Cefuroxime Stada 250 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

Cefuroxime STADA 250 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Read the entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only, and you should not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it may harm them.
• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if they are adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet contents

1. What Cefuroxime STADA is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before taking Cefuroxime STADA
3. How to take Cefuroxime STADA
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Cefuroxime STADA
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Cefuroxima Stada is and what it is used for

Cefuroxime is an antibiotic used in both adults and children. It works by killing the bacteria that cause infections. It belongs to a group of medicines called cephalosporins.

Cefuroxime is used to treat infections of:

• the throat
• the sinuses
• the middle ear
• the lungs or chest
• the urinary tract
• the skin and soft tissues.

Cefuroxime may also be used to:

• treat Lyme disease (an infection transmitted by ticks).

2. What you need to know before starting to take Cefuroxima Stada

Do not take Cefuroxima Stada:

• If you are allergic to cefuroxime, to cephalosporins, or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have ever had a severe allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction to any other type of beta-lactam antibiotic (penicillins, monobactams, and carbapenems).
• If you think this applies to you, do not take cefuroxime until you have consulted your doctor.
• If you have ever developed a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blisters and/or mouth ulcers after treatment with cefuroxime or any other cephalosporin antibiotic.

Take special care with Cefuroxima Stada

Severe skin reactions have been reported, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), associated with cefuroxime treatment. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms related to these severe skin reactions described in section 4.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Cefuroxima Stada.

Cefuroxime is not recommended for children under 3 months of age, as safety and efficacy are unknown in this age group.

You should be alert for certain symptoms such as allergic reactions, fungal infections (such as Candida), and severe diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis) while taking cefuroxime.

This will reduce the risk of possible complications. See “Symptoms to be aware of” in section 4.

If you need blood tests

Cefuroxime may affect blood test results for blood sugar levels or the Coombs test. If you need a blood test:

• Inform the person performing the test that you are taking cefuroxime.

Other medicines and Cefuroxima Stada

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines.

Medicines used to reduce stomach acidity (e.g. antacids for treating heartburn) may affect the mechanism of action of cefuroxime.

Probenecid

Oral anticoagulants

• Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medicine of this type.

Oral contraceptive pill

Cefuroxime may reduce the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill. If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill while on cefuroxime, you should also use barrier contraceptive methods (such as, for example, condoms). Consult your doctor.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

Your doctor will assess the benefit of treatment with cefuroxime against the risk to your child.

Driving and using machines

Cefuroxime may cause dizziness and other adverse effects that could impair your ability to remain alert.

• Do not drive or operate machinery if you do not feel well.

Cefuroxima Stada contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per tablet; therefore, it is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Cefuroxime Stada

Follow exactly the instructions for using this medicine as given by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Take Cefuroxime Stada after meals. This will help make the treatment more effective.

Swallow the cefuroxime tablets whole with water.

Do not chew, crush, or split the tablets —this may make the treatment less effective.

Usual dose

Adults

The recommended dose of cefuroxime is 250 mg to 500 mg twice daily, depending on the severity and type of infection.

Use in children and adolescents

The recommended dose of cefuroxime is 10 mg/kg body weight of the child (up to a maximum of 125 mg) to 15 mg/kg body weight of the child (up to a maximum of 250 mg) twice daily, depending on:

• the severity and type of infection

Cefuroxime is not recommended in children under 3 months of age, as the safety and efficacy in this patient group are unknown.

Depending on the illness and how you or your child responds to treatment, the initial dose may be adjusted or it may be necessary to administer more than one course of treatment.

Patients with kidney problems

If you have kidney problems, your doctor may adjust your dose.

• Consult your doctor if you are affected by this condition.

If you take more Cefuroxime Stada than you should

If you take too much cefuroxime, you may experience neurological disturbances, in particular you may have an increased risk of epileptic seizures (convulsions).

• Do not delay. Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. If possible, show them the Cefuroxime Stada packaging.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact the Toxicology Information Service at phone number 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken. It is recommended to bring the medicine's packaging and leaflet to the healthcare professional.

If you forget to take Cefuroxime Stada

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. Simply continue with the next dose as usual.

Do not stop treatment with Cefuroxime Stada without prior advice.

It is important that you complete the entire course of cefuroxime treatment. Do not stop unless instructed by your doctor, even if you start to feel better. If you do not complete the treatment course, the infection may recur.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Symptoms to watch for

A small number of people who took cefuroxime experienced an allergic reaction or a potentially serious skin reaction. Symptoms of these reactions include:

• Severe allergic reaction. Signs include skin rash with itching, swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth, causing difficulty breathing
• Skin rash, which may cause blisters, appearing as small targets (a dark spot in the center surrounded by a lighter area, with a dark ring around the edge)
• Widespread skin rash with blisters and peeling skin. (These may be symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• Fungal infections. Medicines like cefuroxime can cause increased growth of fungi (Candida) in the body, leading to fungal infections (such as thrush). This side effect is more likely if cefuroxime has been taken for a prolonged period
• Severe diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis). Medicines like cefuroxime can cause inflammation of the colon (large intestine), resulting in severe diarrhoea, usually accompanied by blood and mucus, stomach pain, and fever
• Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Some patients may experience an increase in body temperature (fever), chills, headache, muscle pain, and skin rash while taking cefuroxime to treat Lyme disease. This is known as Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Symptoms usually last from a few hours to one day.
• Generalised rash, high body temperature, and enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome or drug hypersensitivity syndrome).
• Chest pain in the context of allergic reactions, which may be a symptom of allergy-triggered heart attack (Kounis syndrome).
• Contact a doctor or nurse immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Common adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• fungal infection (such as Candida)
• headache
• dizziness
• diarrhoea
• nausea
• stomach pain.

Common adverse effects that may appear in blood tests:

• increased count of a type of white blood cells (eosinophilia)
• increased levels of liver enzymes.

Uncommon adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• vomiting
• skin rashes.

Uncommon adverse effects that may appear in blood tests:

• decreased number of platelets in the blood (cells that help blood to clot)
• decreased number of white blood cells
• positive Coombs test.

Other adverse effects

Other adverse effects have occurred in a very small number of people, but their exact frequency is unknown:

• severe diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis)
• allergic reactions
• skin rashes (which may be severe)
• high fever
• yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin
• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).

Adverse effects that may appear in blood tests:

• rapid destruction of red blood cells (haemolytic anaemia).

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is an effect not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly via the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Medicinal Products: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Cefuroxime Stada

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

No special storage conditions are required.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the container, after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Unused medicines and their containers should be handed over to the SIGRE point at your pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines and containers you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Cefuroxime Stada

• The active substance is cefuroxime. Each tablet contains 250 mg of cefuroxime (as cefuroxime axetil).
• The other components are: pregelatinized corn starch (corn starch), sodium croscarmellose, sodium lauryl sulfate, microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous colloidal silica, hydrogenated vegetable oil. The other components (excipients) of the film coating are: hypromellose E464, titanium dioxide E171, propylene glycol E1520, brilliant blue FCF E133, indigo carmine E132.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Light blue, biconvex, capsule-shaped film-coated tablets.

Each carton contains 10, 15 or 20 film-coated tablets.

Only certain pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Laboratorio STADA, S.L.

Frederic Mompou, 5

08960- Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)

Spain

[email protected]

Manufacturer:

Farmalider S.A.

C/Aragoneses, 2

28108 Alcobendas (Madrid)

Spain

or

Toll Manufacturing Services, S.L.

C/ Aragoneses, 2

28108 – Alcobendas (Madrid)

Spain

or

Laboratorios Atral, S.A.

Rua da Estação, 1 e 1A

2600 726 Castanheira do Ribatejo

Portugal

Date of the most recent revision of this package leaflet: February 2023

Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es