Cefuroxime Axetil

Generic name
cefuroxime axetil
Brand names
Ceftin (US), Zinnat (UK, Australia, New Zealand)
Drug class
Second-Generation Cephalosporin Antibiotic
Form
Tablet (125/250/500 mg), oral suspension (125mg/5mL)
Route
Oral
Legal status
Prescription only. Confirmed Authorised in all 5 countries checked: US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand.

Supply Rules Vary

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Zinnat (4) · Full directory

What cefuroxime axetil is and how it works

Cefuroxime axetil is an oral second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including throat, ear, sinus, chest, skin, urinary tract, and certain sexually transmitted infections, and early Lyme disease. (1)

Take cefuroxime axetil with food — this roughly doubles its absorption compared to taking it on an empty stomach, the opposite of some other medicines.

Mechanism of action: how cefuroxime axetil works

Cefuroxime axetil is hydrolyzed in the intestinal mucosa and blood to release active cefuroxime, a second-generation cephalosporin that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. Half-life ~1.2-1.3h; bioavailability 37% fasting vs. 52% with food; ~50% recovered unchanged in urine within 12 hours. (1)

What cefuroxime axetil is used for

Pharyngitis/tonsillitis

Treats throat infections due to susceptible bacteria in adults and children. (1)

Acute bacterial otitis media (children)

Treats middle-ear infections in pediatric patients. (1)

Acute bacterial sinusitis

Treats sinus infections in adults and children. (1)

Bronchitis exacerbations

Treats acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and secondary bacterial infection of acute bronchitis in adults and children 13+. (1)

Uncomplicated skin and urinary tract infections

Treats uncomplicated skin/skin-structure infections and uncomplicated UTIs in adults and children 13+. (1)

Uncomplicated gonorrhea

Treats uncomplicated gonorrhea in adults and children 13+. (1)

Early Lyme disease (erythema migrans)

Treats early Lyme disease in adults and children 13+. (1)

Before taking cefuroxime axetil

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take cefuroxime axetil if you have a known hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylaxis) to it or to other beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins, other cephalosporins). (hypersensitivity/beta-lactam allergy) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any allergy to penicillin or other antibiotics — cross-reaction is possible though not universal.
  • Any kidney disease.
  • Any history of severe diarrhea after taking antibiotics before.
  • If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • All acid-reducing medicines you take (antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors) — these can affect how well this medicine works.
(1)

How to take cefuroxime axetil

  • Take with food — this significantly improves absorption (about 52% with food vs. 37% fasting).
  • Swallow tablets whole; do not crush or split them.
  • Take the full course even if you feel better before finishing it.
  • Typical adult dosing is 250-500mg every 12 hours for 7-20 days depending on the infection being treated.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember; if it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one — do not double up. Contact your pharmacist if unsure.

Overdose

Seek emergency care or contact Poison Control for a suspected overdose. (1)

Side effects

Digestive symptoms are the most common side effects.

Diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, headache

What to notice: Diarrhea occurred in 4-11% of people, nausea/vomiting in 3-7%.

What to do: Mention persistent or severe symptoms to your clinician. (1)

C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)

What to notice: Watery or bloody diarrhea, which can occur during treatment or up to months afterward.

What to do: Contact your clinician promptly; this may require stopping the antibiotic and specific treatment. (1)

Allergic reaction

What to notice: Rash, hives, swelling of the face/lips/tongue, difficulty breathing.

What to do: Seek emergency care immediately. (1)

Serious warnings

C. difficile-associated diarrhea — serious

Symptoms: Watery or bloody stools, during or up to months after treatment.

Action: Contact your clinician promptly; do not self-treat with anti-diarrheal medicine without checking first. (1)

Anaphylaxis/serious allergic reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling, difficulty breathing, widespread rash.

Action: Seek emergency care immediately, especially if you have a history of penicillin or other beta-lactam allergy. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
Antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitorsReduce cefuroxime axetil absorption.Take cefuroxime axetil at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a short-acting antacid; discuss timing with your pharmacist for H2 blockers/PPIs. (1)
ProbenecidIncreases cefuroxime exposure by about 50%.Co-administration is not generally recommended. (1)
Other penicillin/cephalosporin-class antibiotics (if allergic to one)Cross-reactivity is possible though not universal — current evidence puts true cross-reactivity risk well below the old '10%' estimate, varying by specific drug side-chain similarity.Tell your clinician about any prior antibiotic allergy. (6)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Renal impairment

Dosage adjustment is needed for creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min, since the drug is largely cleared by the kidneys. (1)

Pregnancy

Available epidemiologic data have not shown an established fetal risk with cefuroxime axetil use. (1)

Breastfeeding

Cefuroxime passes into breast milk at less than 1% of the maternal dose — a relatively favorable, well-documented profile compared to some other medicines in this pipeline. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Review any penicillin/cephalosporin allergy history.
  • Review kidney function.
  • Review all acid-reducing medicines and probenecid use.

During treatment

  • Watch for diarrhea, especially watery or bloody diarrhea persisting after the course or beginning weeks later.
  • Watch for signs of allergic reaction.
(1)

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature per the product's specific packaging instructions.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Non-US product, brand, and supply information is limited to what is explicitly documented in country-brand-verification.json and country-supply-classification.json.

United States

Indication: Full real indication list above

Dose summary: 250-500mg PO q12h, 7-20 days by indication; take with food.

Renal context: Adjust below CrCl 30 mL/min. (1)

United Kingdom

Indication: Authorised — 12 MHRA files under the axetil-specific substance entry.

Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.

Renal context: Not itemized. (3)

Australia

Indication: Authorised — Zinnat, multiple real ARTG numbers confirmed.

Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.

Renal context: Not itemized. (4)

Canada

Indication: Authorised — 25 real oral products confirmed via direct DPD API query.

Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.

Renal context: Not itemized. (2)

New Zealand

Indication: Authorised — Zinnat, current Medsafe data sheet confirmed.

Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.

Renal context: Renal dose reduction noted in the NZ data sheet. (5)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Not specifically addressed in the source reviewed — clearance is primarily renal.

Overdose note

No specific antidote information found; supportive care and poison control guidance. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Should I take cefuroxime axetil with food?

Yes — taking it with food roughly doubles absorption (52% vs. 37% fasting), so it should be taken with meals for consistent effect. (1)

Is cefuroxime axetil the same as the cefuroxime injection?

No — this is a different product. Cefuroxime axetil is an oral prodrug tablet/suspension; cefuroxime sodium is a separate injectable form with its own distinct pharmacokinetics and indications. (1)

Can I take cefuroxime axetil if I'm allergic to penicillin?

This needs individual assessment by your clinician. True cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins is now understood to be well below the old '10%' estimate and depends on the specific drugs' chemical side chains — but it is not zero, so always disclose any antibiotic allergy history. (6)

What is the mechanism of action of cefuroxime axetil?

Cefuroxime axetil is hydrolyzed in the intestinal mucosa and blood to release active cefuroxime, a second-generation cephalosporin that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. Half-life ~1.2-1.3h; bioavailability 37% fasting vs. 52% with food; ~50% recovered unchanged in urine within 12 hours. (1)

What is the generic name of Cefuroxime Axetil?

The generic name is cefuroxime axetil. It is sold under brand names including Ceftin (US), Zinnat (UK, Australia, New Zealand). (1)

What class of drug is cefuroxime axetil?

Cefuroxime Axetil is classed as: Second-Generation Cephalosporin Antibiotic. (1)

References

  1. Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets — prescribing informationDailyMed / FDA · United States · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 1
  2. DPD active-ingredient query for cefuroxime (44 products: 25 axetil oral, 19 sodium injectable)Health Canada DPD, public API · Canada · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 2
  3. CEFUROXIME AXETIL substance page (12 files, distinct from CEFUROXIME SODIUM's 38 files)MHRA Products · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 3
  4. ZINNAT cefuroxime (as axetil) — multiple ARTG entries (tablets, oral suspension)Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia) · Australia · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 4
  5. ZINNAT 250mg tablets — current New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 5
  6. Penicillin-cephalosporin cross-reactivity, current evidencePeer-reviewed literature / clinical guidance (carried over from the Antibiotics family research pack) · class_level_not_country_specific · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient cefuroxime axetil names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Ceftin (generic cefuroxime axetil widely available) (1)FDA approved currently labeled · 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg, oral suspension 125mg/5mL · multiple generic manufacturers

United Kingdom

  • Zinnat (and generics) (3)MHRA licensed 12 files · not specified in fetched source · multiple

Canada

  • CEFTIN -
  • CEFTIN - PWS

Australia

  • Zinnat (4)ARTG registered · 125 mg/5mL, 250 mg/5mL, 250 mg tablet · Aspen Pharmacare Australia

New Zealand

  • Zinnat (5)current medsafe data sheet · 250 mg · Sandoz New Zealand
View brands in additional countries.

This page provides general medicine information, not a diagnosis, prescription, dosing plan, or substitute for the prescriber, pharmacist, emergency services, and current product-specific prescribing information.

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