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What is cefaclor?
Cefaclor is in a group of drugs called cephalosporin (SEF a low spor in) antibiotics. It works by fighting bacteria in your body. Cefaclor is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria. Cefaclor may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

Pricing information provided by drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of cefaclor?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• fever, sore throat, and joint pain with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

• numbness or tingly feeling;

• warmth, redness, or tingling under your skin;

• swelling in your hands or feet;

• fast or pounding heartbeats;

• chest pain, shortness of breath.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, stomach pain, constipation, loss of appetite;

• anxiety, drowsiness;

• increased night-time urination;

• headache;

• runny nose, sore throat, cough; or

• vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take cefaclor?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Cefaclor works best if you take it with a meal or within 30 minutes of a meal. The cefaclor chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it. Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

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What is the most important information I should know about cefaclor?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to cefaclor, or to similar antibiotics, such as Ceftin, Cefzil, Duricef, Fortaz, Keflex, Omnicef, Spectracef, Suprax, and others. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs (especially penicillin). Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Cefaclor will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect cefaclor?
There may be other drugs that can affect cefaclor. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start taking a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Cefaclor has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies failed to reveal evidence of fetal harm. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Cefaclor should only be given during pregnancy when need has been clearly established.

Cefaclor is excreted into human milk in small amounts. Adverse effects in the nursing infant are unlikely. Other cephalosporins have been classified as compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to cefaclor, any other cephalosporin, or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach, pain, or diarrhea.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cefaclor?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to cefaclor or to other cephalosporin antibiotics, such as: cefadroxil (Duricef); cefdinir (Omnicef); cefditoren (Spectracef); cefixime (Suprax); cefprozil (Cefzil); ceftazidime (Fortaz); cefuroxime (Ceftin); cephalexin (Keflex); and others. Before taking cefaclor, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, especially penicillins. FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you have been diagnosed with a disease for which an antibiotic is needed, you must complete the prescribed course of treatment. Even if you start to feel better, do not skip any doses and remember to take the medication until it is all gone.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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