cefuroxime
Brand names: Ceftin, Zinacef
Cefuroxime is an antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. It belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporins.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.26/unit
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Cefuroxime treats infections caused by bacteria.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Key warnings
Cefuroxime can cause severe allergic reactions.
How It Works
Cefuroxime 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.
How to Take It
Take cefuroxime tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush them, as they have a strong, bitter taste. Follow your doctor's directions for how much medicine to take and how often. Adults and children over 13 usually take 250-500mg every 12 hours for 7-20 days, depending on the infection.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Studies haven't shown harm to the baby, but talk to your doctor to be sure it is right for you. Cefuroxime passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about risks of breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store cefuroxime tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) in a closed container, away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,918 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 11,087 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
11,087
Death-Related Reports
1,324
Hospitalization Reports
5,229
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 738 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 662 |
| 3 | PNEUMONIA | 607 |
| 4 | PYREXIA | 591 |
| 5 | OFF LABEL USE | 585 |
| 6 | RENAL FAILURE | 581 |
| 7 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 573 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 573 |
| 9 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 561 |
| 10 | ANXIETY | 445 |
| 11 | FATIGUE | 438 |
| 12 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 436 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 433 |
| 14 | PAIN | 419 |
| 15 | RASH | 397 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Cefuroxime can cause severe allergic reactions. If you are allergic to penicillins or other beta-lactam antibiotics, you should not take this medicine. Diarrhea can occur with almost all antibiotics, including cefuroxime, and can be severe. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea while taking this medicine.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.1 ) Coadministration with probenecid increases systemic exposure to cefuroxime axetil and is therefore not recommended. 7.2 Probenecid Concomitant administration of probenecid with cefuroxime axetil tablets increases serum concentrations of cefuroxime [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Coadministration of probenecid with cefuroxime axetil is not recommended.
Mechanism: Probenecid slows down the kidneys from removing the antibiotic from your blood. This leads to higher levels of the antibiotic in your body.
What to do: Taking these two drugs together is not recommended. Your doctor will likely choose a different treatment plan.
Common Questions
Can I crush the tablet if I have trouble swallowing?
Can I take this with antacids?
What should I do if I get a rash while taking this?
Can this medicine affect my blood sugar?
How long should I take this medicine?
Can I drink alcohol while taking cefuroxime?
What if my symptoms don't improve?
Is it okay to share this medicine with someone else?
What if I accidentally take too much?
Can cefuroxime cause a yeast infection?
What are the common side effects of cefuroxime?
Does cefuroxime interact with other medications?
What drug class is cefuroxime?
Is cefuroxime safe during pregnancy?
Has cefuroxime been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.
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Related Medications in Second-Generation Cephalosporin
Other drugs grouped near cefuroxime — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with cefuroxime →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with cefuroxime →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with cefuroxime →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with cefuroxime →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with cefuroxime →
Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
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Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for cefuroxime
The FDA label for cefuroxime (sold under brand names such as Ceftin, Zinacef) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Second-Generation Cephalosporin class. Cefuroxime treats infections caused by bacteria. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,918 voluntary reports. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.26.
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 (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
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. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 16, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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