Treating Otitis Media, Pneumonia and Other Bacterial Infections

Cefixime is an anti-biotic. It belongs to the class of medication known as cephalosporin. It is helpful in treating a certain type of bacterial infection. It treats many bacterial infections like otitis media, pneumonia and much more.  It can treat only bacterial infection. It is not useful in the treatment of the viral infection like common cold, Flu or other viral infection. Cefixime is the effective and safe medicine needed in a health system. So it is there in the WHO’s list of essential medicine.

How Cefixime Work?

Cefixime belongs to the family of Cephalosporin. The mechanism of action is due to the inhibition of cell wall synthesis. It binds to the penicillin-binding protein (PBPs). PBPs inhibits the final step of the synthesis in the bacterial wall. It also arrests cell wall assembly of the bacterial cell. This results in the death of the bacterial cell. In the United States, It is a considered as a second-line treatment for gonorrhea. This works by killing bacteria.

What Are The Uses Of Cefixime?

Cefixime is an antibiotic and treats a wide range of bacterial infection. It includes the following infection.

• Ear- otitis infection
• Sinuses- sinusitis
• Throat- Tonsillitis, Pharyngitis, Strep throat
• Chest and lungs: – Bronchitis, Pneumonia
• Other infection: – Urinary tract infection, gonorrhea, Lyme disease

How To Take Cefixime?

Cefixime is available in the dosage of 100 mg and 200 mg. Recommended doses of cefixime is 200- 400 mg two times a day

-Adult and children older than 12 years: – 400 mg one time a day or 200 mg every 12 hours.

-Children 6 months to 12 years of age: – Dose depends on the body weight. It is 8 mg/kg of body weight per day as a single dose or divided into 2 doses.

-Children up to 6 months of age: – as prescribed by the Doctor.

In gonorrhea, only one dose is needed.

You should take a complete dose. Take only if required. Unnecessary use may lead to increased risk of bacterial infection later. This infection may be resistant to antibiotic treatment.

What Are The Precautions In Taking Cefixime?

Cefixime is necessary to take precaution under certain conditions. They are as discussed below:

The kidney disease patient may need a lower dose. Doctor may decide according to the patient condition.

• Allergy with food or dyes.
• If you are pregnant or plan to be pregnant.
• If are breastfeeding.
• An allergy to Cephalosporin or penicillin antibiotic.
• Inform your Doctor about the medication you take.
• Don’t take a BCG or live oral typhoid vaccine with cefixime. It may not work as well.
• It should be used with extreme caution in children under 6 months.
• Long-term or repeated use of Cefixime may cause the second infection.

COST OF CEFIXIME (GENERIC AND BRAND)

Both generic Cefixime and brand Suprax contain the same active ingredient. So, they show the same effect. Price differs due to the brand name of the company, packaging, and pricing. Bulk sources of raw material further reduce the rates of generic medicines. Many other cost-saving measures are also applied.

Cost of Generic Cefixime,

100 mg tablet- $ 0.95 per unit, the cost of a pack (10 tablets) is $ 19.

200 mg tablet is $ 1.6 per unit, the cost of a pack (10 tablets) is $ 32

Cost of Brand Suprax,

100 mg tablets- $ 22.19 per unit.

200 mg tablets – $ 42.61 per unit.