Ceftin Side Effects [posted 10/29/98]
Question: Within 5 hours of taking the first tablet (250 mg), I became incontinent of bladder. This continued sporadically for the first 3 days. On the fourth day, I had a spell of urinating every 50 - 60 minutes, for about 6 hours. What does Ceftin do biochemically that causes this?

Answer: Shouldn't unless you were taking it for a bladder infection.

Ceftin Side Effects [posted 7/21/98]
Question: I am currently taking the antibiotic Ceftin for sinusitis. I am allergic to Penicillin. Would this antibiotic cause me to feel very dizzy and cause ear ringing?

Answer: Probably not the ear infection. There is about a 5-10% crossover of patients who are allergic to penicillin who will get allergic to ceftin and other drugs of its class (cephalosporins). However, the allergy is usually similar to the one seen with penicillin if/when it occurs.

Ceftin
Question: What are the potential allergic reactions to Ceftin?

Answer: Ceftin(cefuroxime axetil) is a semi-synthetic cephalosporin type antibiotic. These are structurally similar to penicillin, although there is only about a 5-10% cross reactivity in terms of allergy. Ceftin is very effective against gram negative organisms and has fairly good gram positive coverage. It differs from earlier generation cephalosporins in being better gram negative coverage at the cost of some gram positive coverage. It is also much more expensive than its earlier cephalosporin cousins. Allergies tend to be rashes and respiratory involvement. However, more severe reactions like Steven-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme and toxic epidermal necrosis have occurred (these mainly involve ulcers and loss of skin or mucosal membranes). Diarrhea and nausea are common side effects, but not allergies per se.

Ceftin and Birth Control
Question: I would like to know if the drug Ceftin, will it change the effectiveness of the birth control pill.

Answer: Only in a minor way; that is, by changing the bacteria in your gut and the potential absorption of the drug. Not likely, to be a problem.

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