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Cefuroxime

Cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, meningitis, gonorrhea, and early Lyme disease.

Brand names CeftinCefuroxime Axetil
Drug class Cephalosporin Antibacterial
Rx Forms 2
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 39 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 6, 2026
Other forms & routes:
Injection
Cefuroxime at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Cefuroxime (Ceftin) is a familiar cephalosporin antibiotic, on the market since about 2004 and available as a generic, that blocks bacteria from building their cell walls so they break down and die; the tablets treat strep throat, sinus and ear infections, bladder infections, gonorrhea and early Lyme disease, and an injection covers pneumonia and meningitis. Most people tolerate it well, with loose stools, nausea or cramps the usual complaints. Get emergency help for hives, facial swelling or trouble breathing (likelier if penicillins or cephalosporins have caused reactions), and call about watery, bloody or lasting diarrhea, even weeks later, which can signal C. diff, a serious bowel infection.

Clinical pearls

  • Take the tablets with a meal, because food noticeably improves how much of the drug your body absorbs.
  • Antacids and acid reducers like famotidine or omeprazole can lower absorption of the tablets, so avoid them or space doses apart.
  • Birth control pills may work less well during treatment, so use a non-hormonal backup such as condoms until the course ends.
  • When treating Lyme disease, a short flu-like flare early on (Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction) is expected and is not an allergy.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asTablet, Injection
Earliest FDA record1983
Companies listing it with the FDA18
FDA label last updatedJul 31, 2025
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Cefuroxime, written from its FDA label.

What Cefuroxime is used for

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Cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibiotic available in oral tablet and injectable forms, each approved for specific infections depending on the product and route used.

  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets (oral): Pharyngitis/tonsillitis (adults and patients 13+); acute bacterial otitis media (ear infection) in pediatric patients who can swallow tablets whole; acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (adults and patients 13+, and younger children who can swallow tablets); acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (adults and patients 13+); uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections (adults and patients 13+); uncomplicated urinary tract infections (adults and patients 13+); uncomplicated gonorrhea (adults and patients 13+); early Lyme disease (adults and patients 13+)
  • Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injections (IV/IM): Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia; urinary tract infections; skin and skin-structure infections; septicemia (bloodstream infection); meningitis; gonorrhea (uncomplicated and disseminated); bone and joint infections
  • Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injections (surgical prevention): Reducing the risk of postoperative infections in certain clean-contaminated or potentially contaminated surgical procedures, including vaginal hysterectomy and open heart surgery

How Cefuroxime works

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Cefuroxime is a beta-lactam cephalosporin antibiotic. It works by attacking the bacteria's cell wall — specifically by binding to proteins the bacteria need to build and maintain their outer wall. Without an intact cell wall, the bacteria can't survive. This makes cefuroxime effective against a wide range of bacteria that cause infections in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, blood, joints, and elsewhere.

Like all antibiotics, cefuroxime only works against bacterial infections — it has no effect on viral illnesses such as colds or flu. Using it only when truly needed helps preserve its effectiveness and reduces the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria developing.

Cefuroxime dosage

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Cefuroxime Axetil tablets are taken by mouth, typically twice a day (every 12 hours). They can be taken with or without food, but absorption is meaningfully better after a meal, so taking them with food is a good habit. The injectable forms — Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium — are given by a healthcare provider intravenously or intramuscularly, generally every 6 to 8 hours for most infections, with the exact schedule depending on the severity and type of infection.

  • Always finish the full course your prescriber recommends, even if you feel better before it's done
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets and oral suspension are NOT interchangeable milligram-for-milligram — do not switch between them without your doctor's guidance
  • Dose reduction is needed for patients with significant kidney impairment — tell your prescriber about any kidney issues

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Cefuroxime prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Adults - usual dosage range (cefuroxime for injection)
    • 750 mg to 1.5 grams every 8 hours, usually for 5 to 10 days
    • Reduced dosage must be used when renal function is impaired
  • Adults - uncomplicated urinary tract infections, skin and skin-structure infections, disseminated gonococcal infections, and uncomplicated pneumonia (injection)
    • 750 mg every 8 hours
  • Adults - severe or complicated infections, and bone and joint infections (injection)
    • 1.5 grams every 8 hours
    • In life-threatening infections or less susceptible organisms, 1.5 grams every 6 hours may be required
  • Adults - bacterial meningitis (injection)
    • Dosage should not exceed 3 grams every 8 hours
    • Maximum: 3 grams every 8 hours
  • Adults - uncomplicated gonococcal infection (injection)
    • 1.5 grams given intramuscularly as a single dose at 2 different sites together with 1 gram of oral probenecid
  • Adults - impaired renal function (injection)
    • Creatinine clearance > 20 mL/min: 750 mg to 1.5 grams q8h
    • 10 to 20: 750 mg q12h
    • < 10: 750 mg q24h
    • Patients on hemodialysis should be given a further dose at the end of dialysis
  • Pediatric patients above 3 months of age (injection)
    • 50 to 100 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses every 6 to 8 hours
    • Bone and joint infections 150 mg/kg/day in equally divided doses every 8 hours
    • Maximum: Not to exceed the maximum adult dosage
    • Higher dosage of 100 mg/kg/day for more severe infections; dosing frequency modified for renal insufficiency as for adults
  • Pediatric patients - bacterial meningitis (injection)
    • 200 to 240 mg/kg/day intravenously in divided doses every 6 to 8 hours
  • Adults and adolescents 13 years and older - pharyngitis/tonsillitis, acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (tablets)
    • 250 mg every 12 hours for 10 days
    • Tablets with or without food; dosage adjustment required in renal impairment
  • Adults and adolescents 13 years and older - acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections (tablets)
    • 250 or 500 mg every 12 hours for 10 days
    • Tablets with or without food; dosage adjustment required in renal impairment
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Tablets and oral suspension are not bioequivalent and are therefore not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis. ( 2.1 ) • Administer tablets with or without food. ( 2.2 ) • Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets as described in the dosage guidelines. ( 2.2 ) • Dosage adjustment is required for patients with impaired renal function. ( 2.5 ) Adult Patients and Pediatric Patients Dosage Guidelines for Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets Infection Dosage Duration (Days) Adults and Adolescents (13 years and older) Pharyngitis/tonsillitis (mild to moderate) 250 mg every 12 hours 10 Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (mild to moderate) 250 mg every 12 hours 10 Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (mild to moderate) 250 mg or 500 mg every 12 hours 10 Uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections 250 mg or 500 mg every 12 hours 10 Uncomplicated urinary tract infections 250 mg every 12 hours 7 to 10 Uncomplicated gonorrhea 1,000 mg single dose Early Lyme disease 500 mg every 12 hours 20 Pediatric Patients younger than 13 years (who can swallow tablets whole) Acute bacterial otitis media 250 mg every 12 hours 10 Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis 250 mg every 12 hours 10 2.1 Important Administration Instructions • Cefuroxime axetil tablets and cefuroxime axetil for oral suspension are not bioequivalent and are therefore not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . • Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets as described in the appropriate dosage guidelines [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ]. • Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets with or without food. • Pediatric patients (aged 13 years and older) who cannot swallow the cefuroxime axetil tablets whole should receive cefuroxime axetil for oral suspension because the tablet has a strong, persistent bitter taste when crushed [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ]. 2.2 Dosage for Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets as described in the dosage guidelines table below with or without food. Table 1. Adult Patients and Pediatric Patients Dosage Guidelines for Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets a The safety and effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil tablets administered for less than 10 days in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis have not been established.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Cefuroxime side effects

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The most common side effects with cefuroxime axetil tablets include:

Common side effects

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Abdominal pain or cramps
  • Headache
  • Rash or itching
  • Vaginitis (vaginal irritation or discharge)
  • Temporary increases in liver enzyme levels
  • Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (flu-like flare when treating Lyme disease)
  • Temporary elevations in liver enzymes (detected on blood tests)

When to get medical help

  • Signs of a severe allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or rapid heartbeat — call 911 or get emergency help immediately
  • Severe or persistent diarrhea, bloody stools, or stomach cramping — this could be a serious bowel infection (C. difficile) and needs prompt medical attention
  • Signs of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, or unusual tiredness
  • Seizures or confusion, which can occur with too much of the drug
  • New or worsening skin reactions such as blistering, peeling, or a spreading rash — rarely, serious skin conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome can occur
  • Signs of a blood disorder: unusual bruising or bleeding, or extreme fatigue

Cefuroxime warnings and precautions

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  • Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis): Rare but potentially life-threatening. Most likely in people with a prior allergy to penicillins or cephalosporins. Symptoms include hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing, and rapid heartbeat. Seek emergency care immediately if this occurs.
  • C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD): Cefuroxime, like most antibiotics, can disrupt gut bacteria and allow C. difficile to overgrow, causing diarrhea that can become severe colitis. This can occur even 2 months after finishing the antibiotic. Report persistent or worsening diarrhea to your doctor promptly.
  • Serious skin reactions: Rare but severe skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported. Stop the medication and get medical help if you develop spreading rash, blistering, or peeling skin.
  • Risk of drug-resistant bacteria: Using cefuroxime when it is not needed increases the chance of bacteria becoming resistant to treatment. Use it only as prescribed.
  • Blood and liver effects: Rare blood disorders (low platelets, low white cells) and liver problems including hepatitis and jaundice have been reported. Report unusual bruising, bleeding, or yellowing of skin to your doctor.

Cefuroxime interactions

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Cefuroxime axetil tablets can interact with several medications and affect certain lab tests:

  • Antacids, H2 blockers (e.g., famotidine, ranitidine), and proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole): These reduce stomach acid and can lower how much cefuroxime axetil your body absorbs. Avoid them if possible, or take cefuroxime axetil at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a short-acting antacid.
  • Probenecid (used for gout): Increases cefuroxime levels in the blood — co-administration with cefuroxime axetil tablets is not recommended.
  • Oral contraceptives (combined estrogen/progesterone pills): Cefuroxime may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control by affecting gut bacteria that help process estrogen. Use a backup non-hormonal method during treatment.
  • Urine glucose tests: Cefuroxime can cause falsely positive results on copper-reduction urine glucose tests (such as Benedict's or Fehling's solution). Use an enzyme-based test for accurate results. It may also cause false-negative results on ferricyanide blood glucose tests.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Cefuroxime prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Oral contraceptives: Cefuroxime axetil may affect gut flora, leading to lower estrogen reabsorption and reduced efficacy of combined oral estrogen/progesterone contraceptives. Counsel patients to consider alternate supplementary (non-hormonal) contraceptive measures during treatment.
  • Drugs that reduce gastric acidity: May result in lower bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil compared with the fasting state and may negate the food effect of increased absorption. Administer cefuroxime axetil at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after short-acting antacids; H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors should be avoided.
  • Probenecid: Concomitant administration with cefuroxime axetil tablets increases serum concentrations of cefuroxime. Co-administration is not recommended.
  • Urine glucose copper reduction tests / glucose tests: A false-positive urine glucose reaction may occur with copper reduction tests (Benedict's or Fehling's), but not with enzyme-based tests; a false-negative result may occur in the ferricyanide test. Use the glucose oxidase or hexokinase method to determine blood/plasma glucose levels.
  • Aminoglycoside antibiotics: Solutions of cefuroxime for injection, like most beta-lactam antibiotics, should not be added to solutions of aminoglycoside antibiotics because of potential interaction. Do not add to aminoglycoside solutions.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Oral Contraceptives: Effects on gut flora may lower estrogen reabsorption and reduce efficacy of oral contraceptives. ( 7.1 ) • Drugs that reduce gastric acidity may lower the bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil. ( 7.2 ) • Co-administration with probenecid increases systemic exposure to cefuroxime axetil and is therefore not recommended. ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Oral Contraceptives Cefuroxime axetil may affect the gut flora, leading to lower estrogen reabsorption and reduced efficacy of combined oral estrogen/progesterone contraceptives. Counsel patients to consider alternate supplementary (non-hormonal) contraceptive measures during treatment. 7.2 Drugs that Reduce Gastric Acidity Drugs that reduce gastric acidity may result in a lower bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil compared with administration in the fasting state. Administration of drugs that reduce gastric acidity may negate the food effect of increased absorption of cefuroxime axetil when administered in the postprandial state. Administer cefuroxime axetil at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after administration of short-acting antacids. Histamine-2 (H2) antagonists and proton pump inhibitors should be avoided. 7.3 Probenecid Concomitant administration of probenecid with cefuroxime axetil tablets increases serum concentrations of cefuroxime [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Co-administration of probenecid with cefuroxime axetil is not recommended. 7.4 Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions A false-positive reaction for glucose in the urine may occur with copper reduction tests (e.g., Benedict's or Fehling's solution), but not with enzyme-based tests for glycosuria. As a false-negative result may occur in the ferricyanide test, it is recommended that either the glucose oxidase or hexokinase method be used to determine blood/plasma glucose levels in patients receiving cefuroxime axetil.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿60 supplements and herbs with documented Cefuroxime interactions, ranked by severity Check Cefuroxime against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Cefuroxime

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  • Penicillin or cephalosporin allergy: Cefuroxime is contraindicated if you have had a serious allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) to any penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotic. Tell your doctor about any prior antibiotic reactions.
  • Kidney disease: Cefuroxime is cleared mainly through the kidneys — dose adjustment is required for patients with severe kidney impairment.
  • Older adults: Elderly patients are more likely to have reduced kidney function, which can increase the risk of side effects. Careful dose selection and kidney monitoring are recommended.
  • Pregnancy: Available human data have not shown a clear risk of birth defects or pregnancy complications from cefuroxime, but your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks for your situation.
  • Breastfeeding: Cefuroxime passes into breast milk in small amounts. Discuss with your doctor whether to continue breastfeeding during treatment.
  • Children: Cefuroxime Axetil tablets are approved for certain infections in children as young as 3 months (for sinusitis, based on adult data) and for ear infections in children who can swallow tablets whole. Younger children or those who cannot swallow tablets whole should use the appropriate formulation as directed by their doctor.

Cefuroxime overdose

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Taking too much cefuroxime can irritate the brain and nervous system, potentially causing seizures (convulsions) or encephalopathy (brain dysfunction). If an overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical care immediately. Blood levels of cefuroxime can be reduced with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis if needed.

How your body processes Cefuroxime

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When Cefuroxime Axetil tablets are swallowed, the drug is absorbed from the gut and quickly converted by enzymes in the gut lining and blood into active cefuroxime. Absorption is meaningfully better when the tablet is taken after a meal — bioavailability rises from about 37% fasted to about 52% fed. Once in the bloodstream, about half of cefuroxime is bound to proteins, and it distributes throughout the body's extracellular (outside-cell) fluids. Cefuroxime is not significantly broken down by the body — roughly half of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine within 12 hours, making kidney function an important factor in how the drug is cleared and how doses should be adjusted.

How to store Cefuroxime

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Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) .

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

60

Supplements & herbs that interact with Cefuroxime

60 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Cefuroxime in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 3
  • Moderate · 46
  • Minor · 11
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major ASARABACCA Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major AFRICAN WILD POTATO Moderate ARISTOLOCHIA Moderate BACILLUS COAGULANS Moderate Bacillus Subtilis Moderate Banderol Moderate +52 more
Every supplement checked against Cefuroxime — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 3 major · 46 moderate · 11 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Cefuroxime against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

7

Nutrient depletion considerations

Cefuroxime has been associated with lower levels of 7 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

Evidence & significance mix
  • Higher significance · 6
  • Moderate · 1
BIOTIN Insignificant Depletion FOLIC ACID Insignificant Depletion RIBOFLAVIN Insignificant Depletion THIAMINE Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN B12 Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN B6 Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN K Moderate Depletion
See the full Cefuroxime nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Cefuroxime: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Cefuroxime — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What kinds of infections does cefuroxime treat?

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Cefuroxime is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that treats a range of bacterial infections. The tablet form (Cefuroxime Axetil) handles things like strep throat, sinus infections, ear infections, bronchitis flare-ups, skin infections, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, and early Lyme disease. The injectable form is used in hospitals for more serious infections like pneumonia, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and bone infections. Your doctor will choose the right form for your situation.

Should I take the tablet with food or on an empty stomach?

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You can take Cefuroxime Axetil tablets with or without food, but taking them with a meal helps your body absorb more of the drug — so with food is generally the better choice if you can manage it. That said, clinical studies showed that the outcome of treatment was similar regardless of food intake, so don't skip a dose just because you haven't eaten.

What side effects should I expect, and when should I call my doctor?

▾
The most common side effects are digestive — diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. These are usually mild and get better as you finish the course. Call your doctor right away if you develop severe or bloody diarrhea (even weeks after finishing the antibiotic), signs of an allergic reaction like hives, swelling, or trouble breathing, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or any unusual skin blistering or peeling. These are rare but serious and need prompt attention.

I'm on birth control pills — does cefuroxime affect them?

▾
Yes, there is a concern that cefuroxime can affect the gut bacteria that help your body recycle estrogen, which could make combined oral birth control pills slightly less effective. To be safe, use a backup non-hormonal contraceptive method (like condoms) while you're taking cefuroxime and until you finish your current pill pack. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you have questions about your specific situation.

I take an antacid or a stomach acid reducer — is that a problem?

▾
It can be. Antacids, H2 blockers (like famotidine), and proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole) lower stomach acid, which can reduce how well your body absorbs cefuroxime axetil tablets. If you use a short-acting antacid, try to take cefuroxime at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after. H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors should ideally be avoided during the course if possible — talk to your doctor about the best approach for you.

I'm allergic to penicillin — can I still take cefuroxime?

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This is an important one to discuss with your doctor. Cefuroxime is a cephalosporin, which is in the same broad antibiotic family (beta-lactams) as penicillin. People with a penicillin allergy — especially those who have had a serious reaction — have a higher risk of also reacting to cefuroxime. Cefuroxime is actually contraindicated (not allowed) if you've had a serious allergic reaction like anaphylaxis to a penicillin or cephalosporin. Make sure your prescriber knows your full allergy history before starting this medication.

Is Cefuroxime available over the counter?

▾
No. Cefuroxime is a prescription medicine: every Cefuroxime product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Cefuroxime first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Cefuroxime is from 1983: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Cefuroxime was first used.

Who makes Cefuroxime?

▾
18 companies currently list Cefuroxime products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including A-S Medication Solutions, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Cefuroxime on HelloPharmacist

📊Cefuroxime supplement interactions60 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerCefuroxime vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Cefuroxime NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Cefuroxime Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Cefuroxime forms and strengths (how it comes)

Cefuroxime is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Cefuroxime inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Tablet

By mouth
Brands Cefuroxime Axetil
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets treat pharyngitis/tonsillitis, acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections, uncomplicated urinary tract infections, uncomplicated gonorrhea, and early Lyme disease in adults and adolescents 13 and older
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets treat acute bacterial otitis media (ear infection) and acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis in pediatric patients who can swallow tablets whole
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets should be used only for infections proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria
Important instructions
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets can be taken with or without food, though absorption is greater when taken after a meal
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets are typically taken twice daily (every 12 hours) — follow your prescriber's specific instructions
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablets should NOT be substituted milligram-for-milligram with the oral suspension formulation, as they are not bioequivalent
  • Cefuroxime Axetil tablet dose adjustment is required for patients with severe kidney impairment — let your prescriber know about your kidney health
Available strengths 3 strengths
125 mg 250 mg 500 mg
86 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Injection

Into a muscle · Into a vein
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injections treat serious bacterial infections including lower respiratory tract infections (such as pneumonia), urinary tract infections, skin and skin-structure infections, septicemia (bloodstream infection), meningitis, gonorrhea, and bone and joint infections
  • Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injections are used to help prevent postoperative infections in patients undergoing certain surgical procedures classified as clean-contaminated or potentially contaminated
  • Cefuroxime sodium injection is used for surgical prophylaxis including open heart surgery
Important instructions
  • Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injections are administered by a healthcare provider, either into a vein (intravenously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly), typically every 6 to 8 hours depending on the infection
  • For surgical prevention, Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injections are given approximately one-half to one hour before the procedure to allow adequate antibiotic levels to build in wound tissues
  • Cefuroxime and Cefuroxime sodium injection doses must be reduced in patients with impaired kidney function — healthcare providers will adjust accordingly
Available strengths 6 strengths
750 mg 750 mg/8 mL 1.5 g 1.5 g/16 mL 1.5 g/20 mL 7.5 g
10 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Cefuroxime on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Cefuroxime appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

18 companies list 49 Cefuroxime product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet, injection; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1983. Brand names on the directory include Ceftin, Cefuroxime Axetil; the rest are generics.

2
Dose forms ⓘ
18
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
3
Brand names
49
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1983
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (5) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

A-S Medication Solutions20%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.12%
NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.8%
PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.8%
Aurobindo Pharma Limited6%
Redpharm Drug6%
Other makers39%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Cefuroxime is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Cefuroxime is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Cefuroxime is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

214,273
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$3M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Cefuroxime prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Cefuroxime ranks #382 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 76% of them.

Where Cefuroxime ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #382 of 1,601
#377 Simethicone 219,250 Rx #378 Anastrozole 219,033 Rx #379 Permethrin Topical 217,112 Rx #380 Moxifloxacin Ophthalmi... 215,639 Rx #381 Aflibercept Injection 214,860 Rx #382 Cefuroxime 214,273 Rx #383 Sevelamer 212,246 Rx #384 Amiodarone 212,033 Rx #385 Icosapent Ethyl 211,612 Rx #386 Amantadine 210,143 Rx #387 Valsartan and Hydrochl... 208,319 Rx

Utilization by Cefuroxime product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 500 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Cefuroxime product — about 77% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

cefuroxime 500 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

164,783 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 77% of Cefuroxime prescriptions shown $2.4M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $15 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 68 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309098

cefuroxime 250 MG Oral Tablet

49,025 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 23% of Cefuroxime prescriptions shown $594,827 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $12 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 69 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309097

cefuroxime 750 MG Injection

245 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Cefuroxime prescriptions shown $7,323 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $30 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1665449

cefuroxime 1500 MG Injection

220 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Cefuroxime prescriptions shown $528 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $2.40 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 7 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1665444

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Cefuroxime, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 21 of 152 listed Cefuroxime NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Cefuroxime products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Cefuroxime — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 49 of 49 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 49 Cefuroxime NDCs →

Cefuroxime recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Cefuroxime recalls since July 2021.

✅No Cefuroxime recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Cefuroxime RxCUI 2194 5 dose forms · 9 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Injectable Solution RxCUI 374541 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 95 MG/ML RxCUI 309101
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 1665443 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 750 MG RxCUI 1665449 1500 MG RxCUI 1665444
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Ophthalmic Solution RxCUI 377415 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 50 MG/ML RxCUI 106850
  4. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Suspension RxCUI 371340 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 25 MG/ML RxCUI 309096 50 MG/ML RxCUI 313926
  5. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 371342 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 125 MG RxCUI 309095 250 MG RxCUI 309097 500 MG RxCUI 309098

Look up RxCUI 2194 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Cefuroxime costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet · Oral 250 mg $0.280 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 500 mg $0.366 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet 250 mg $0.280 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet 500 mg $0.366 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Cefuroxime brand names

Cefuroxime is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Ceftin, Cefuroxime Axetil. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Ceftin Cefuroxime Axetil

Who makes Cefuroxime: manufacturers and labelers

18 companies list Cefuroxime products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are A-S Medication Solutions, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

A-S Medication Solutions 10 Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 6 NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4 PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4 Aurobindo Pharma Limited 3 Redpharm Drug 3 American Health Packaging 2 Ascend Laboratories, LLC 2 Coupler LLC 2 Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. 2 NorthStar Rx LLC 2 Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. 2 Sagent Pharmaceuticals 2 Advanced Rx of Tennessee, LLC 1 Major Pharmaceuticals 1 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 Proficient Rx LP 1 Remedyrepack Inc. 1

Cefuroxime drug class (RxNorm)

Cefuroxime belongs to the Cephalosporin Antibacterial class.

Pharmacologic class Cephalosporin Antibacterial
Drug family (ATC) Second-generation cephalosporins, Antibiotics

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Cefuroxime page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jul 31, 2025
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Cefuroxime.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Cefuroxime after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
39
Finished products in the current FDA directory
49
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
18
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
19
Linked representative label ⓘ
Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Linked label effective
Jul 31, 2025
Composite sections available
22
Linked SPL Set ID
bc9200d2-4a6d-4847-ba85-8e9d378390de
Linked SPL Document ID
bc9200d2-4a6d-4847-ba85-8e9d378390de
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗
NDC package records associated with this linked SPL 1

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →