Cephradine Description

Generic Name: CEPHRADINE

Pronunciation: (sef' ra deen)

Trade Name(s): Anspor, Velosef

Why it is prescribed: Cephradine, an antibiotic, eliminates bacteria that cause different kinds of infections, including pneumonia and infections of the ear, urinary tract, and skin.

When it is to be taken: Cephradine is usually taken every six hours or every 12 hours for seven to ten days. Doses should be taken at evenly spaced intervals. For examples, if you are to take this drug four times a day, take a dose very six hours. However, if you cannot take the drug around the clock, take it at evenly spaced intervals between the time you wake up in the morning and the time you go to bed at night (e.g., at 7 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., and 10 p.m.). If you are to take cephradine every 12 hours, pick times that are easy for you to remember and that will not interfere with meals. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully.

How it should be taken: Cephradine comes in the form of capsules and liquid to be taken orally. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. It is best to take cephradine on an empty stomach. Therefore, try to take it one hour before meals or at least two hours after meals. Capsules should be taken with a full glass of water. Liquid cephradine should be shaken well before each use to mix the medication evenly. Liquid doses should be measured with a specially marked measuring spoon. If you still have symptoms after you finish the cephradine, contact your doctor.

Special Instruction:
1. Take all of the medication prescribed, even after the infection appears to have gone away. Failure to do so could allow the infection to return.
2. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. Take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals.

Side Effects:
1. Vomiting. Take the medication with a light snack.
2. Diarrhea. If it is severe or continues for more than two days, contact your doctor.
3. Skin rash, shortness of breath, itching, hives. Stop taking the drug and contact your doctor immediately.
4. Unusual bleeding, bruising, painful mouth, throat sores. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions:
1. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to penicillin, cephalosporins or any other medication; if you have kidney disease; or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
2. If you are taking medication for gout, such as probenecid, tell your doctor before taking cephradine.
3. If your doctor tells you to stop taking cephradine, throw away any unused medication.
4. Cephradine may lose its effectiveness over time and should not be saved to treat another infection.
5. Cephradine may cause false positive results in tests for sugar in the urine.

Storage Conditions:
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of the reach of children.
2. Store liquid cephradine in the refrigerator but not in the freezer.
3. The container will have an expiry date on it. Do not take the liquid cephradine after that date. Throw the medication away and if you need more, get a new supply.
4. Store capsules at room temperature.