Spectracef

Spectracef is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections of the lungs, airways, throat, and skin. Spectracef belongs to a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics, which work by stopping the growth of bacteria in the body.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken twice a day with food.

Common side effects of Spectracef include nausea, diarrhea, and headache.

Spectracef is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections of the lungs, airways, throat, and skin.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take Spectracef exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The Spectracef dose your doctor recommends will be based on:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your kidney function

The recommended dosing range for Spectracef in adults and young adults (age 12 and older) is 200 mg to 400 mg given twice daily. The dose may be decreased if you have a decrease in kidney function.

Serious side effects have been reported with Spectracef including:

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). This type of reaction may be serious and possibly fatal. These reactions are more likely to occur in those with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start to develop signs or symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • fainting
  • rash
• diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics, and it usually ends when the antibacterial is discontinued. Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as 2 or more months after having taken their last dose of the antibacterial. If diarrhea is severe or lasts more than 2 or 3 days, contact your doctor, as this may be a sign of an infection of the bowels.
• superinfection. Spectracef should not be used for extended periods. Prolonged use can lead to the growth of dangerous organisms that are resistant to Spectracef. Take this medication for the duration prescribed by your doctor.
• bleeding abnormalities. Your health care provider may want to monitor lab tests that show how well your blood is able to clot or that measure your tendency to bleed. Any abnormalities or irregularities that may occur may be more common in those with kidney dysfunction.

Do not take Spectracef if you:

• are allergic to Spectracef or any of its ingredients
• have a history of an allergic reaction to similar antibiotics (cephalosporins, penicillins)
• have a carnitine deficiency
• are allergic to milk proteins (this product contains sodium caseinate)

Common side effects of Spectracef include the following:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• headache
• stomach pain
• upset stomach
• vomiting

This is not a complete list of Spectracef side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Spectracef. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• probenecid (Probalan, Benemid)
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• antacids such as Mylanta, Gaviscon, and Maalox
• histamine 2 (H2) blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid)
• proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), and dexlansoprazole (Kapidex)

This is not a complete list of Spectracef drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Spectracef falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Spectracef. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Spectracef  has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Spectracef, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.