Cefadroxil

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
Updated on September 9, 2023

Cefadroxil (sef a DROKS il) is a generic medication prescribed for certain bacterial infections in adults and certain children. Cefadroxil belongs to a group of drugs called cephalosporin antibiotics.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cefadroxil to treat bacterial infections, including:

• infections of the skin
• infections of the throat and/or tonsils
• urinary tract infection (UTI)

For more information about these conditions, see the “Uses of cefadroxil” section.

Side effects of cefadroxil

Cefadroxil may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of cefadroxil and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about cefadroxil’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for cefadroxil listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of cefadroxil are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about cefadroxil’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for cefadroxil listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Mild side effects of cefadroxil oral tablet and oral capsule include:

• diarrhea
• indigestion
• nausea
• vomiting
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for cefadroxil” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of cefadroxil are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about cefadroxil’s side effects based on the form, refer to the prescribing information for cefadroxil listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, cefadroxil’s serious side effects include:

• bleeding problems
• Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (watery or bloody diarrhea)
• genital infections
• kidney problems
• liver problems
• low blood cell counts, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets
• seizures
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for cefadroxil” section.

Uses of cefadroxil

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as cefadroxil for certain conditions. Approved uses for cefadroxil are described below.

Use for bacterial infections

Doctors may prescribe cefadroxil oral capsule, oral tablet, or oral suspension (a type of liquid mixture) for treating certain bacterial infections. It’s used for this purpose in adults and certain children. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

Cefadroxil is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, including:

• infections of the skin
• infections of the throat and/or tonsils
• urinary tract infection (UTI)

With bacterial infections, bacteria grow and multiply in your body. Symptoms of the infection will vary depending on where the infection is located. For example, a tonsil infection can cause pain with swallowing. A UTI can cause pain or burning with urination or a frequent need to urinate. Cefadroxil can help clear bacterial infections.

Common questions about cefadroxil

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about cefadroxil.

What brand names are available for cefadroxil?

Currently, there aren’t any brand-name drugs available for cefadroxil. Cefadroxil is a generic version of the brand-name drugs, Duricef and Ultracef. But these drugs are no longer on the market.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work. Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.

To find out more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is cefadroxil similar to Keflex or amoxicillin?

Yes, cefadroxil is similar to Keflex (cephalexin). Both of these drugs are a type of antibiotic called cephalosporin. They have similar uses, side effects, and warnings.

Cefadroxil is also similar to amoxicillin, but they aren’t in the same group of drugs. Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. Penicillin antibiotics are closely related to cephalosporin antibiotics. They often treat the same kinds of bacterial infections and have similar side effects. In addition, having an allergy to one group of drugs increases the risk of developing an allergy to the other group.

You can learn more about how cefadroxil compares with other antibiotics by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does cefadroxil work? And how long does it take to start working?

Cefadroxil works by killing bacteria that are causing an infection. This helps your body get rid of the infection.

Cefadroxil will start working as soon as you take it. But it can take some time for your symptoms to go away. It’s important to keep taking cefadroxil, even when you start to feel better. Completing the full course of cefadroxil as prescribed will help stop the infection from coming back. Infections that come back are often harder to treat.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions and warnings for cefadroxil

Below you’ll find information about cefadroxil’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of cefadroxil

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take cefadroxil, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for cefadroxil” section below.

Warnings for cefadroxil

Some people should not take cefadroxil, and others should take it cautiously.

Cefadroxil could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether cefadroxil is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for cefadroxil, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Cefadroxil can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to cefadroxil or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe cefadroxil. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• severe skin rashes that may blister and peel
• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to cefadroxil, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of cefadroxil

You should not take more cefadroxil than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much cefadroxil, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and cefadroxil

Information about cefadroxil and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Cefadroxil and pregnancy

It’s not known whether cefadroxil should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Cefadroxil and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether cefadroxil should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about cefadroxil or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What is the most important information I should know about cefadroxil?
• Do any of my other medications interact with cefadroxil?
• How does cefadroxil compare with other antibiotics that could treat my condition?

Resources

• Cefadroxil capsules, USP. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/33469eb4-e34f-4fe7-9be0-244b8b9ff238/spl-doc#Section_10
• Cefadroxil for oral suspension, USP. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/30bb3686-87b4-4676-9ff5-e20deb8bff9d/spl-doc
• Cefadroxil tablets USP. (2018). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/4674a05c-fdef-4737-a4b8-e3229bdada9d/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

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.