 10 days.
CHILDREN
For children 6 months through 12 years old, the dose of Cefdinir Suspension is based on body weight. The suspension contains 125 milligrams per teaspoonful. Dosage should never exceed 600 milligrams daily.
Middle Ear Infections
7 milligrams per 2.2 pounds every 12 hours for 5 to 10 days or 14 milligrams per 2.2 pounds once a day for 10 days.
Throat and Tonsil Infections
7 milligrams per 2.2 pounds every 12 hours for 5 to 10 days or 14 milligrams per 2.2 pounds once a day for 10 days.
Sinus Infections
7 milligrams per 2.2 pounds every 12 hours or 14 milligrams per 2.2 pounds once a day for 10 days.
Skin Infections
7 milligrams per 2.2 pounds every 12 hours for 10 days.
If you have kidney problems, your doctor will lower the dosage.
Cefdinir is taken once or twice daily, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. The capsules or suspension can be taken with or without food. Patients with advanced renal disease may need to take lower doses to prevent accumulation of cefdinir since it is eliminated from the body by the kidneys.
For adult infections the usual dose is 300 milligrams every 12 hours or 600 milligrams per day for 5-10 days depending on the nature and severity of the infection. The recommended dose for children 6 months to 12 years of age is 7 milligrams/kg every 12 hours or 14 milligrams/kg per day for 5-10 days depending on the infection. For most infections once daily dosing is as effective as twice daily dosing, though once daily dosing has not been evaluated for the treatment of skin infections or pneumonia.
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