Drug interactions
Cefuroxime + Cimetidine
Severity: Moderate
Cefuroxime and Cimetidine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Reduced gastric acidity decreases absorption of cefuroxime axetil. This may lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic levels.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cefuroxime and Cimetidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Cefuroxime belongs to Anti Bacterial; Cimetidine belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Higher gastric pH reduces cefuroxime axetil absorption.
What to do
Give cefuroxime axetil with food and monitor clinical response. Consider avoiding acid suppression or choosing another antibiotic.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Cimetidine
- Cimetidine + Dofetilide Contraindicated
- Cimetidine + Fezolinetant Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Cimetidine Major
- Atazanavir + Cimetidine Major
- Carmustine + Cimetidine Major
- Cimetidine + Citalopram Major
Other interactions of Cefuroxime
- Aluminum hydroxide + Cefuroxime Moderate
- Amikacin + Cefuroxime Moderate
- Bcg vaccine live + Cefuroxime Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Cefuroxime Moderate
- Calcium + Cefuroxime Moderate
- Cefuroxime + Cholera vaccine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cefuroxime with Cimetidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cefuroxime and Cimetidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Reduced gastric acidity decreases absorption of cefuroxime axetil. This may lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic levels.
How serious is the interaction between Cefuroxime and Cimetidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give cefuroxime axetil with food and monitor clinical response. Consider avoiding acid suppression or choosing another antibiotic.
What other medicines interact with Cimetidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cimetidine with, for example, Dofetilide, Fezolinetant, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Cimetidine page.
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