CapseraCephalosporin antibacterials
Compare the named medicines in this source-linked class directory.
Membership describes a named action or a component of a combination. A medicine may appear in several families. Medicines in one family are not automatically interchangeable; this is a study directory, not a prescribing guide.
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Generic names and pronunciation
| Cephalexin · sef-a-LEX-in |
| Cefdinir · SEF-di-neer |
| Cefuroxime · se-fyoor-OX-eem |
Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.
Body system and related classes
Body system: Infectious disease
How each medicine works
| Cephalexin — Disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis, producing a bactericidal effect against susceptible organisms. |
| Cefdinir — Cephalosporin (beta-lactam) antibacterial; inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. |
| Cefuroxime — Cephalosporin (beta-lactam) antibacterial. |
Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.
What each medicine is used for
| Cephalexin — Respiratory infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Otitis media caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Skin and skin-structure infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria; Bone or genitourinary infections caused by the specified susceptible bacteria |
| Cefdinir — Mild-to-moderate community-acquired pneumonia due to specified susceptible bacteria in adults and adolescents; Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis due to specified susceptible bacteria in adults and adolescents; Acute maxillary sinusitis due to specified susceptible bacteria; pediatric use is addressed in the source-specific dosing section; Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis or tonsillitis in the adult/adolescent and pediatric populations specified by the label |
| Cefuroxime — Mild-to-moderate streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by susceptible strains in adults and children aged 13 years and older; Acute bacterial otitis media caused by labeled susceptible organisms in children able to swallow tablets whole; Mild-to-moderate acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis caused by susceptible pneumococci or non-beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae in adults and children aged 13 years and older; Early Lyme disease (erythema migrans) from susceptible B. burgdorferi in adults and children aged 13 years and older |
Each list is the uses line from the medicine’s study card.
Telling these medicines apart
Medicines in this class: 3
Listed on more than one card in this class
Common side effects
Diarrhea · 3/3: Cephalexin, Cefdinir, Cefuroxime
Nausea · 2/3: Cephalexin, Cefdinir
Abdominal pain · 2/3: Cephalexin, Cefdinir
Warnings
C. difficile-associated diarrhea · 2/3: Cephalexin, Cefuroxime
Interactions
Probenecid · 3/3: Cephalexin, Cefdinir, Cefuroxime
Listed on only one card in this class
Cephalexin: Common side effects — Vomiting; Dyspepsia · Warnings — Serious hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions; Seizure potential · Interactions — Metformin
Cefdinir: Common side effects — Vaginal moniliasis; Headache · Warnings — Cephalosporin hypersensitivity is a contraindication; serious cross-allergic reactions can occur; C. difficile-associated diarrhea may progress to severe or fatal colitis · Interactions — Aluminum / magnesium antacids; Iron supplements
Cefuroxime: Common side effects — Nausea / vomiting; Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction; Vaginitis · Warnings — Anaphylaxis · Interactions — Drugs that reduce gastric acidity
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.