Generic Duricef

Duricef is an antibiotic known as a cephalosporin and can be generically prescribed as cefadroxil. Duricef is commonly used to fight bacterial infections including but not limited to urinary tract infection, skin infections, ear infections, bronchitis, and tonsillitis. Duricef should be taken even if the initial symptoms are alleviated for as long as the prescribing physician has recommended. The potential for the infection to return is significant for patients who prematurely stop taking their antibiotic. Medication that has not been used should be discarded after 14 days.

Duricef is not appropriate for all patients and should not be randomly prescribed without first consulting with the patient to understand a medical history. Duricef may not be well tolerated by patients with a medical history which includes a gastrointestinal disease or kidney disease. Patients with these conditions may require careful monitoring if they can tolerate the medication at all, depending on the condition and its severity.

Duricef receive a category B pregnancy risk rating by the American Food and Drug Administration, which means that there is no evidence that this medication is likely to cause harm or birth defects in an unborn baby. The prescribing physician should discuss the benefits and risks with a pregnant patient before prescribing this medication. Duricef has been proven to pass through the mother’s breast milk and is likely to affect a nursing baby. The prescribing physician should avoid prescribing Duricef to women who are nursing.

Side effects are likely with Duricef. Patients who experience swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, hives, and difficulty breathing are experiencing an allergic reaction and require immediate medical assessment. Patients who experience an unusual level of bruising or bleeding, mucous or blood in the stools, rash, redness, itching, severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, or dehydration caused by severe vomiting or diarrhea are in need of immediate emergency medical attention as these are considered abnormally severe side effects.

Less serious side effects may include a vaginal yeast infection, a yeast infection in the mouth, or a mild amount of nausea and vomiting and should simply be reported to the prescribing physician for monitoring and dosage purposes.

If the patient misses a dose, the dose should be taken as soon as it is remembered. Doses thereafter should then be evenly spaced with approximately 4-6 hours between doses, depending on the prescription dosing. Patients should not make up a missed dose by doubling up on their medication. Taking double doses will not speed recovery time, either. Taking doses close together or self administering a double dose is likely to cause an overdose which may lead to other health complications. An overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal cramps and requires immediate medical assessment.

Other medications may react with Duricef in an unpleasant manner. Patients should be aware of drug interactions and consult with the prescribing physician before taking any new medications , including over the counter medications and herbal remedies. Physicians should be assured they have a written copy of a current medication list and that it is updated upon each visit. Medications with known interactions with Duricef include probenecid, additional antibiotics, warfarin or other blood thinning medications, and loop diuretics such as torsemide, furosemide, bumetanide, and ethacrynic acid.