Side effects are one of the major things a patient looks out for in a medication. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines an adverse effect as “an unexpected medical problem that happens during treatment with a drug or other therapy.” Unwanted effects can result from a physician’s advice and from medications or treatments, including complementary and alternative therapies. They can lead to complications.
Reports from clinical trials describe adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). SAEs include death, birth defects, complications that require hospitalization, or permanent damage.
Many Patients are frightened by potential side effects. They may have also experienced previous side effects with the same or similar medicine. Additionally, patients report not taking their medication because they may have witnessed side effects experienced by a friend or family member who was taking the same or similar medication. Seeing those side effects experienced by someone else may have led them to believe the medication caused those problems.
What is Cefdinir?
Cefdinir is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria. Cefdinir is used for the treatment of the following conditions:
- Bronchitis with bacterial infection
- Ear infection (otitis media)
- Pneumonia
- Sinus infections (sinusitis)
- Skin infections
- Throat and tonsil infections (strep throat, tonsillitis).
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Capsule
- Powder for Suspension
- Typical dosing for cefdinir.
Adults and adolescents age 13 years and older: The typical dose is 300 mg by mouth every 12 hours. For bronchitis with bacterial infection, throat or tonsil infection (strep throat, tonsillitis), or sinus infection (sinusitis), you can take 600 mg once daily instead.
Children age 6 months to 12 years old: Take 7 mg per kg of body weight every 12 hours by mouth. Children with an ear infection (otitis media), throat or tonsil infection (strep throat, tonsillitis), or sinus infection (sinusitis) can take 14 mg per kg of body weight once daily instead.
What are the possible side effects of cefdinir?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• seizure (convulsions);
• fever, weakness, confusion;
• dark colored urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• kidney problems –little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.
Common side effects may include:
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• headache; or
• rash (including diaper rash in an infant taking liquid cefdinir.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How Long Do Cefdinir Side Effects Last?
Antibiotics like Cefdinir can cause side effects, ranging from minor to severe to life-threatening. Side effects of Cefdinir may last for 2 to 3 days or throughout the duration of the treatment. How quickly you get better after Cefdinir treatment varies. It also depends on the type of infection you’re treating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 medication-related emergency room visits are due to antibiotic side effects.
Most digestive problems go away once a person stops taking the Cefdinir, however, it might take longer for people with impaired kidney function to eliminate the drug from the body. Persons with Cefdinir digestive side effects, such as bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, or uncontrollable vomiting, should stop taking their antibiotics and immediately contact a doctor.
