Nicef (cefradine)

Nicef capsules contain the active ingredient cefradine, which is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. (NB. Cefradine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Cefradine is a type of antibiotic called a cephalosporin.These antibiotics are related to penicillin. Cefradine is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

How does it work?

Nicef capsules contain the active ingredient cefradine, which is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. (NB. Cefradine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Cefradine is a type of antibiotic called a cephalosporin.These antibiotics are related to penicillin. Cefradine is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Cefradine treats bacterial infections by killing the bacteria causing the infection. It does this by preventing the bacteria from forming normal cell walls. The cell walls of bacteria protect the bacterial cells and are essential for their survival. When these cell walls are not formed correctly it causes them to disintegrate and the bacteria therefore die.

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Cephalosporins are known as broad-spectrum antibiotics because they are active against a wide variety of types of bacteria. Cefradine is used to treat bacterial infections of the airways, kidneys and urinary tract, and the skin and soft tissues. It is also used to prevent infections that might occur following surgical procedures if these procedures carry a high risk of infection, or if the patient has decreased defences against infection. In these cases the antibiotic is started before the surgery.

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To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to cefradine your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the throat or skin, or a urine or blood sample.

How do I take it?

The dose of this medicine and how long it needs to be taken for depends on the type of infection you have, your age and your kidney function. Follow the instructions given by your doctor. These will be printed on the dispensing label that your pharmacist has put on the packet of medicine.

Cefradine can be taken either with or without food. The capsules should be swallowed with liquid. You should try to space the doses evenly throughout the day.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.

Warning!

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause inflammation of the bowel (colitis). For this reason, if you get diarrhoea either during or after taking this medicine, particularly if it becomes severe or persistent, or contains blood or mucus, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Use with caution in

Not to be used in

People with a history of an immediate severe allergic reaction to a penicillin-type antibiotic.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine is generally considered to be safe when used during pregnancy. However, as with all medicines, it should be used with caution during pregnancy and only when considered essential, particularly during the first trimester. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk in small amounts. It should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.

Prolonged treatment with antibiotics can sometimes cause overgrowth of other organisms that are not susceptible to the antibiotic, for example fungi or yeasts such as Candida. This may sometimes cause infections such as thrush. Tell your doctor if you think you have developed a new infection during or after taking this antibiotic.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.

In the past, women using hormonal contraception such as the pill or patch would be advised to use an extra method of contraception (eg condoms) while taking an antibiotic like this one and for seven days after finishing the course. However, this advice has now changed. You no longer need to use an extra method of contraception with the pill, patch or vaginal ring while you take a course of antibiotics. This change in advice comes because to date there is no evidence to prove that antibiotics (other than rifampicin or rifabutin) affect these contraceptives. This is the latest guidance from the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare.

However, if you are taking the contraceptive pill and experience vomiting or diarrhoea as a result of taking this antibiotic, you should follow the instructions for vomiting and diarrhoea described in the leaflet provided with your pills.

Broad spectrum antibiotics such as cefradine may enhance the effect of anticoagulant medicines to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin. If you are taking warfarin your doctor may want you to have your blood clotting time (INR) checked more frequently while taking this antibiotic.

Oral typhoid vaccine (Vivotif) should not be taken until at least three days after you have finished a course of this antibiotic, because the antibiotic could make this vaccine less effective.

Probenecid may increase the blood level of cefradine.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Cefradine capsules are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.

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