Suprax 200 mg and 400 mg Capsules contains a medicine called cefixime. This belongs to a group of antibiotics called ‘cephalosporins’.

Suprax is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

These include infections of the:

• Ear
•  Nose, sinuses (such as sinusitis)
• Throat (such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis)
• Chest and lungs (such as bronchitis, pneumonia)
• Urinary system (such as cystitis and kidney infections)

Do not take Suprax:

• If you are allergic to cefixime, any other cephalosporin antibiotics including penicillin or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
  Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of the lips, face, throat and tongue.

Do not take this medicine if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Suprax.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Suprax:

• If you have ever had colitis
• If you have kidney problems

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Other medicines and Suprax

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Suprax can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way Suprax works.

In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking the following:

• Medicines to thin the blood such as warfarin

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

 Driving and using machines

This medicine can cause symptoms including fits (convulsions), feeling confused, feeling less alert or aware of things than usual, unusual muscle movements or stiffness. If you experience any of these effects don’t drive or use machinery.

Medical tests

If you require any tests (such as blood or urine tests) while taking this medicine, please make sure your doctor knows that you are taking Suprax.

Suprax contains sunset yellow FCF and azorubine

Suprax 200 mg Capsules contains sunset yellow FCF. Each capsule of Suprax 200 mg Capsules contains 0.03 mg sunset yellow FCF. It may cause allergic reactions.

Suprax 400 mg Capsules contains azorubine. Each capsule of Suprax 400 mg Capsules contains 0.14 mg azorubine. It may cause allergic reactions.

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

• Take this medicine by mouth
• Swallow capsules whole with a drink of water
• If you feel the effect of the medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor.

Carefully read the label from the pharmacist. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure about the dose to take. The medicine should be taken for the prescribed number of days.

The recommended dose is:

Adults, elderly and children over 10 years or weighing more than 50 kg

• 200-400 mg each day given as a single or divided dose

People with kidney problems

• Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose

Children under 10 years old

• Suprax should not be given to children under 10 years old

If you take more Suprax than you should

If you have too much of this medicine, talk to your doctor straight away.

If you forget to take Suprax

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Suprax

Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor. You should not stop taking Suprax just because you feel better. This is because the infection may come back or get worse again.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor straight away or go to the nearest hospital casualty department if you notice any of the following serious side effects – you may need urgent medical treatment:

• You have an allergic reaction. The signs may include: a rash, joint pain, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
• Blistering or bleeding of the skin around the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals. Also flu-like symptoms and fever. This may be something called ‘Stevens-Johnson’ syndrome
• Severe blistering rash where layers of the skin may peel off to leave large areas of raw exposed skin over the body. Also a feeling of being generally unwell, fever, chills and aching muscles. This may be something called ‘Toxic epidermal necrolysis’
• You have a skin rash or skin lesions with a pink/red ring and a pale centre which may be itchy, scaly or filled with fluid. The rash may appear especially on the palms or soles of your feet. These could be signs of a serious allergy to the medicine called ‘erythema multiforme’
• You get infections more easily than usual. This could be because of a blood disorder. This normally gets better after stopping the medicine
• You bruise or bleed more easily than normal. This could be because of a blood disorder. This normally gets better after stopping the medicine
• If your child gets nose bleeds, bleeding gums, chills, tiredness, pale skin (often with a yellow tinge), shortness of breath. This may be due to haemolytic anaemia.
• Changes in the way the kidneys are working or blood in your child’s urine
• Fits (convulsions) - Frequency not known
• A brain condition with symptoms including fits (convulsions), feeling confused, feeling less alert or aware of things than usual, unusual muscle movements or stiffness. This may be something called encephalopathy. This side effect is more likely if you have taken an overdose or you already have a problem with your kidneys

Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor without delay if you get:

• Severe watery diarrhoea that will not stop and you are feeling weak and have a fever. This may be something called ‘Pseudomembranous colitis’

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get serious or lasts longer than a few days:

•  Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Stomach pains, indigestion or wind
• Headaches
• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling itchy in the genital or vaginal area

Tell your doctor if any of the side effects gets serious or lasts longer than a few days, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet.

Blood tests

Suprax can cause blood clots or small changes to the way the liver and kidney work. This would be shown up in blood tests. This is not common and goes back to normal after stopping this medicine.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not store above 30°C.

Store in the original package.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the package after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not use this medicine if you notice any visible signs of deterioration.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.