Zinnat Special Precautions

Special care is indicated in patients who have experienced an allergic reaction to penicillins or other beta-lactams.
As with other antibiotics, use of cefuroxime (as axetil) (Zinnat) may result in the overgrowth of Candida. Prolonged use may also result in the overgrowth of other non-susceptible organisms (e.g. enterococci and Clostridium difficile), which may require interruption of treatment.
Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with the use of antibiotics and may range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider its diagnosis in patients who develop diarrhoea during or after antibiotic use. If prolonged or significant diarrhoea occurs or the patient experiences abdominal cramps, treatment should be discontinued immediately and the patient investigated further.
The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction+ has been seen following cefuroxime (as axetil) (Zinnat) treatment of Lyme disease. It results directly from the bactericidal activity of cefuroxime (as axetil) (Zinnat) on the causative organism of Lyme disease, the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi. Patients should be reassured that this is a common and usually self-limiting consequence of antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease.
With a sequential therapy regime the timing of change to oral therapy is determined by severity of the infection, clinical status of the patient and susceptibility of the pathogens involved. If there is no clinical improvement within 72 hours, then the parenteral course of treatment must be continued.
Refer to the relevant prescribing information for cefuroxime sodium before initiating sequential therapy.
Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines: As this medicine may cause dizziness, patients should be warned to be cautious when driving or operating machinery.