Some bacterial diseases, including pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract (lung) infections, as well as infections of the skin, ears, throat, tonsils, and urinary tract, are treated with cefaclor. Cefaclor belongs to the group of drugs known as cephalosporin antibiotics. It acts by preventing bacterial development.

Colds, the flu, or other viral diseases cannot be treated with antibiotics like cefaclor. Antibiotic overuse raises the likelihood that you’ll get an infection later on that is resistant to antibiotic therapy.

Cefaclor is available as a liquid suspension, an extended-release (long-acting) tablet, and a capsule. Every 8 or 12 hours, the capsule and drink are typically taken with or without food. The long-acting tablet is typically taken every 12 hours (twice a day) for 7 to 10 days, within an hour of eating a meal. Cefaclor should be taken every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Provide cefaclor precisely as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Before each use, thoroughly shake the suspension to combine the medication.

Do not split, chew, or crush the long-acting tablets; instead, swallow them whole.

Within the first several days of receiving cefaclor medication, you should start to feel better. Call your doctor if your symptoms don’t go away or get worse.

Even if you feel better, continue taking cefaclor until the prescription is finished. Your illness could not be entirely treated if you stop taking cefaclor too soon or skip doses, and the bacteria might develop an antibiotic resistance.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking cefaclor,

• If you have an allergy to cefaclor or any other cephalosporin antibiotics, including cefadroxil, cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cefdinir, cefditoren (Spectracef), cefepime (Maxipime), cefixime (Suprax), or cefotaxime, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once (Claforan), ceftibuten (Cedax), ceftriaxone (Rocephin), cefotetan (Mefoxin), cefoxitin (Ceftin, Kefurox, Zinacef), cefpodoxime (Cefzil), ceftaroline (Teflaro), ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazicef, in Avycaz), and cephalexin (Keflex); antibiotics containing penicillin; or any other drugs. Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to the components of cefaclor suspension, extended-release pills, or capsules. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), and probenecid should be mentioned (Probalan). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• In particular, mention colitis (a disorder that causes swelling in the lining of the colon [large intestine]), allergies, gastrointestinal disease (GI; affecting the stomach or intestines), and kidney disease to your doctor.
• Use antacids containing magnesium or aluminium one hour prior to or one hour after taking cefaclor extended release tablets.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking cefaclor.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Cefaclor’s negative effects could occur. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Sexual itching

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Rash
• Sensation of itching, prickling, burning, or stinging on the skin
• Hives
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Wheezing
• Swelling of the arms, legs, cheeks, tongue, lips, neck, eyes, or mouth
• Lacking energy or fainting
• Joints hurt
• Stomach pains, fever, or bloody or watery stools while receiving treatment or for two or more months after it is stopped
• Fever, chills, sore throat, or other indicators of illness that come back

Further negative effects of cefaclor are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. The capsules and tablets should be kept at room temperature, away from sources of extreme heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Keeping the medications away from light is also a good idea. Keep liquid medications tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, and after 14 days, throw away any unused medicines.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor how your body is responding to cefaclor, your doctor may request specific lab tests.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are taking cefaclor prior to any laboratory test.

Use Clinistix or TesTape (not Clinitest) to test your urine for sugar if you have diabetes and are taking this medicine.

No one else should take your medication. It’s likely that your prescription cannot be renewed.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.