Cefaclor 500mg capsules

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

1. What Cefaclor capsules are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Cefaclor capsules
3. How to take Cefaclor capsules
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Cefaclor capsules
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• If you are allergic to cefaclor, any cephalosporin (other similar antibiotics) or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction may include rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Cefaclor capsules

• If you have had an allergic reaction to penicillins or other drugs in the past
• If you have a history of gastrointestinal disease, especially inflammation of the colon (colitis)
• If you have severe kidney problems

Tell your doctor if you are having blood or urine tests. Cefaclor capsules may interfere with these tests.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This is especially important of the following, as they may interact with your Cefaclor capsules:

• warfarin (a blood thinner)
• probenecid (a treatment for gout).

It may still be all right for you to be given Cefaclor capsules and your doctor will be able to decide what is suitable for you.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Cefaclor capsules should not affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Adults and the elderly

The usual dose is one capsule taken orally three times a day. Your doctor will tell you if you need a different dose.

Patients with a severe kidney disorder or patients receiving dialysis may need a reduced dose.

Cefaclor capsules are not recommended for children.

Go to the nearest accident and emergency department or tell your doctor straight away.

If you miss a dose, take one as soon as you can. If you have missed several doses, tell your doctor. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

The following side effects are serious. You should stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you experience them:

• serious peeling or blistering of the skin
• severe diarrhoea, possibly with blood or mucus.

The following side effects have been reported

• diarrhoea
• feeling sick (nausea)
• vomiting
• measle-like rash, (alone)
• itching
• red wheals on the skin (urticaria) (alone)
• rash with wide spread joint pain and / or stiffness, swollen lymph glands, fever and, possibly, cloudy urine
• swollen arms or legs
• breathlessness
• changes in blood counts, which may show up as bruising or a very tired feeling. You will need a blood test to confirm this.
• damage to your liver or kidneys which can only be detected by a blood and / or urine test
• jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
• weakness
• pins and needles in the hands or feet
• fainting
• abnormally excitable behaviour
• agitation
• nervousness
• sleeplessness
• confusion
• tight muscles
• dizziness
• seeing or hearing things (hallucinations)
• Encephalopathy (non-inflammatory brain disease)
• Convulsions
• Myoclonus (muscle-twitching)
• itching of the vagina caused by thrush (candidiasis).

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

The active substance is cefaclor

The other ingredients are:

magnesium stearate, dimeticone, starch flowable, erythrosine, patent blue V, black iron oxide, titanium dioxide and gelatin.

Cefaclor capsules are purple and grey capsules.

Cefaclor capsules come in plastic bottles with screw caps containing 20, 50 and 100 capsules or foil blister packs containing 14 or 21 capsules.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.