Cefepime (SEFF-eh-peem)
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What Maxipime is used for
Maxipime contains cefepime which belongs to a group of antibiotics called cephalosporins. These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing the infection.
Maxipime is an injectable antibiotic used for serious infections in adults caused by bacteria in the lungs (pneumonia and bronchitis), in the kidney and bladder (urinary tract infections), in the skin, inside the abdomen (peritonitis and biliary tract infections), in the womb or vagina, or in the blood (septicaemia). It may be given before surgery or if you have a lack of white blood cells with fever.
Maxipime is also used for serious infections in children over 2 months of age caused by bacteria in the lungs (pneumonia), in the kidney and bladder (urinary tract infections), or in the skin; or in the blood; or if the child has a lack of white blood cells with fever.
There may be other reasons why your doctor has prescribed Maxipime. Ask your doctor why Maxipime has been prescribed for you.
Before you are given Maxipime
When you must not be given Maxipime
You must not take Maxipime if you have a history of severe allergic reactions to Maxipime, cephalosporins or to any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction may include; chills, fever, fast heart beat, wheezing or coughing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, flushing, sweating and swelling of the face, tongue or other parts of the body.
You should not be given Maxipime if you have had a serious reaction to cephalosporin, beta-lactam or penicillin antibiotics.
Before you are given Maxipime
Before you are given Maxipime your doctor must know -
if you have ever had any type of allergic reaction to antibiotic medicines
if you have any allergies to other medicines or to any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes
if you have ever had any other health problems or medical conditions such as:
kidney disease
severe bowel conditions or bowel disease
frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers or lack of white blood cells (neutropenia)
a recent bone marrow transplant
cancer of the blood
low blood pressure
if you have ever suffered diarrhoea as a result of taking medicine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if
you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed
Like most medicines Maxipime is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast feeding. However your doctor will discuss with you the possible risks and benefits of using Maxipime during pregnancy.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with Maxipime, these include -
any other antibiotic
fluid tablets (diuretics) such as Lasix, Midamor, or Moduretic.
These medicines may be affected by Maxipime, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
Children
Maxipime may be given to infants (over 2 months old) and children; Maxipime is not recommended if the infant is less than 2 months old.
How Maxipime is given
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. This dose will be based on your size, as well as the severity and location of your infection.
The usual adult dose is 1 gram given by injection every 12 hours (2 each day) for 7 to 10 days.
The dose of Maxipime for children aged 2 months to 12 years old will depend on the weight of the child, the severity of the infection and the medical condition of the child.
How it is given
Maxipime is given as a slow injection (or drip) directly into a vein or as a deep injection into a large muscle.
The injection will be given to you by a nurse or doctor, you will not be giving the injection to yourself.
Laboratory Tests: Maxipime may cause adverse effects to the blood, liver or kidneys which are detected by laboratory testing. It may be necessary to monitor these effects by having your blood samples analysed regularly. Your doctor will advise if it is necessary for you to have these tests done.
Overdose
Usually you will be in hospital when receiving Maxipime. Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose. Ask your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns when you are receiving Maxipime.
While you are being given Maxipime
Things you must do
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, you must tell your doctor.
If you get severe diarrhoea tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately even if it occurs several weeks after Maxipime has been stopped.
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 checking with your doctor first.
If you get a sore white mouth or tongue while receiving or soon after stopping Maxipime, 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 Maxipime allows fungi to grow and the symptoms described above to occur. Maxipime does not work against fungi.
If you become pregnant while you are being given Maxipime tell your doctor.
If you are about to start taking any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are receiving Maxipime.
If you have your urine tested for sugar while you are receiving Maxipime, make sure your doctor knows which test is used. Maxipime may affect the results of some of these tests.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Maxipime.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Maxipime affects you. Maxipime generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However as with other medicines, Maxipime may cause dizziness, drowsiness or tiredness in some people. If this happens, do not drive.
Side Effects
It is important that you tell a nurse, doctor or pharmacist if you experience any problems when you are being treated with Maxipime.
Maxipime helps most people with infections, but it may cause some unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines have side effects, some times they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need special medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you notice any of the following.
insomnia, anxiety, nervousness,, confusion
passing little or no urine, painful urination, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, headache, weakness, fever, numbness, fluid retention
severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps, watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody, fever with one or both of the above symptoms
fever, chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers
The most common side-effects are listed below;
rash, itchy red skin
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation
headache, fever
oral thrush - white, furry, sore tongue and mouth; vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
pain or swelling at injection site
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following;
signs of a sudden life-threatening allergic reaction, such as chills, fever, fast heart beat, wheezing or coughing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, flushing, sweating and swelling of the face, tongue or other parts of the body
signs of altered mental state, such as; confusion, hallucinations, lethargy, tremor, seizures or muscle twitching
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
After treatment with Maxipime is finished
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after the treatment with Maxipime has stopped -
severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
watery and severe diarrhoea, which may also be bloody
fever with one or both of the above symptoms
These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel. Therefore you may need urgent medical attention. Although this side effect is rare, do not take diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
The list above is not a complete list of ALL possible side effects. Your doctor can tell you more about the safety of Maxipime. Also, as with any medicine, there are some side effects which are not yet known. Ask you doctor if you have any questions.
Storage
Maxipime will be stored in the pharmacy or the Ward appropriately The powder for injection is usually kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Product description
What Maxipime looks like.
Maxipime is a white to pale yellow powder.
Ingredients.
Each vial contains the active ingredient cefepime hydrochloride 500mg, 1g or 2g.
The vials also contain the inactive ingredient L-arginine.
The contents of each vial are dissolved in sterile water, 5% glucose or saline for injection before the injection is given.
Sponsor
Maxipime is manufactured in Italy and distributed in Australia by
Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals
A division of Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd,
556 Princes Highway,
Noble Park, Victoria 3174.
Australian Registration Numbers:
500mg vial - AUST R 52796 (not marketed)
1g vial - AUST R 52805
2g vial (77mL bottle) - AUST R 52809
This leaflet was updated in April 2011
Please note that knowledge about the safety of all medicines may change over time. You should, therefore, see your doctor if you have any questions about Maxipime at any time.
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