Cefadroxil is a widely prescribed cephalosporin antibiotic; it can be procured from drugstores as well as online pharmacies. This drug is available in various forms; as a syrup (or a liquid form), tablets / pills and capsules. The typical dosage plan is once every day; however, in case of severe stages of infections, dosages are enhanced to twice each day. No two people are prescribed the same dosage plan; your plan is based on severity of your clinical condition, body weight, age and medical conditions, if any. But, what are the adverse drug interactions of cefadroxil? It is a wise thing to know more about this.
The main function of cefadroxil is to prevent the progression of bacterial strands and stop infections. It belongs to a category called broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. This is because of their ability to work against a fairly large spectrum of infectious conditions. However, cefadroxil is not used in the treatment of infections caused by fungi or viruses. Hence, those with viral attacks and related symptoms like tremors, shakes, a sore throat or runny nose must talk to their caregiver for effective medications.
It is important to know that cefadroxil is not an over the counter med; it is hence highly recommended to take this med under needful supervision and guidance of a qualified medical practitioner. It is mainly used for people who have are allergic to penicillin-based antibiotics / drugs, and also have heart problems / cardiac ailments such as abnormal heartbeats, erratic pulse rates, extended QT cycles, etc. This med is known to be effective against infections of your skin, nose, oral organs as well as urinary tract.
Adverse drug interactions of cefadroxil
Drugs that are more likely to interact with cefadroxil include vaccines used for typhoid, cholera, etc. So, prior to taking shots of such vaccines, it is important to tell your treating doctor if vaccines are administered onto you in the recent past. Those who are taking other types of antibiotics must share needful details about such medications with your caregiver. It is generally considered a good practice to compile a list of all drugs you currently consume. As you are compiling this list, ensure to add prescription meds, over the counter drugs, proteins, vitamins, dietary aids as well as herbal meds. Once you have given this list to your treating physician, never make changes to it without the consent of the caregiving team.
If you are taking warfarin or other blood thinning drugs, your pharmacist and physician must know of the dosage strength, duration of medication plan and frequency of intake. Those who took blood thinning meds (like warfarin or Coumadin) along with cefadroxil experienced internal bruising as well as bleeding. Last but not least, this cephalosporin antibiotic med can distort the test results, especially by working with reagents used for testing urine samples of people living with diabetes mellitus. So, if you are opting for lab tests, it becomes essential to tell the personnel at the lab about intake of cefadroxil.
Key chemicals present in cefadroxil are known to work in a swift fashion. Owing to their accelerated way of working, it is more likely to witness a quick relief from infectious conditions. Such quicker relief is not a permanent one though; people who stopped taking this drug based on the first signs of relief saw a relapse of infections. It is hence a safe practice to continue taking this med till your doctor tells you to discontinue.
Those who are taking drugs for intestinal problems such as ulcers or inflammation of large intestine i.e., colon, are advised not to take this antibiotic med. It becomes important to share inputs on prior medical problems with your treating physician. Those with problems such as dyspepsia or indigestion are prescribed to take cefadroxil along with a meal. Also, if you have kidney related ailments or renal conditions, it is highly recommended to keep away from cefadroxil and other such antibiotics belonging to the cephalosporin subcategory.
Cefadroxil for breastfeeding women as well as women who are pregnant
Women who are nursing a newly born baby must know that key ingredients of cefadroxil may get into mother’s milk. Infants who are fed with chemicals-laden breastmilk may develop symptoms such as feeding difficulties, crying frequently and sleep related disorders. Another important safety measure is – this drug is not suitable for pregnant women. As the impact on your fetus is not fully assessed, your physician is unlikely to prescribe it during pregnancy. Owing to such risks, you are advised to keep your caregiving team informed of your pregnancy. On the other hand, women aiming to get pregnant are recommended to use contraceptives of the non-hormonal type; you may talk to your doctor and choose from a wide range of birth control options. The most commonly used contraceptive measures are vaginal rings, patches on skin, etc.
Accidental overdose of cefadroxil
A few people have tried taking cefadroxil at an enhanced strength without telling their physician. It is harmful to take such boosted doses without the consent of your treating doctor. In this light, if you are experiencing an overdosed condition, a few acute allergies or severe side effects may show up. These include seizures, convulsions, epileptic fits, loss of coordination or fainting and breathing conditions including slowdown of respiratory cycles. In all such instances, consult with your doctor as quickly as you possibly can.
If you notice swelling of oral parts, erratic heartbeats or passing out, call 911 if you are living in US. You may also reach out to the helplines of the food and drug administration (FDA) and take needful medical support on an urgent mode. On the other hand, users in Canada who took an overdose are advised to swiftly reach out to Health Canada or establish contact with a poison control unit on an emergency basis.
In sum, cefadroxil is used for stopping bacterial strands from progressing further. It is categorised under a genre called broad-spectrum, cephalosporin antibiotics. This med however has limited / no bandwidth to treat fungal or viral infections. It may interact adversely with other forms of antibiotics, blood thinning drugs such as warfarin, vaccine shots administered for typhoid, cholera, etc. It may also lead to distorted test results by interacting with reagents used for testing urine samples, especially sample of people with erratic blood sugar levels. In order to know more about possible adverse drug interactions, it is a good practice to talk to your doctor and / or pharmacist.