Refspan

Uses

Refspan is used for the following infectious diseases -

Respiratory Tract Infections:

Pneumonia

Sinusitis

Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis

Acute Bronchitis and Acute Exacerbations of Chronic

Bronchitis (AECB)

Otitis Media

Typhoid Fever

Urinary Tract Infections

Uncomplicated gonorrhea (cervical/urethral)

Refspan is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis caused by Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis caused by Haemophilus Influenzae, Bacterial Sinusitis, Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Gonorrhea of anus, Lyme Disease, Salmonella Infections, Salmonella Typhi Infection, Shigella Infection, Streptococcal Pharyngitis, Streptococcal tonsillitis, Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections, Bacterial otitis media, Bacterial rhinosinusitis, Uncomplicated Gonorrhea

How Refspan works

Like all beta-lactam antibiotics, cefixime binds to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) located inside the bacterial cell wall, causing the inhibition of the third and last stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis. Cell lysis is then mediated by bacterial cell wall autolytic enzymes such as autolysins; it is possible that cefixime interferes with an autolysin inhibitor.

Dosage

Refspan dosage

The usual treatment of Refspan is 7 days. This may be continued for up to 14 days according to the severity of infection.

Refspan Capsule

Adult and child over 12 years: 200 or 400 mg daily as a single dose or in two divided doses.

Refspan Suspension

Child over 6 months: 8 mg/kg daily as a single dose or in 2 divided doses

Direction for Reconstitution of Suspension

• To prepare 50 ml suspension, 25 ml boiled and cooled water is required.

• To prepare 40 ml suspension, 20 ml boiled and cooled water is required.

• To prepare 30 ml suspension, 15 ml boiled and cooled water is required.

• To prepare 50 ml DS suspension, 25 ml boiled and cooled water is required.

Tap the bottle several times to loosen powder contents prior to reconstitution. Add approximately half of the total amount of water and shake well. Add remainder of water, and then shake again.

Note: Shake the suspension well before each use. Keep the bottle tightly closed. The reconstituted suspension should be stored in a cool and dry place, preferably in refrigerator and unused portion should be discarded after 14 days.

Side Effects

Refspan is generally well tolerated. The majority of adverse reactions observed in clinical trials are mild and self limiting in nature.

Gastro-intestinal disturbance: Diarrhea (if severe diarrhea occurs, Refspan should be discontinued), changes in the color of stool, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, vomiting, flatulence have been reported. CNS disturbances: Headache, dizziness.

Others: Hypersensitivity reactions which usually subsided upon discontinuation of therapy; infrequent and reversible hematological changes; elevation of serum amylase.

Toxicity

Symptoms of overdose include blood in the urine, diarrhea, nausea, upper abdominal pain, and vomiting.

Precaution

Refspan should be prescribed with caution in individuals with a history of gastrointestinal diseases, particularly colitis. Dosage adjustment is only necessary in severe renal failure (creatinine clearance < 20 ml/min)

Interaction

Increased prothrombin time (with or withot bleeding) with anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin). Increased plasma carbamazepine concentrations with concomitant use. Increased bioavailability with nifedipine. Increased serum concentration with probenecid.

Food Interaction

• Take with or without food.

Refspan Drug Interaction

Unknown: aspirin, aspirin, amoxicillin / clavulanate, amoxicillin / clavulanate, ciprofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ginkgo, ginkgo, acetaminophen, acetaminophen, thiamine, thiamine, cyanocobalamin, cyanocobalamin, pyridoxine, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid, cholecalciferol, cholecalciferol

Refspan Disease Interaction

Major: colitisModerate: renal dysfunction, nitroprusside tests, liver disease, seizure disorders

Elimination Route

About 40%-50% absorbed orally whether administered with or without food, however, time to maximal absorption is increased approximately 0.8 hours when administered with food.

Half Life

3-4 hours (may range up to 9 hours). In severe renal impairment (5 to 20 mL/min creatinine clearance), the half-life increased to an average of 11.5 hours.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy: Pregnancy category B. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Lactation: It is not known whether Refspan is excreted in human milk. Consideration should be given to discontinuing nursing temporarily during treatment with this drug.

Use in Elderly

No special precautions are necessary. No dosage adjustment is required for elderly

Contraindication

Patients with known hypersensitivity to cephalosporin antibiotics, children under 6 months.

Special Warning

Use in Children: Safety and effectiveness of cefixime in children aged less than 6 months have not been established. For children younger than 12 years or weighing less than 50 kg, the usual dose is 8 mg/kg/day.

Use in elderly: No special precautions are necessary. Old age is not an indication for dose adjustment.

Dosage in renal impairment:

• Creatinine clearance: 20 ml/min or greater: normal dose
• Creatinine clearance: <20 ml/min or chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
• Haemodialysis: daily dose should not exceed 200 mg.

Acute Overdose

Gastric lavage may be indicated; otherwise, no specific antidote exists. Refspan is not removed in significant quantities from the circulation by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Adverse reactions in small numbers of healthy adult volunteers receiving single doses up to 2 g of Refspan did not differ from the profile seen in patients treated at the recommended doses.

Interaction with other Medicine

Carbamazepine: Elevated carbamazepine levels have been reported in postmarketing experience when Refspan is administered concomitantly. Drug monitoring may be of assistance in detecting alterations in carbamazepine plasma concentrations.

Warfarin and Anticoagulants: Increased prothrombin time, with or without clinical bleeding, has been reported when cefixime is administered concomitantly.

Storage Condition

Store in a cool and dry place below 30ºC

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here Refspan