Prescription medication · Third-Generation Cephalosporin
cefpodoxime
Also sold as Vantin. Cefpodoxime treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 1
- InteractionFew interactions
- $1.08
- Generic price (NADAC)
cefpodoxime (Vantin) is a prescription Third-Generation Cephalosporin. Cefpodoxime treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria.
Cefpodoxime is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporins.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.08/unit
Generic Available
Yes (4 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: CEFPODOXIME 100 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -2.7% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 19, 2024 | $1.11/EA | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $1.08/EA | -2.7% | 8 |
What it does
Cefpodoxime treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vaginal fungal infections
Key warnings
You should not take cefpodoxime if you are allergic to cefpodoxime or other cephalosporin antibiotics.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from cefpodoxime's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Cefpodoxime works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It prevents bacteria from forming the cell walls they need to survive. This kills the bacteria and helps your body fight off the infection.
Serious Warnings
You should not take cefpodoxime if you are allergic to cefpodoxime or other cephalosporin antibiotics.
Known Drug Interactions
Probenecid As with other beta-lactam antibiotics, renal excretion of cefpodoxime was inhibited by probenecid and resulted in an approximately 31% increase in AUC and 20% increase in peak cefpodoxime plasma levels.
Mechanism: Probenecid slows down how fast your kidneys remove cefpodoxime from your body, leading to higher drug levels in your system.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take cefpodoxime if I'm allergic to penicillin?
Can I drink alcohol while taking cefpodoxime?
Does cefpodoxime interact with other medications?
What should I do if I have severe diarrhea while taking cefpodoxime?
How long does it take for cefpodoxime to work?
Can I crush or chew cefpodoxime tablets?
What if I feel better before I finish all the cefpodoxime?
Can cefpodoxime cause a yeast infection?
Is cefpodoxime safe for children?
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to cefpodoxime?
What are the common side effects of cefpodoxime?
Does cefpodoxime interact with other medications?
What drug class is cefpodoxime?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for cefpodoxime?
Related Medications in Third-Generation Cephalosporin
Other drugs grouped near cefpodoxime - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with cefpodoxime →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with cefpodoxime →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with cefpodoxime →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with cefpodoxime →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with cefpodoxime →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for cefpodoxime
The FDA label for cefpodoxime (sold under brand names such as Vantin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Third-Generation Cephalosporin class. Cefpodoxime treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Vaginal fungal infections.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.08.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: June 19, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages