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Written By Bayyarapu Mahesh Kumar , M Pharmacy
Reviewed By Santoshini Reddy G , M Pharmacy
Last Updated Oct 11, 2024 | 2:35 PM IST
Altacef Suspension is used for treating a wide range of bacterial infections. It helps in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI), mild to moderate lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis), severe lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia), pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation due to the bacterial infection), uncomplicated gonorrhoea (sexually transmitted infection), Lyme disease (caused due to biting of infected black-legged tick insect) in adults and children above 12 years of age. It contains Cefuroxime, which kills a wide range of bacteria. It may cause common side effects like headache, dizziness, stomach upset, overgrowth of candida (fungal skin infection), unpleasant taste in the mouth, diaper rashes, and eosinophilia (increased disease-fighting cells WBCs). Before taking this medicine, you should tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of its components or if you are pregnant/breastfeeding, and about all the medications you are taking and pre-existing medical conditions.
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Composition

CEFUROXIME-125MG

Manufacturer/Marketer

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Consume Type

ORAL

Return Policy

Not Returnable

Expires on or after

Jan-27

for this medicine

About Altacef Suspension

Altacef Suspension belongs to the class of antibiotics known as cephalosporin, indicated for treating a wide range of bacterial infections. It helps in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI), Mild to moderate lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis), severe lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia), pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation due to the bacterial infection), uncomplicated gonorrhoea (sexually transmitted infection), Lyme disease (caused due to biting of infected black-legged tick insect) in adults and children above 12 years of age.

Altacef Suspension is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that kills a wide range of bacteria (bactericidal). It kills the bacterial cell by binding to the outer layer of the bacteria and blocking the activity of the enzyme that makes peptidoglycan (a vital component of the bacterial cell wall). As a result, the bacterial cell cannot grow and multiply and finally gets killed.

You should take Altacef Suspension only if your doctor has prescribed you. Altacef Suspension is available in various forms, such as oral tablets, dispersible tablets, and oral suspension. Most bacterial infections get treated within one week, while some conditions might take longer. So, it would be best if you tried to complete the dose your doctor prescribed for the specific bacterial infection. During the treatment with Altacef Suspension, you may observe some mild and transient nature of common side effects like headache, dizziness,  stomach upset, overgrowth of candida (fungal skin infection), unpleasant taste in the mouth, diaper rashes, and eosinophilia (increased disease-fighting cells WBCs). These side effects are usually in the initial phase and then resolved after some time. However, if these side effects persist, let your doctor know about them.

Overdosage of Altacef Suspension can cause brain problems (cerebral irritation with fits or convulsions attack). There is no clinical evidence of a Altacef Suspension effect on the mother or baby during pregnancy. However, one should take the Altacef Suspension with caution. Altacef Suspension is excreted in the breastmilk, so the nursing mother should cautiously take Altacef Suspension. This antibiotic may cause dizziness, so patients should be cautious while driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. Altacef Suspension is not recommended for people allergic or hypersensitive to Altacef Suspension, penicillin, or other beta-lactam antibiotics. In the initial stage of the treatment, you might have diarrhoea and abdominal cramps due to loss of gut flora (good intestinal/gut bacteria that aids digestion). So, the doctor may prescribe you prebiotics or probiotics to increase the number of gut flora. You can drink alcoholic beverages while taking amoxicillin, as it does not interact with Altacef Suspension. Liver and kidney-affected people should take this medication with caution.

Uses of Altacef Suspension

Treatment of Bacterial infections

Medicinal Benefits

Altacef Suspension treats a wide range of bacterial infections caused due to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It helps treat respiratory tract infections, ear infections, skin infections, genitourinary infections, and bone infections. Besides this, Altacef Suspension also prevents in spreading of the infection after surgery and in the early treatment of Lyme disease caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) in adults and children over the age of 12 years. The usual course of Altacef Suspension is seven days (5-10 days). But, your doctor might prescribe you Altacef Suspension for a longer duration depending on the condition of infection. Altacef Suspension has excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus para influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia, S. pyrogens, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Directions for Use

Swallow the medicine as a whole with water; do not crush, break or chew it.

Storage

Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Side Effects of Altacef Suspension

  • Headache

  • Dizziness
  • Stomach upset
  • Overgrowth of candida (fungal skin infection)
  • Unpleasant taste in the mouth
  • Diaper rashes
  • Eosinophilia (increased disease-fighting cells/WBC) 

Drug Warnings

Special care should be taken by the people taking Altacef Suspension who have allergic reactions to penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics. Use with other antibiotics may lead to a fungal skin infection known as Candida. Prolonged use of Altacef Suspension may also cause an overgrowth of other pathogens (like enterococci and Clostridium difficile), which can be prevented by stopping Altacef Suspension. The case of colitis (inflammatory bowel disease) has been reported using Altacef Suspension. Hence, it is important to consider the proper diagnosis of the patients who developed diarrhoea after taking Altacef Suspension. If the symptom of diarrhoea persists for a longer duration, the patient may experience abdominal cramps. In this situation, you should discontinue the intake of Altacef Suspension immediately. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (caused due to toxins released by the death of bacteria within the body during antibiotic treatment) has been seen in the patients taking Altacef Suspension for the treatment of Lyme disease. Your ability to perform tasks that require judgment, cognitive, or body movement may be affected, and you may have dizziness. So patients taking Altacef Suspension should be warned to be cautious when driving or operating machinery.

Drug Interactions

Drug-Drug Interactions: You should avoid taking Altacef Suspension with oral birth control pills, medicines that reduce gastric acidity (like antacids, omeprazole), immuno-suppressing drugs (mycophenolate or mycophenolic acid), medicines used for reducing uric acid (probenecid), and some urine glucose tests. Besides this, it also interacts with typhoid and BCG vaccines.

Drug-Food Interactions: Grapefruit juice and dietary supplements containing minerals like calcium may also work to dampen the effect of antibiotics.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Altacef Suspension should not be given in the condition of colitis, kidney disease, patient planning for ferricyanide tests, patient on dialysis, liver disease, epilepsy (fits) and diarrhoea.

Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List

  • OMEPRAZOLE
  • PROBENECID
  • MYCOPHENOLIC ACID

Habit Forming

No

Diet & Lifestyle Advise

  • It would be best to take probiotics after taking the full course of Altacef Suspension to restore some of the healthy bacteria in the intestine that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like yoghurt, cheese, sauerkraut and kimchi can help restore the intestine's good bacteria.

  • Include more fibre-enriched food in your diet, as it can be easily digested by gut bacteria which helps stimulate their growth. Thus fibre foods may help restore healthy gut bacteria after taking a course of antibiotics. Whole grains like whole-grain bread, and brown rice, should be included in your diet.

  • Avoid taking too much calcium enriched foods and drinks as it might affect the working of Altacef Suspension.

  • Avoid intake of alcoholic beverages with Altacef Suspension as it can make you dehydrated and affect your sleep. This can make it harder for your body to aid the Altacef Suspension in fighting off infections.

Disease/Condition Glossary

A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria enter, multiply and infect our body. It can target any body part and multiple very quickly. When you get infected with bacteria, you can experience generalized symptoms like fevers, chills, and fatigue. Bacteria are of various forms comprising commonly spherical, rod, and spiral-shaped. Bacterial infections vary from minor illnesses like sore throat and ear infections to severe brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis. Few harmful bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli. Anyone can become infected with a bacterial infection. But, people with weak immune systems or taking immunosuppressive medicine can make you more prone to bacterial infection.

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Alcohol

Unsafe

You are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Altacef Suspension.

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Pregnancy

Safe if prescribed

Altacef Suspension is a pregnancy category B drug. So, Altacef Suspension can be safely taken by pregnant women if prescribed by the doctor.

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Breast Feeding

Safe if prescribed

Altacef Suspension is excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.

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Driving

Caution

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, as this medicine may cause dizziness, patients should be warned to be cautious when driving or operating machinery.

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Liver

Caution

Consult your doctor, there is no substantial research yet on the use of Altacef Suspension

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Kidney

Caution

Consult your doctor, there is no substantial research yet on the use of Altacef Suspension

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Children

Safe if prescribed

Altacef Suspension can be given safely to children provided dose has been prescribed by a child specialist. However, There is no clinical evidences of using Altacef Suspension in children under the age of 3 months.

Country of origin

India

Manufacturer/Marketer address

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, B/2, Mahalaxmi Chambers, 22, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai – 400 026.
Other Info - ALT0002

Author Details

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FAQs

Altacef Suspension is used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. It helps in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTI), mild to moderate lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis), severe lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia), pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation due to the bacterial infection), uncomplicated gonorrhoea (sexually transmitted infection), Lyme disease (caused due to biting of infected black-legged tick insect).
Altacef Suspension is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that kills a wide range of bacteria (bactericidal). It kills the bacterial cell by binding to the outer layer of the bacteria and blocking the activity of the enzyme that makes peptidoglycan (a vital component of the bacterial cell wall). As a result, the bacterial cell cannot grow and multiply and finally gets killed.
No, it is a prescribed drug, given by a physician for preventing specific medical conditions. Taking it on your own can cause unwanted side-effects.
You should avoid taking Altacef Suspension with oral birth control pills, medicines that reduces gastric acidity (like antacids, omeprazole), immuno suppressing drugs (mycophenolate or mycophenolic), medicines used for reducing uric acid (probenecid), and some urinary glucose tests. Besides this, it also interacts with thyphoid and BCG vaccines.
Depending upon the severity of your medical condition your doctor may prescribe it to you daily for a specific duration. The usual dose ofAltacef Suspension is 7 days (5-10 days), but depending on your current infection state your doctor may extend your dose intake for more days.
Try to stay well hydrated by drinking at least 6 glass of water or other fluid per day. Keep your underwear clean and try to use underwear made of cotton to avoid the spread of infection. Always keep your bladder empty as much possible by peeing regularly. Your doctor may prescribe cranberry juice with antibiotics to treat urinary tract infection.
After taking an antibiotic you may need to wait for up to three hours for eating or drinking any dairy products include milk as well as butter, yoghurt, and cheese. Grapefruit juice and dietary supplements containing minerals like calcium may also work dampen the effect of antibiotics.
If you have taken accidently over dosage of Altacef Suspension, you may have diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting. In rare cases it can also cause convulsion or seizures (fits). Try to reach out to doctor in this case.
No. Altacef Suspension treats only bacterial infection. Cough, flu or cold are usually caused due to the viruses. So, you should consult doctor for these conditions.
Yes. Altacef Suspension may interact with birth control pills and lowers its efficiency. So, you should tell your doctor if your are using any birth control pills.
No. You should complete the full course of Altacef Suspension as your doctor prescribes. After completing the full course, the Altacef Suspension will work. You must take Altacef Suspension at the right dose, times, and for the right number of days.
Altacef Suspension might be a safer alternative if you are allergic to amoxicillin. However, please consult the doctor before starting Altacef Suspension.
Altacef Suspension helps treat respiratory tract infections, ear infections, skin infections, genitourinary infections, and bone infections.
Altacef Suspension may cause dizziness in some cases. Therefore, drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Do not discontinue Altacef Suspension without consulting the doctor. To treat your infection effectively, continue taking Altacef Suspension for the prescribed duration even though you feel better.
If you miss a dose of Altacef Suspension take it as soon as you remember, However, if it is almost time for the scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time.
Altacef Suspension may interact with other medications. Consult the doctor if you are taking oral birth control pills, antacids, immuno-suppressing drugs, or medicines used for reducing uric acid.
Avoid alcohol consumption as it might lower the effectiveness of Altacef Suspension.
Altacef Suspension can be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women if prescribed by the doctor. Please consult the doctor if you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Side effects of Altacef Suspension include headache, dizziness, stomach upset, overgrowth of candida (fungal skin infection), and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Consult the doctor if the side effects persist or worsen.

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