Doctors may prescribe cefdinir to treat any of the following conditions when caused by bacteria:
- community-acquired pneumonia
- flare-ups of chronic bronchitis
- sinus infection
- strep throat
- tonsillitis
- uncomplicated skin infections
This article describes possible side effects of cefdinir oral capsule. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for cefdinir. You can explore this overview article to learn more about cefdinir oral capsule, including the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Cefdinir oral capsule is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Cefdinir also comes in a liquid suspension that you swallow, but this article does not describe this form. To learn more about it, talk with your doctor.
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More common side effects of cefdinir
Cefdinir oral capsule may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of cefdinir oral capsule include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of cefdinir in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of cefdinir
Cefdinir may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of cefdinir oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
- loss of appetite
- abdominal pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- headache
- indigestion
- gas
- nausea and vomiting
- insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
- vaginal yeast infection*
- weakness
- mild allergic reaction*
Cefdinir oral capsule may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of cefdinir in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of cefdinir
Cefdinir may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from cefdinir oral capsule, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with cefdinir.
Serious side effects of cefdinir oral capsule that occurred in studies include:
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection and associated severe diarrhea*
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of cefdinir in detail” section below.
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Get free cardCommon questions about side effects of cefdinir
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of cefdinir oral capsule. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do side effects of cefdinir typically last?
It depends and can vary from person to person. But in general, most side effects caused by cefdinir should go away on their own in a few hours or days.
If you experience side effects from cefdinir that bother you or don’t go away, contact your doctor or pharmacist. They can review your symptoms and, if appropriate, recommend a treatment for them.
Are behavioral side effects possible with cefdinir?
No, it’s not likely. Behavioral side effects weren’t reported in studies of cefdinir in adults. And most children taking the drug in studies didn’t report any behavioral side effects.
But in very rare cases, hyperkinesia was reported in children treated with cefdinir oral suspension. Hyperkinesia in children refers to restlessness or extremely active behavior. This side effect wasn’t reported in adults during studies of cefdinir oral capsules.
Does cefdinir cause long-term side effects?
No, long-term side effects aren’t expected with cefdinir oral capsule. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.
Keep in mind that doctors typically prescribe cefdinir as a short-term treatment.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects of cefdinir.
Does cefdinir cause certain side effects in babies?
Cefdinir is not approved for use in children ages 6 months and younger. For children, doctors prescribe cefdinir to treat the following conditions when caused by bacteria:
- sinus infection in children ages 6 months and older
- community-acquired pneumonia in children ages 13 years and older
- flare-ups of chronic bronchitis in children ages 13 years and older
- strep throat in children ages 13 years and older
- tonsillitis in children ages 13 years and older
- uncomplicated skin infections in children ages 13 years and older
In studies, the following side effects were more common in children than in adults:
These side effects were more common in children ages 2 years and younger.
If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking cefdinir, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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Side effects of cefdinir in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of cefdinir oral capsule.
C. diff infection and associated severe diarrhea
In studies, C. diff infection and associated severe diarrhea were rare in people taking cefdinir oral capsule. This side effect may be serious or even life threatening in extreme cases. This side effect could occur up to 2 months after your last dose of cefdinir.
C. diff infections can occur when taking any antibiotic, including cefdinir. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria. When bacteria are causing an infection, this helps treat the infection. But your body also contains “good” bacteria that play an important role in functions such as maintaining gut health. Unfortunately, antibiotics can’t distinguish between “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria that cause infections. When antibiotics kill “good” bacteria in the gut, a C. diff infection can occur.
Symptoms may include:
- diarrhea, which can be severe
- abdominal cramps and pain
- loss of appetite
- a general sense of feeling unwell
- nausea
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of a C. diff infection, immediately tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend starting treatment with a different antibiotic that can treat this infection. They may also have you stop taking cefdinir.
Vaginal yeast infection
Vaginal yeast infections were somewhat common in females* taking cefdinir oral capsule in studies. This side effect is usually mild.
A vaginal yeast infection is an infection of the vagina caused by an overgrowth of yeast cells. A healthy vagina contains both bacteria and some yeast cells. A yeast infection can occur when the balance between bacteria and yeast is disrupted. For example, this can happen when an antibiotic such as cefdinir kills vaginal bacteria.
Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include:
- vaginal itching
- vaginal swelling
- burning during sex or urination
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend treatment with an antifungal medication, such as fluconazole.
Allergic reaction
For some people, cefdinir oral capsule can cause an allergic reaction. These reactions were rare in studies of cefdinir but can still occur.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Additionally, potentially life threatening allergic skin reactions have occurred in people taking cefdinir. These reactions include Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Symptoms may include:
- A red or discolored skin rash that causes the skin to blister, loosen, and peel
- blisters on your eyes, skin, mouth, nose, or genitals
- broken, shedding, or raw skin
These reactions require immediate treatment in a hospital or emergency room.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to cefdinir oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for cefdinir
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking cefdinir oral capsule.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take cefdinir oral capsule if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether cefdinir oral capsule is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking cefdinir oral capsule, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- colitis
- kidney condition
- penicillin allergy
- past allergic reaction to cefdinir
Cefdinir and pregnancy
It’s not known whether cefdinir oral capsule should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Cefdinir and breastfeeding
In general, cefdinir oral capsule is considered safe to take while breastfeeding. That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically.
Cefdinir and alcohol
Cefdinir oral capsule is not known to interact with alcohol.
However, if you have certain side effects from cefdinir, drinking alcohol could worsen them. Examples include diarrhea, indigestion, and headache.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with cefdinir oral capsule.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of cefdinir oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How do side effects of cefdinir compare with those of other antibiotics that could treat my infection?
- Will I have certain side effects when I stop taking cefdinir?
- How will you determine whether my symptoms are side effects from taking cefdinir or caused by my infection?
- Will I need to have any lab work to check for side effects while I’m taking cefdinir?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.