Spectracef (Cefditoren Pivoxil) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 9, 2012

Spectracef

Impetigo »

What is impetigo? What causes impetigo?

Impetigo (pronounced im-puh-TIE-go) is a contagious, superficial infection of the skin caused by staphylococcus (Staph) and streptococcus (Strep) bacteria. Impetigo is more common in children (especially 2- to 5-year-olds) than in adults. Impetigo is most likely to occur in warm and humid environments and is most commonly spread by close contact (such as family members).

What are the types of impetigo, and what are impetigo symptoms and signs? What does impetigo look like?

There are two kinds of impetigo:

Non-bullous impetigo: This is the common form, caused by both Staph and Strep bacteria. This form initially presents as small red papules similar to insect bites. These lesions rapidly evolve to small blisters and then to pustules that finally scab over with a characteristic honey-colored crust. This entire process takes about one week. These lesions often st...

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SPECTRACEF®
(cefditoren pivoxil) Tablets 200 and 400 mg.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of SPECTRACEF® (cefditoren pivoxil) and other antibacterial drugs, SPECTRACEF® (cefditoren pivoxil) should be used only to tr eat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

SPECTRACEF® (cefditoren pivoxil) tablets contain cefditoren pivox il, a semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic for oral administration. It is a prodrug which is hydrolyzed by esterases during absorption, and the drug is distributed in the circulating blood as active cefditoren.

Chemically, cefditoren pivoxil is (-)-(6R,7R)-2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethyl 7-[(Z)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyiminoacetamido]-3-[(Z)-2-(4-methylthiazol-5-yl)ethenyl]-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate. The empirical formula is C₂₅H₂₈N₆O₇S₃ and the molecular weight is 620.73. The structural formula of cefditoren pivoxil is shown below:

SPECTRACEF®(cefditoren pivoxil) Structural Formula Illustration

The amorphous form of cefditoren pivoxil developed for clinical use is a light yellow powder. It is freely soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid and soluble at levels equal to 6.06 mg/mL in ethanol and < 0.1 mg/mL in water.

SPECTRACEF® (cefditoren pivoxil) tablets contain 200 mg or 400 mg of cefditoren as cefditoren pivoxil and the following inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, D-mannitol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, sodium caseinate (a milk protein), and sodium tripolyphosphate. The tablet coating contains carnauba wax, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, and titanium dioxide. Tablets are printed with ink containing D&C Red No. 27, FD&C Blue No. 1, propylene glycol, and shellac.

What are the possible side effects of cefditoren (Spectracef)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
unusual bleeding;
seizure (convulsions);
pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

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What are the precautions when taking cefditoren pivoxil (Spectracef)?

Before taking cefditoren, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to penicillins or other cephalosporin antibiotics (e.g., cephalexin); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as milk protein), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: certain metabolic disorders (e.g., carnitine deficiency).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, decreased muscle mass, stomach/intestinal disease (e.g., colitis).

Kidney function declines as...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 8/7/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.