Antibiotic / Antimicrobial

Prescription: Yes

Generic Available: Yes

Preparations: Tablets: 400 mg. Suspension: 100 and 200 mg/5 ml.

Storage: Tablets and oral suspension may be stored at room temperature, 20 to 25 c (68 to 77 f), in a tightly closed container. Suspension may be refrigerated or stored at room temperature after mixing.

Prescribed For: Cefixime is effective for infections of the middle ear (otitis media), tonsillitis, throat infections (pharyngitis), laryngitis, bronchitis, andpneumonia caused by susceptible bacteria. It also is used for treating urinary tract infections and gonorrhea as well as acute bacterial bronchitis in patients withchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd).

Dosing: The recommended adult dose is 400 mg once daily.

Drug Interactions: Probenecid (benemid) may increase the blood concentration of cefixime by decreasing removal of cefixime by the kidney. This interaction sometimes is used to enhance the effect of cephalosporins.

Combining cefixime with aminoglycosides [for example, tobramycin (tobradex) produces additive bacterial killing effects but also may increase the risk of harmful effects to the kidney.

Exenatide (byetta) may delay or reduce the absorption of cephalosporins. Cephalosporins should be administered one hour before exenatide.

Cefixime may cause a false positive urine ketone test.

Pregnancy: Safety in pregnancy has not been established for cefixime. There are no adequate studies in pregnant women; however, studies in animals suggest no important effects on the fetus.

Prescription: Yes

Preparations: Tablets: 250, 500, and 750 mg; oral solution: 25 mg/ml; injection: 5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml.

Storage: Levofloxacin should be stored between 15-30 c (59-86 f)

Prescribed For: Levofloxacin is used to treat infections of the sinuses, skin, lungs, ears, airways, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria. Levofloxacin also is frequently used to treat urinary infections, including those resistant to other antibiotics, as well as prostatitis (infection of the prostate). Levofloxacin is effective in treating infectious diarrhea caused by e. Coli,campylobacter jejuni, and shigella bacteria. Levofloxacin also can be used to treat various obstetric infections, including mastitis (infection of the breast).

Dosing: The usual dose is 250-750 mg given once daily for 5-60 days depending on the type of infection. It is important to take oral formulations at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after any antacid or mineral supplement containing iron, calcium, zinc, or magnesium since these bind levofloxacin and prevent its absorption into the body.

Drug Interactions: Iron, calcium, zinc, or magnesium can attach to levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones and prevent their absorption from the intestine into the blood. Therefore, products (for example, antacids) that contain iron, calcium, zinc or magnesium should be taken at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after levofloxacin. Other drugs that contain these minerals and can similarly interact with levofloxacin include sucralfate (carafate) and didanosine (videx, videx ec).

Taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (nsaids) with levofloxacin may increase the risk of cns stimulation, resulting in over-excitation. There have been reports of changes in blood sugar (increases and decreases) in patients treated with fluoroquinolones and antidiabetic agents. Fluoroquinolones may increase blood levels of theophylline (theodur), cyclosporine (sandimmune, neoral), and the effect of warfarin (coumadin).

Pregnancy: Levofloxacin is not recommended for use in pregnant women since levofloxacin causes joint and bone deformities in juvenile animals of several species.

• High penetration in body compartments
• Wide spectrum of activities
• High clinical success rate
• Excellent safety profile

• Respiratory tract infections
• ENT infections
• Genito-urinary infections
• Skin and soft tissue infection

• FDA approved drug for the bacterial infections in HIV patients and pregnant ladies
• First line treatment for uncomplicated urethral, cervical & rectal chlamydial infections
• More active against gram +ve & -ve organisms than erythromycin or Clarithromycin
• High efficacy rates in most severe infections

• Pharyngitis
• Tonsilitis
• Skin & Soft tissue infections