Cefpodoxime proxetil (Vantin, Banan) is an oral antibiotic prescription drug in the cephalosporin family of antibiotics.

The cephalosporin family includes:

• Cephalexin (Keflex)
• Cefaclor (Ceclor)
• Cefuroxime (Zinacef)
• Cefprozil (Cefzil)
• Many injectable forms

Cefpodoxime proxetil is converted to cefpodoxime, its active form, in the body. Like other cephalosporins, cefpodoxime 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; most bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall. Cefpodoxime is active against a wide spectrum of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes (the cause of strep throat), Streptococcus agalactiae, Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Yes, this medication is available in generic form.

Yes, your doctor or health care professional will need to write you a prescription for this medicine.

Cefpodoxime is effective for the medical treatment of these infections.

• Middle ear (otitis media)
• Tonsillitis
• Throat (pharyngitis)
• Laryngitis
• Sinusitis
• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract infections
• Skin structure or skin infections caused by susceptible bacteria

It also is used for the treatment of gonorrhea as well as acute and chronic bronchitis (bacterial) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Side effects include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Skin rash
• Diaper rash
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Allergic reactions
• Vaginitis
• Vaginal infections
• Itching
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Insomnia

Cefpodoxime should be avoided by patients who are allergic to cephalosporin type antibiotics. Since this drug is chemically related to penicillin, some patients allergic to penicillin also may have an allergic reaction (sometimes even life-threatening anaphylaxis) to cefpodoxime.

Possible serious side effects.

Like other antibiotics, cefpodoxime may cause a condition called pseudomembranous colitis, a potentially serious bacterial infection of the colon caused by a bacterium called Clostridium difficile (C. difficile colitis). Patients who develop this type of colitis as a result of antibiotic treatment can have signs and symptoms of:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Shock

• The adult dose for treating pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinusitis is 200 mg every 12 hours for 10 to 14 days depending on the type of infection.
• Gonorrhea is treated with a single 200 mg dose.
• Urinary tract infections are treated with 100 mg every 12 hours for 7 to 14 days.
• The dose for skin or skin structure infections is 400 mg every 12 hours for 70 to 14 days.

• Probenecid increases the concentration of cefpodoxime in the blood. Drugs that reduce acidity in the stomach (for example, antacids, H2-blockers, proton pump inhibitors) may reduce absorption of cefpodoxime.
• Combining cefpodoxime with drugs that reduce kidney function may increase the risk of harm to the kidney.

Vantin and Banan are the brand names available for this medicine in the US.

Doctors and researchers have not established if this drug is safe to take during pregnancy because there are'nt adequate studies in pregnant women. However, studies in animals suggest no important effects on the fetus.

This medication is excreted in human milk. The levels of cefpodoxime in human milk were 0, 2 and 6% of blood levels at 4 hours after a 200 mg oral dose. At 6 hours after dosing, the levels in breast milk were 0%, 9% and 16% of the concentration of cefpodoxime in blood. Women should decide whether to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug.

• Tablets and granules should be stored at room temperature, 20 C – 25 C (68 F – 77 F). After mixing the granules with water, the suspension should be stored in a refrigerator, 2 C to 8 C (36 F to 46 F). The suspension should be shaken well before using and discarded if unused after 14 days.
• This medication is available as tablets in 100 mg and 200 mg and granules for oral suspension in 50 and 100 mg/5 ml.
• The FDA approved cefpodoxime proxetil in August, 1992.