Cefuroxime: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibacterial sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for infectious bone diseases, escherichia coli infections and gonorrhea. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Cephalosporin Antibacterial
- Treats
- Infectious Bone Diseases, Escherichia Coli Infections and Gonorrhea
- Available as
- Injectable
- Sold as
- 4 products — Zinacef, Zinacef in Plastic Container and Cefuroxime Sodium, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How cefuroxime is dosed
From the FDA label for Cefuroxime and Dextrose in Duplex Container (application NDA050780). Other cefuroxime products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
This product is intended for intravenous administration only. Dosage: Adults: The usual adult dosage range for cefuroxime is 750 mg to 1.5 grams every 8 hours, usually for 5 to 10 days. In uncomplicated urinary tract infections, skin and skin-structure infections, disseminated gonococcal infections, and uncomplicated pneumonia, a 750 mg dose every 8 hours is recommended. In severe or complicated infections, a 1.5 gram dose every 8 hours is recommended. In bone and joint infections, a 1.5 gram dose every 8 hours is recommended. In clinical trials, surgical intervention was performed when indicated as an adjunct to cefuroxime therapy. A course of oral antibacterials was administered when appropriate following the completion of parenteral administration of cefuroxime. In life-threatening infections or infections due to less susceptible organisms, 1.5 grams every 6 hours may be required. In bacterial meningitis, the dosage should not exceed 3 grams every 8 hours. For preventive use for clean-contaminated or potentially contaminated surgical procedures, a 1.5 gram dose administered intravenously just before surgery (approximately one-half to 1 hour before the initial incision) is recommended. Thereafter, give 750 mg intravenously every 8 hours when the procedure is prolonged. For preventive use during open heart surgery, a 1.5 gram dose administered intravenously at the induction…
Cefuroxime side effects
Cefuroxime is generally well tolerated. The most common adverse effects have been local reactions following IV administration. Other adverse reactions have been encountered only rarely. Local Reactions: Thrombophlebitis has occurred with IV administration in 1 in 60 patients. Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 1 in 150 patients and included diarrhea (1 in 220 patients) and nausea (1 in 440 patients). The onset of pseudomembranous colitis may occur during or after antibacterial treatment (see WARNINGS ). Hypersensitivity Reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in fewer than 1% of the patients treated with cefuroxime and include rash (1 in 125). Pruritus, urticaria, and positive Coombs' test each occurred in fewer than 1 in 250 patients, and, as with other cephalosporins, rare cases of anaphylaxis, drug fever, erythema multiforme, interstitial nephritis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have occurred. Blood: A decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit has been observed in 1 in 10 patients and transient eosinophilia in 1 in 14 patients. Less common reactions seen were transient neutropenia (fewer than 1 in 100 patients) and leukopenia (1 in 750 patients). A similar pattern and incidence were seen with other cephalosporins used in controlled studies. As with other cephalosporins, there have been rare reports of…
Who shouldn’t take cefuroxime
Cefuroxime for Injection USP and Dextrose Injection USP is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to the cephalosporin group of antibacterials. Solutions containing dextrose may be contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to corn products.
Every cefuroxime product we track (4)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | 68/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
What cefuroxime pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
How long cefuroxime keeps
The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some cefuroxime labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 4 hours.
Does cefuroxime expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsCefuroxime and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for cefuroxime: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadLimited information indicates that cefuroxime produces low levels in milk that are not expected to cause severe adverse effects in breastfed infants. Cefuroxime does not appear to alter the flora of breastmilk when used alone, but it can alter the infant’s fecal flora.[1] Occasionally, diarrhea or thrush have been reported with cephalosporins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Cefuroxime is acceptable in nursing mothers.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised November 15, 2023. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about cefuroxime
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 1,316 reports naming cefuroxime, and the FDA flagged 97% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- dyspnoea155 reports
- hypersensitivity135 reports
- headache111 reports
- angioedema91 reports
- swelling face91 reports
- anxiety90 reports
- pain in extremity88 reports
- dysphonia87 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean cefuroxime caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is cefuroxime?
Cefuroxime and Dextrose in Duplex Container (Cefuroxime Sodium) is a cephalosporin antibacterial used to treat Infectious Bone Diseases, Escherichia Coli Infections, Gonorrhea, Haemophilus Infections.
What kind of drug is cefuroxime?
The FDA classifies cefuroxime as a cephalosporin antibacterial. Cephalosporins kill bacteria by blocking the proteins they use to build their cell walls. Without an intact wall, the bacterium cannot hold its shape and dies, which clears the infection. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take cefuroxime with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run cefuroxime against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is cefuroxime sold under?
We track 4 cefuroxime-containing products in the U.S.: Zinacef, Zinacef in Plastic Container, Cefuroxime Sodium and Cefuroxime and Dextrose in Duplex Container. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does cefuroxime come in?
Across the brands we track, cefuroxime is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic cefuroxime?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic cefuroxime product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Cefuroxime: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/cefuroxime
- MLA
- “Cefuroxime: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/cefuroxime.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for cefuroxime on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.