Cefuroxime Axetil

CEFUROXIME AXETIL- cefuroxime axetil tablet, film coated
MedVantx, Inc.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil tablets and other antibacterial drugs, cefuroxime axetil tablets should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

DESCRIPTION

Cefuroxime axetil tablets contain cefuroxime as cefuroxime axetil. Cefuroxime axetil is a semisynthetic, broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic for oral administration.

Chemically, cefuroxime axetil, the 1-(acetyloxy)ethyl ester of cefuroxime, is (RS)-1-hydroxyethyl (6R ,7R)-7-[2-(2-furyl) glyoxyl-amido]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]-oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate,72 -(Z)-(O -methyl-oxime),1-acetate 3-carbamate. Its molecular formula is C20 H22 N4 O10 S, and it has a molecular weight of 510.48.

Cefuroxime axetil is in the amorphous form and has the following structural formula:

djsjfijmkm
(click image for full-size original)

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are film-coated and contain the equivalent of 250 mg or 500 mg of cefuroxime as cefuroxime axetil. Cefuroxime axetil tablets contain the inactive ingredients pregelatinized starch, croscarmellose sodium, sodium lauryl sulphate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, hydrogenated vegetable oil and opadry blue.

Components of Opadry Blue (250 mg Tablets) are Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide, Propylene glycol, FD&C Blue # 1 / Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #2 / Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake; Opadry Blue (500 mg Tablets) are Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide, Propylene glycol, FD&C Blue # 1 / Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake, D&C Red #27 / Phloxine Aluminum Lake.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Absorption and Metabolism

After oral administration, cefuroxime axetil is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and rapidly hydrolyzed by nonspecific esterases in the intestinal mucosa and blood to cefuroxime. Cefuroxime is subsequently distributed throughout the extracellular fluids. The axetil moiety is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetic acid.

Pharmacokinetics

Approximately 50% of serum cefuroxime is bound to protein. Serum pharmacokinetic parameters for cefuroxime axetil tablets is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Postprandial Pharmacokinetics of Cefuroxime Administered as Cefuroxime axetil Tablets to Adults *
Dose (Cefuroxime Equivalent) Peak Plasma Concentration (mcg/mL) Time of Peak Plasma Concentration (hr) Mean Elimination Half-Life (hr) AUC (mcg-hr mL)
*
Mean values of 12 healthy adult volunteers.
Drug administered immediately after a meal.
125 mg 2.1 2.2 1.2 6.7
250 mg 4.1 2.5 1.2 12.9
500 mg 7 3 1.2 27.4
1,000 mg 13.6 2.5 1.3 50

Comparative Pharmacokinetic Properties

Cefuroxime axetil for oral suspension was not bioequivalent to cefuroxime axetil tablets when tested in healthy adults. The tablet and powder for oral suspension formulations are NOT substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis. The area under the curve for the suspension averaged 91% of that for the tablet, and the peak plasma concentration for the suspension averaged 71% of the peak plasma concentration of the tablets. Therefore, the safety and effectiveness of both the tablet and oral suspension formulations had to be established in separate clinical trials.

Food Effect on Pharmacokinetics

Absorption of the tablet is greater when taken after food (absolute bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil tablets increases from 37% to 52%). Despite this difference in absorption, the clinical and bacteriologic responses of patients were independent of food intake at the time of tablet administration in 2 studies where this was assessed.

Renal Excretion

Cefuroxime is excreted unchanged in the urine; in adults, approximately 50% of the administered dose is recovered in the urine within 12 hours. The pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime in the urine of pediatric patients have not been studied at this time. Until further data are available, the renal pharmacokinetic properties of cefuroxime axetil established in adults should not be extrapolated to pediatric patients.

Because cefuroxime is renally excreted, the serum half-life is prolonged in patients with reduced renal function. In a study of 20 elderly patients (mean age = 83.9 years) having a mean creatinine clearance of 34.9 mL/min, the mean serum elimination half-life was 3.5 hours. Despite the lower elimination of cefuroxime in geriatric patients, dosage adjustment based on age is not necessary (see PRECAUTIONS: Geriatric Use).

Microbiology

The in vivo bactericidal activity of cefuroxime axetil is due to cefuroxime’s binding to essential target proteins and the resultant inhibition of cell-wall synthesis.

Cefuroxime has bactericidal activity against a wide range of common pathogens, including many beta-lactamase-producing strains. Cefuroxime is stable to many bacterial beta-lactamases, especially plasmid-mediated enzymes that are commonly found in enterobacteriaceae.

Cefuroxime has been demonstrated to be active against most strains of the following microorganisms both in vitro and in clinical infections as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE section).

Aerobic Gram-Positive Microorganisms

Staphylococcus aureus (including beta-lactamase-producing strains)

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pyogenes

Aerobic Gram-Negative Microorganisms

Escherichia coli

Haemophilus influenzae (including beta-lactamase-producing strains)

Haemophilus parainfluenzae

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Moraxella catarrhalis (including beta-lactamase-producing strains)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (including beta-lactamase-producing strains)

All MedLibrary.org resources are included in as near-original form as possible, meaning that the information from the original provider has been rendered here with only typographical or stylistic modifications and not with any substantive alterations of content, meaning or intent.

This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only, in accordance with our Terms of Use, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or other qualified health professional.

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.