Cefaclor

Description

Cefaclor is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections including skin infections, throat infections, respiratory infections, etc. This medicine is not recommended for use in case of a common cold, flu, or other viral infections since it is active against infections caused by certain bacterial species only. It is not recommended for use in patients less than 1 month of age.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Cefaclor

  • Diarrhea
  • Itching of skin
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Rash
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Cough

Uses of Cefaclor

What is it prescribed for?

  • Bronchitis
  • Otitis media
  • Pneumonia
  • Sinusitis
  • Skin or soft tissue infection
  • Tonsilitis/Pharyngitis
  • Urinary tract infections
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. If the medicine is used, the infant should be monitored closely for any undesirable side effects.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to cefaclor, any beta-lactam antibiotics, or any other inactive ingredients present along with this medicine.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. If the medicine is used, the infant should be monitored closely for any undesirable side effects.
General warnings

Kidney Diseases

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of an impaired kidney function due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of kidney function tests, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Clostridium difficile-associated Diarrhea

Antibiotic therapy will cause an imbalance in the normal microbial flora of the large intestine, which may promote the growth of a bacteria called Clostridium difficile and you may experience severe diarrhea as a result. Report any such incidence to the doctor on priority and avoid usage of this medicine in such cases.

Drug Resistance

Usage of this medicine without sufficient proof or suspicion of a bacterial infection should be avoided. Irrational dosing might fail in providing the benefits and even cause toxicity. It may also increase the risk of development of bacteria that are drug resistant.

Use in children and neonates

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients less than 1 month of age.

Driving or Operating Machinery

This medicine may cause symptoms such as blurred vision, tiredness, etc. in some patients. It is advised that you do not perform any activities that require high mental alertness such as driving a vehicle or operating machinery if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.

Missed Dose

The missed dose should be taken/administered as soon as possible. It is advisable to skip the missed dose if it is already time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Aluminium Hydroxide

Live cholera vaccine

Probenecid

Dicumarol

Chloramphenicol

Warfarin

Disease interactions

Renal Dysfunction

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from kidney diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Liver Disease

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of liver function tests, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Seizures

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from seizure disorder due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Gastrointestinal Diseases

This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients having a history of gastrointestinal diseases, particularly colitis, since it may worsen the patient's condition. Report any incidence of severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood in stools, etc. to the doctor immediately. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take this medicine with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Do not take/administer in larger or smaller amounts than advised/prescribed. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable side effects. Ensure that the treatment course is completed. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
This medicine works by interfering with certain processes that help the bacteria to grow and increase in number.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Second generation cephalosporins

Schedule

Schedule H

Cefaclor - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 27 July 2018]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00833

Cefaclor: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2018 [cited 27 July 2018]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682729.html

DailyMed - Cefaclor suspension [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 27 July 2018]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ac5e34a9-994b-4611-aa41-3d1ed58a91c0

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Information on this page was last updated on 1 Aug 2018

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.