Medications and Drugs

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Pharmacy Author: Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD
Medical and Pharmacy Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD

GENERIC NAME: cefprozil

BRAND NAME: Cefzil

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Cefprozil is a semi-synthetic (partially man-made), oral antibiotic of the cephalosporin family. The cephalosporin family includes cephalexin (Keflex), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefuroxime (Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Vantin), cefixime (Suprax), and many other injectable antibiotics. Like other cephalosporins, cefprozil stops bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect bacteria from their environment and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall. Cefprozil is active against a very wide spectrum of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes (the cause of strep throat), Hemophilus influenzae (the cause of otitis media, middle ear infection), Moraxella catarrhalis, E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella, Shigella, Clostridium perfringens and difficile, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The FDA approved Cefprozil in December 1991.

PRESCRIPTION: Yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 250 and 500 mg; Powder for suspension: 125 and 250 mg/5 ml.

STORAGE: Tablets should be kept at room temperature, 15 to 30 C (59 to 86 F). The unmixed powder should be kept at room temperature, 15 to 25 C (59 to 77 F), refrigerated after mixing, and discarded after 14 days.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Cefprozil is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), skin and soft tissues as well as pneumonia.

DOSING: Cefprozil is taken once or twice daily, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. The recommended adult dose is 250-500 mg twice daily for 10 days. Some infections may be treated with 500 mg once daily.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Probenecid (Benemid) may increase the blood concentration of cefprozil by decreasing excretion of cefprozil by the kidney. This interaction is sometimes used to enhance the effect of cephalosporins.

Combining cefprozil with aminoglycosides (for example, tobramycin) produces additive bacterial killing effects but also may increase the risk of harmful effects to the kidney.

Exenatide (Byetta) may delay or reduce the absorption of cephalosporins. Cephalosporins should be administered one hour before exenatide.

Cefprozil may cause false test results with some tests for sugar in the urine.

PREGNANCY: There are no adequate studies of cefprozil in pregnant women. However, studies in animals suggest no important effects on the fetus.

NURSING MOTHERS: Small amounts of cefprozil are secreted in breast milk, but the effect on the infant is unknown.

SIDE EFFECTS: Cefprozil is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are diarrhea or loose stools, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, rash and headache. Rare side effects include abnormal liver tests and allergic reactions. Like most antibiotics cefprozil may cause a condition called pseudomembranous colitis, a potentially serious bacterial infection of the colon. Persons with phenylketonuria should be advised that the suspension contains phenylalanine.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information