The name of your medicine is Chemmart Cefaclor CD. It contains the active ingredient, cefaclor (as cefaclor monohydrate).
It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria in different parts of the body such as:
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Cefaclor is an antibiotic which belongs to a group called cephalosporins. These are closely related to penicillins.
It works by killing the bacteria causing your infection or by stopping its growth.
It will not work against infections caused by viruses such as colds or the flu.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, but make sure you know how it affects you before driving.
These tablets should not be taken by children under 12 years of age.
If you are elderly your doctor may tell you to take a lower dose (using a different brand) or space the doses further apart.
Do not take this medicine if:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin, fainting or hayfever-like symptoms.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:
1. You have allergies to:
2. You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
3. You are currently pregnant or you plan to become pregnant. Do not take this medicine whilst pregnant until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
4. You are currently breastfeeding or you plan to breastfeed. Do not take this medicine whilst breastfeeding until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
5. You have recently been vaccinated or plan to get a vaccination.
6. You are planning to have surgery.
7. You are currently receiving or are planning to receive dental treatment.
8. You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines. This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interact with cefaclor. These include:
Talk to your doctor about the need for an additional method of contraception while taking cefaclor.
Some antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of some birth control pills, although this has not been shown with cefaclor.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with cefaclor.
Follow carefully all directions given to you from your doctor or pharmacist.
Their instructions may be different to the information in this leaflet.
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how much of this medicine you should take. This will depend on your condition and whether you are taking any other medicines.
For most infections, one tablet is usually taken twice daily. This may be doubled to two tablets twice a day for certain types of infections.
If you are elderly your doctor may tell you to take a lower dose (using a different brand) or space the doses further apart.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.
These tablets are taken by mouth.
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not cut, crush or chew them.
If you need to take an antacid tablet for indigestion, leave a gap of at least one hour before or after taking cefaclor.
This medicine is usually taken twice a day, spaced 12 hours apart.
Take it at about the same time each day.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take it before, with or after food, but more is absorbed into the body if you take it with food.
Keep taking this medicine for as long as your doctor tells you, or until you finish the pack, even if you begin to feel better after a few days.
If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
If it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of unwanted side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (Tel: 13 11 26 in Australia) for advice. Alternatively go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much cefaclor, you may develop:
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.
If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking this medicine.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping this medicine, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.
This may mean you have a fungal infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of this medicine allows fungi to grow and the above symptoms to occur.
Tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine if:
Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects. Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.
Do not:
Be careful while driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Cefaclor generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, cefaclor may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking cefaclor or if you have any questions or concerns.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you.
This list includes the more common side effects. Mostly, these are mild:
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following.
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention. Most of these side effects are rare.
If you experience any of the following, stop taking your medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
These are very serious side effects and are usually very rare. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to cefaclor, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Some of these side effects can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress. These include:
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after you have finished taking this medicine:
These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Cefaclor can change bacteria (which are normally present in the bowel and normally harmless), so that they multiply and cause the above symptoms. You may need urgent medical attention.
However, this side effect is rare.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C. Protect from moisture and light.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking this medicine or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the remaining medicine safely.
Blue, capsule shaped tablets with CEFACLOR CD 375 mg printed in black ink on the tablets.
Cartons containing blister packs of 10 tablets.
Each tablet contains 375 mg of cefaclor (as cefaclor monohydrate) as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
The film coating contains:
The printing ink contains:
This medicine is gluten-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of any other azo dyes.
Chemmart Cefaclor CD
375 mg Tablets
Blister packs.
AUST R Number 77099