CEPOREX SYRUP 250MG

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Ceporex syrup 250mg
(cefalexin)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it
contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may
harm them, even if their side effects are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any
possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
If this medicine was prescribed by your DENTIST, please read dentist wherever you see
doctor in this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Ceporex Syrup is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Ceporex Syrup
3. How to take Ceporex Syrup
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Ceporex Syrup
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1.

WHAT CEPOREX SYRUP IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

Ceporex syrup contains cefalexin which is an antibiotic belonging to the cephalosporin
class. Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria or "germs" which cause infections. Ceporex
syrup is used to treat infections of the chest, ear, nose, throat, urinary systems, bone, flesh
and skin. Genital infections, eg gonorrheoa and those resulting from childbirth, are also
treated with Ceporex. Your doctor has prescribed this medicine because he has found that
you have one of these infections.
You may also be prescribed Ceporex by your dentist to treat dental infections, or if you have
heart disease you may be given this medicine before a more complicated dental procedure to
prevent further heart problems.
2.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE CEPOREX SYRUP

Do not take Ceporex Syrup

if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any cephalosporin antibiotic, such as cefalexin,
cefuroxime, cefradine or cefaclor
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking this medicine:
 if you are allergic to any penicillin antibiotic, such as penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin
or flucloxicillin
 if you suffer from any kidney problems

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if you are on kidney dialysis
if you are diabetic (cefalexin can interfere with some urine sugar tests)
If you develop diarrhoea

If you are having a blood test, it is important to tell your doctor that you are taking this
medicine as it may affect the result.
Other medicines and Ceporex Syrup
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking , have recently taken or might take any
medicines, including those medicines obtained without a prescription.
This is especially important if you are taking:
-

gentamycin (an antibiotic used in severe infections) taken with cefalexin can cause a
reduction of potassium in the blood. Low blood potassium can cause muscle
weakness or cramps.

-

probenecid, usually used in the treatment of gout; taking probenecid with cefalexin
increases the action of the cefalexin and the length of time the drug stays in your
system.

-

metformin (used in the treatment of diabetes)

 diuretic “water” tablets (medicines which reduce water retention by increasing the
volume of urine, e.g. furosemide, ethacrynic acid)
 Anticoagulants (medicines that prevent the clotting of blood (e.e warfarin)
 Any other antibiotics (e.g. aminoglycosides, polymyxin, colistin)
- combined oral contraceptives . Ceporex Tablets may reduce the effectiveness of
combined oral contraceptives. Therefore a second, non-hormonal form of
contraception, such as a condom, should be used while taking Ceporex Tablets and
for seven days after the course of Ceporex has stopped. You should discuss this
with your doctor or pharmacist. The advice differs when the course of Ceporex lasts
for three weeks or more; discuss with your doctor or pharmacist. If you answer
“YES” to any of these questions, check with your doctor first BEFORE you take any
of your medicine. Your doctor may decide that the benefits of taking Ceporex
outweigh any risks that there may be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are breast-feeding, you should ask
your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking Ceporex or any other medicine.
Driving and using machines
Ceporex may make cause side effects such as dizziness, fatigue and confusion and may
affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. If affected, do drive or operate
machines
Ceporex Syrup contains sunset yellow (E110)
Ceporex Syrup contains sunset yellow colouring (E110) which may cause an allergic
reaction including asthma, although this allergy is more common in people allergic to
aspirin.

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If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars
(hereditary fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome, or sucroseisomaltase deficiency). You should talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
Ceporex 250mg contains 2.830g of sucrose per 5ml of suspension.
3

HOW TO TAKE CEPOREX SYRUP

Always take Ceporex Syrup exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check
with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Look at the label - it should say WHO should take it, HOW MANY 5ml spoonfuls and
WHEN. If it does not say all this or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If
prescribed for a CHILD, make sure the medicine is taken as the label says.
Use the 5ml spoon that the pharmacist has given you to measure the amount of medicine to
take. It is best to take the syrup as it is. Do NOT add water or other drinks to the bottle, that
may stop it working properly.
The usual doses to be taken by mouth are as follows:
adults and children over 12 years of age - 1g (1000mg) twice daily.
children 7 to 12 years - 500mg to 1g twice daily.
children 1 to 6 years - 250mg to 500mg twice daily.
children less than 1 year - 62.5mg to 125mg twice daily.
Your dose, number of times a day, and length of time you need to take the medicine varies
depending on your infection. It is important therefore, that you follow the instructions on the
label carefully.
If you have kidney disease, your dose may be lowered.
If you are receiving intermittent dialysis, you should be given an additional dose of Ceporex
syrup after each dialysis.
If you forget to take Ceporex Syrup
If you forget to take a dose, it is important to take another as soon as you remember. Then
go on as before.
If you take more Ceporex Syrup than you should
It is important to stick to the dose on the label of your medicine. Taking more than this dose
is unlikely to be dangerous unless a lot of the syrup is taken at once. In that case, don't
delay; ask your doctor what to do or contact your nearest hospital emergency department.
If you stop taking Ceporex Syrup
Keep taking the medicine until you have finished the full course of treatment that your
doctor has prescribed for you. Do not stop taking the medicine, even if you feel better. This
will make sure that the infection has completely cleared.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you get any of the following side effects you should stop taking Ceporex and tell your
doctor immediately or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital, as these may
be signs of a serious allergic reaction:
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sudden wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of your eyelids, face, lips, mouth or throat
a rash resembling hives or nettle rash
if your skin becomes itchy, red or swollen or you develop blisters
pain or swelling in your joints or swollen glands
fever
feeling faint accompanied by one or some of the other reactions above

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice the following as you may require urgent medical
attention:


diarrhoea which becomes severe or contains blood or mucus

Other side effects of Ceporex Tablets include:
 diarrhoea (which may be bloody)

 feeling sick or being sick

 stomach discomfort

 headache

 kidney problems

 jaundice (yellowing of the skin and

the whites of the eyes)
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 liver problems
 seeing and hearing things which are

not there (hallucinations)
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 Itching
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 Red wheals on the skin (Urticaria)
(alone)

dizziness
nervousness
confusion, agitation, tiredness
difficulty sleeping
muscle tightness
hyperactivity
irritation or inflammation of the
vagina, including thrush or discharge
dyspepsia
Itching around the genitals or anus
Pain or swelling in the joints

Very rarely this medicine may lower the levels of certain blood cells, these will return to
normal when you stop taking Ceporex Syrup (symptoms may include sore throat, mouth
ulcers or feeling weak).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any
possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the
Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can
help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. HOW TO STORE CEPOREX SYRUP
Keep out of the sight and of children.
Your Ceporex will have already been made up by the pharmacist before it was given to you.
Store the made up syrup at 2C - 8C in a refrigerator.
Once dispensed by your pharmacist, the syrup will only keep for 10 days. Any syrup
remaining after this time should be given back to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
The pack should not be dispensed after the expiry date printed on the bottle label or carton.
If for any reason you have been given Ceporex still in its granule form, it should be stored at
room temperature (below 25C).
If your doctor stops your treatment, return any unused medicine to your pharmacist for safe
disposal.
6.

CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION

What your Ceporex syrup contains
When made up with water, each 5ml spoonful contains:
The active ingredient - cefalexin 250mg.
Other ingredients - sucrose, acacia powder, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium calcium
edetate, sunset yellow colouring (E110) and orange bramble flavouring.
Ceporex Syrup is prepared (usually done by your pharmacist) by adding water to the
granules to give an orange-flavoured and coloured suspension.
Each bottle contains granules to make 100ml of syrup.

Marketing Authorisation holder
Co-pharma Limited, Unit 4, Metro Centre, Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts, UK WD18 9SS.
Manufacturer
PDMS, Almac House, 20 Seagoe Industrial Estate, Craigavon, BT63 5QD, UK.
Leaflet revised March 2016.
The information supplied applies only to CEPOREX SYRUP.