Zinnat – composition, action, indications, dosage, side effects

Proven content

Zinnat is an antibacterial antibiotic for systemic use. The manufacturer of the drug is a company from Great Britain – GlaxoSmithKline. The active substance is cefuroxime, actually cefuroxime axetil. The drug is sold only with a prescription issued by a doctor. Zinnat is used in adults and children over 3 months of age. What is Zinnat characterized by? What is its composition and operation? What are the indications and contraindications for its use. How to dose this preparation and how to take the doses of the drug? Can the use of the drug cause side effects?

Zinnat – general characteristics of the drug

Zinnat is an antibacterial antibiotic for systemic use, belonging to a group of medicines called cephalosporins. The international name of the drug is Cefuroximum.

Zinnat is a beta-lactam antibiotic with a very broad spectrum of activity, mainly used to treat bacterial infections in children and adults.

The main ingredient in this medicine is cefuroxime (cefuroxime axetil), which works by destroying the bacteria that cause infections.

Zinnat is a prescription-only medicine. It is available in two forms: coated tablets and granules for oral suspension.

Zinnat film-coated tablets are available in blisters containing 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 50 tablets with a dose of 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg in a cardboard box. The tablets are white, oblong, biconvex, plain on one side and “GXES7” on the other.

Zinnat granules for oral suspension in a dose of 125 mg / 5 ml are available in packs of 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 100 ml, and in a dose of 250 mg / 5 ml in a capacity of 50, 60, 70, 100 ml.

The price of the Zinnat antibiotic it depends on the dose and packaging, and 100% of the drug price ranges from PLN 20 to PLN 50, while after reimbursement it ranges from PLN 10 to PLN 30.

Keep Zinnat out of the sight and reach of children. The drug should be located in a place with a temperature below 30 ° C in its original packaging. In the case of the drug in granules, after preparing the suspension in the bottle, it should be kept in a refrigerator at a temperature of 2 ° C to 8 ° C for no longer than 10 days.

The entity responsible for the production and distribution of Zinnat is GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals SA – Poland.

What should you know about proper drug storage? Check: Medications that are stored wrongly are poisonous

Composition and action of the drug Zinnat

The active ingredient in Zinnat is cefuroksym belongs to the group of cephalosporin antibiotics, belongs to the second generation of these antibiotics. One film-coated tablet may contain 125 mg, 250 mg or 500 mg of cefuroxime as axetil.

Complementary substances are: microcrystalline cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, sodium lauryl sulfate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose, propylene glycol, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, Opaspray white M-1-7120 J.

In the case of Zinnat granules, 5 ml of suspension contains 125 mg of cefuroxime in the form of axetil and excipients such as sucrose, aspartame, stearic acid, acesulfame potassium, xanthan gum, fruit flavors Tutti Frutti and povidone K30.

How Zinnat works it consists in inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall that cause infection, inhibiting the synthesis of the cell walls, which stops the process of their multiplication. This causes weakness and, consequently, death of the bacterial cell.

Bacterial species that are susceptible to the effects of the second-generation cephalosporin are:

1. Gram-positive aerobes: Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin susceptible), coagulase negative staphylococci (methicillin susceptible), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae;
2. Gram-negative aerobes: Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis;
3. spirochetes: Borrelia burgdorferi.

The microorganisms for which acquired resistance may be a problem are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus spp. (Other than P. vulgaris), Providencia spp, Peptpoccus spp. Propionibacterium spp., Fusobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp.

In turn, the naturally resistant microorganisms are: Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter spp., Campylobacter spp., Morganella morganii, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Bacteroides fragilis, Chlamydia spp., Mycoplasma spp. note that all S. aureus are methicillin and cefuroxime resistant.

Zinnat contains a pharmacologically inactive form of cefuroxime (cefuroxime axetil), which releases the active form and is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The active ingredient is rapidly hydrolyzed in the intestinal mucosa and in the blood to be released into the circulation as free cefuroxin. The rate of absorption of cefuroxime from the suspension is slower than from tablets, which may result in a delayed peak serum concentration and a reduction in bioavailability.

What is cefuroxime and when should it be used? Read: Cefuroxime – indications, action, resistance, precautions

Indications for use of the drug Zinnat

The antibiotic Zinnat is a preparation that can be used both in adults and in children after 3 months of age. The drug is used in bacterial infections caused by microorganisms sensitive to cefuroxime.

The main indications for the use of the drug Zinnat have:

1. middle ear inflammation;
2. inflammation caused by acute streptococci of the pharynx and tonsils (angina, laryngitis);
3. bacterial inflammation of the paranasal sinuses;
4. inflammation of the lungs or chest;
5. acute chronic bronchitis;
6. inflammation of the urinary system;
7. inflammation of the skin and soft tissues;
8. pyelonephritis;
9. uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infection (furunculosis, phlegmon, impetigo);
10. early-stage Lyme disease (Lyme disease).

What is acute otitis media and how to treat it? Read on: Acute otitis media

Contraindications to the use of Zinnat

However, if there are indications for the inclusion of the Zinnat antibiotic in the treatment, it may not always be used. The main contraindication to the use of this drug is hypersensitivity, i.e. allergic to any component of the preparation. The drug should be avoided by patients who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any beta-lactam antibiotic (penicillins, monobactams or carbapenems).

Certain illnesses and other circumstances may contraindicate or warrant a change in the dosage of Zinnat. There are situations in which certain follow-up examinations should be performed before this antibiotic is started.

Before using the drug during pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult your doctor first, who will assess whether the expected benefits clearly outweigh the possible risks. The doctor individually assesses the risk of using Zinnat in a given patient and decides whether to include it in the treatment process.

What should you know about drug hypersensitivity? Check: Drugs are also allergenic

Dosage of Zinnat

Take the Zinnat antibiotic as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. The doctor selects the dosage and determines the duration of treatment individually, taking into account the indications, the severity of the infection, the sensitivity of microorganisms, the patient’s condition and age. There are special groups of patients for whom an additional dose adjustment is necessary.

The most common dose of Zinnat is for adults and children weighing 40 kg or more:

1. for acute tonsillitis, acute sinusitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections, the dose is 250 mg taken twice a day;
2. for acute otitis media, exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, the dose is 500 mg 2 times a day;
3. in the case of early-stage Lyme disease, the dose is 500 mg twice a day for 2 days (in the range of 14-10 days).

In children weighing less than 40 kg, it is recommended to:

1. in acute tonsillitis, acute paranasal sinusitis, a dose of 10 mg per kg of body weight 2 times a day, not exceeding 125 mg 2 times a day;
2. in acute otitis media or, if your doctor recommends it, in more severe infections in children over 2 years of age, a dose of 15 mg / kg body weight twice a day, a maximum of 2 mg twice a day;
3. in cystitis, pyelonephritis, uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infection, the dose of 15 mg / kg body weight 2 times a day, a maximum of 250 mg 2 times a day;
4. in the early stage of Lyme disease, the dose is 15 mg / kg body weight twice a day, not exceeding a dose of 2 mg twice a day for 250 days (in the range of 2-14 days).

Zinnat is not recommended for infants under 3 months of age.

People with impaired renal function, if the creatinine clearance is higher than 30 ml / min, there is no need to change the dosage, unless kidney disorders are severe, then it is necessary to adjust the dosage individually by the doctor.

The Zinnat antibiotic is usually recommended to be taken for 7 days, but this time can vary from 5 to 10 days. In the case of treatment with this antibiotic, Lyme disease treatment usually lasts 14 days, although it may take up to 10 to 21 days. For the treatment of pyelonephritis in children, treatment with the antibiotic Zinnat lasts for 10 to 14 days.

How to take medication correctly? Check: How to take medications effectively?

How to use the Zinnat antibiotic

The antibiotic Zinnat is a drug for oral use. The preparation in the form of film-coated tablets is used after a meal, while the granules for oral suspension should be taken with a meal. Zinnat tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken or crushed as this may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. After taking the drug, wash it down with plenty of water.

For children or people with swallowing difficulties, the use of Zinnatu suspension is recommended. It is very important not to mix the granules or the prepared suspension with hot liquids and eat them immediately after preparation.

Tablets and granules for oral suspension are not bioequivalent and cannot be substituted for each other based on conversion. It should always be consumed in one form, as prescribed by your doctor for the formulation and dosage form.

In the event of inadvertent ingestion of a larger dose of the drug, immediately contact a doctor or call an ambulance, as neurological disorders may appear, in particular the risk of seizures.

If you miss a dose of Zinnat, do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one, but take your next dose at the usual time.

Treatment with an antibiotic should not be stopped on its own. The doctor should decide to discontinue the drug, despite the fact that the patient feels a clear improvement in health. Self-discontinuation of the drug may lead to disease recurrence due to the shortening of treatment with the preparation.

What is drug resistance and where does it come from? Read: Experts warn of another global threat. They are superbugs

Possible side effects from Zinnat

Like all pharmacological agents, Zinnat can also cause side effects that may not be experienced by every user of the medicine. The most common side effects that may occur and require immediate contact with a doctor or nurse are:

1. skin rash, which may develop into blisters that look like small rings;
2. severe allergic reaction with a raised itchy rash, swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth, which may cause difficulty in breathing;
3. diffuse skin lesions with blisters and peeling skin that may be Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis Leyell’s disease;
4. Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction – some patients may develop a high temperature (fever), chills, muscle pain, headache, and skin rash;
5. severe diarrhea usually with blood and mucus, stomach pains and fever from inflammation of the colon (large intestine);
6. fungal infections caused by an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the body which can lead to fungal infections.

The frequency classification of adverse body reactions (ADRs) is based on the following principles: very common (≥1 / 10), common (≥1 / 100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1 / 1 to <000/1), rare (≥ 100 / 1 to <10 / 000), very rare (<1 / 1), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

The side effects that may be caused by Zinnat according to the above classification include:

1. common (in 1 in 10 patients): fungal infections, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, increase in white blood cells in blood tests, increase in liver enzymes shown in blood tests;
2. uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients): vomiting, skin rashes, decrease in blood platelets in blood tests, decrease in white blood cells in blood tests, positive Coombs test in blood tests;
3. Not known, frequency cannot be estimated from the available data: severe diarrhea, allergic reactions, skin reactions, high temperature, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, inflammation of the liver, breakdown of red blood cells too quickly (haemolytic anemia) – shown in blood tests.

These side effects do not necessarily occur in every person taking the antibiotic Zinnat, but if you experience any disturbing symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor or pharmacist.

What causes an antibiotic rash? Read on: Antibiotic rash – is it an allergy symptom?

Interactions of Zinnat with other drugs and substances

The initiation of therapy with Zinnat requires a detailed history of all recently taken medications, including over-the-counter medications. Taking certain medications together with Zinnat can cause serious side effects.

In particular, inform your doctor if you are using:

1. oral contraceptives, as the preparation may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives;
2. probenecid, which delays the excretion of the antibiotic and may increase and prolong the duration of its action;
3. antacids that may reduce the bioavailability of cefuroxime;
4. Oral anticoagulants that may increase INR.

If you are taking any of the above-mentioned or similar medicines, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. In addition, when performing analytical tests, inform your doctor and those responsible for testing in the laboratory that you are using Zinnat.

Cefuroxime in the antibiotic Zinnat may cause a false-positive Coombs test and affect the results of blood and urine glucose tests. The possibility of co-administering other drugs with the Zinnat antibiotic is made individually by the doctor, assessing the benefits of the application and the risk of undesirable effects.

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