Cefdinir

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE for Indicated Pathogens) The recommended dosage and duration of treatment for infections in pediatric patients are described in the following chart; the total daily dose for all infections is 14 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 600 mg per day.

Once-daily dosing for 10 days is as effective as BID dosing. Once-daily dosing has not been studied in skin infections; therefore, cefdinir for oral suspension should be administered twice daily in this infection. Cefdinir for oral suspension may be administered without regard to meals.

Pediatric Patients (Age 6 Months Through 12 Years) Type of Infection Dosage Duration Acute Bacterial Otitis Media 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 5 to 10 days 10 days Acute Maxillary Sinusitis 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 10 days 10 days Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 5 to 10 days 10 days Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections 7 mg/kg q12h 10 days CEFDINIR FOR ORAL SUSPENSION PEDIATRIC DOSAGE CHART a Pediatric patients who weigh ≥ 43 kg should receive the maximum daily dose of 600 mg.

5 mL q24h 36 kg/80 lbs 10 mL q12h or 20 mL q24h 5 mL q12h or 10 mL q24h ≥ 43 kg a /95 lbs 12 mL q12h or 24 mL q24h 6 mL q12h or 12 mL q24h Patients With Renal Insufficiency For adult patients with creatinine clearance <30 mL/min, the dose of cefdinir should be 300 mg given once daily.

Creatinine clearance is difficult to measure in outpatients. However, the following formula may be used to estimate creatinine clearance (CL cr ) in adult patients. For estimates to be valid, serum creatinine levels should reflect steady-state levels of renal function.

85 x above value where creatinine clearance is in mL/min, age is in years, weight is in kilograms, and serum creatinine is in mg/dL. 45 for infants (up to 1 year) 3 . 73 m 2 , body length or height is in centimeters, and serum creatinine is in mg/dL.

73 m 2 , the dose of cefdinir should be 7 mg/kg (up to 300 mg) given once daily. Patients on Hemodialysis Hemodialysis removes cefdinir from the body. In patients maintained on chronic hemodialysis, the recommended initial dosage regimen is a 300 mg or 7 mg/kg dose every other day.

At the conclusion of each hemodialysis session, 300 mg (or 7 mg/kg) should be given. Subsequent doses (300 mg or 7 mg/kg) are then administered every other day. Directions for Mixing Cefdinir for Oral Suspension Final Concentration Final Volume (mL) Amount of Water Directions 125 mg/5 mL 60 100 38 mL 63 mL Tap bottle to loosen powder, then add water in 2 portions.

ADVERSE EVENTS

S. ) were treated with the recommended dose of cefdinir capsules (600 mg/day). Most adverse events were mild and self-limiting. No deaths or permanent disabilities were attributed to cefdinir. One hundred forty-seven of 5093 (3%) patients discontinued medication due to adverse events thought by the investigators to be possibly, probably, or definitely associated with cefdinir therapy.

The discontinuations were primarily for gastrointestinal disturbances, usually diarrhea or nausea. 4%) patients were discontinued due to rash thought related to cefdinir administration. S. S. S. ) were treated with the recommended dose of cefdinir suspension (14 mg/kg/day).

Most adverse events were mild and self-limiting. No deaths or permanent disabilities were attributed to cefdinir. Forty of 2289 (2%) patients discontinued medication due to adverse events considered by the investigators to be possibly, probably, or definitely associated with cefdinir therapy.

Discontinuations were primarily for gastrointestinal disturbances, usually diarrhea. 2%) patients were discontinued due to rash thought related to cefdinir administration. S. TRIALS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (N = 1783) a a 977 males, 806 females b Laboratory changes were occasionally reported as adverse events.

2% NOTE: In both cefdinir- and control-treated patients, rates of diarrhea and rash were higher in the youngest pediatric patients. The incidence of diarrhea in cefdinir-treated patients ≤2 years of age was 17% (95/557) compared with 4% (51/1226) in those >2 years old.

The incidence of rash (primarily diaper rash in the younger patients) was 8% (43/557) in patients ≤2 years of age compared with 1% (8/1226) in those >2 years old. S. 2% Postmarketing Experience The following adverse experiences and altered laboratory tests, regardless of their relationship to cefdinir, have been reported during extensive postmarketing experience, beginning with approval in Japan in 1991: shock, anaphylaxis with rare cases of fatality, facial and laryngeal edema, feeling of suffocation, serum sickness-like reactions, conjunctivitis, stomatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, acute hepatitis, cholestasis, fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, jaundice, increased amylase, acute enterocolitis, bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, melena, pseudomembranous colitis, pancytopenia, granulocytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic anemia, acute respiratory failure, asthmatic attack, drug- induced pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, fever, acute renal failure, nephropathy, bleeding tendency, coagulation disorder, disseminated intravascular coagulation, upper GI bleed, peptic ulcer, ileus, loss of consciousness, allergic vasculitis, possible cefdinir-diclofenac interaction, cardiac failure, chest pain, myocardial infarction, hypertension, involuntary movements, and rhabdomyolysis.

WARNINGS BEFORE THERAPY WITH CEFDINIR IS INSTITUTED, CAREFUL INQUIRY SHOULD BE MADE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PATIENT HAS HAD PREVIOUS HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS TO CEFDINIR, OTHER CEPHALOSPORINS, PENICILLINS, OR OTHER DRUGS. IF CEFDINIR IS TO BE GIVEN TO PENICILLIN-SENSITIVE PATIENTS, CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED BECAUSE CROSS-HYPERSENSITIVITY AMONG β-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS HAS BEEN CLEARLY DOCUMENTED AND MAY OCCUR IN UP TO 10% OF PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF PENICILLIN ALLERGY.

IF AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO CEFDINIR OCCURS, THE DRUG SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED. SERIOUS ACUTE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS MAY REQUIRE TREATMENT WITH EPINEPHRINE AND OTHER EMERGENCY MEASURES, INCLUDING OXYGEN, INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS, INTRAVENOUS ANTIHISTAMINES, CORTICOSTEROIDS, PRESSOR AMINES, AND AIRWAY MANAGEMENT, AS CLINICALLY INDICATED.

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including cefdinir, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C.

difficile. C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy.

CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.

If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C. difficile , and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Cefdinir is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics.