Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Cefzil. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Cefzil with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Cefzil. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• mild Diarrhea
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• sore mouth or tongue
• stomach cramps (mild)
• vaginal itching or discharge
• vomiting

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• abdominal tenderness
• decrease in amount of urine
• Fever
• hearing loss
• joint pain
• severe abdominal or stomach cramps and pain
• signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)
• skin rash, itching, redness, or swelling
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• diarrhea (watery and severe, which may also be bloody)
• seizures
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (i.e., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)
• symptoms of a severe skin rash (such as blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with fever or discomfort)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Cefzil.

Do not take cefprozil if you:

• are allergic to cefprozil or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics
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There may be an interaction between cefprozil and any of the following:

• aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin, tobramycin)
• BCG vaccine
• Cholera vaccine
• sodium picosulfate
• typhoid vaccine
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Cefzil. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Cefzil.

Allergy: Before starting treatment with cefprozil, inform your doctor about any adverse reactions you have had to medications, especially cefprozil, cephalosporins, and penicillins. Some people allergic to penicillin may also be allergic to cephalosporins such as cefprozil. If you have an allergic reaction, contact a doctor.

Antibiotic-associated colitis: Like other antibiotics, Cefzil may cause a potentially dangerous condition called antibiotic-associated colitis (or pseudomembranous colitis). Symptoms include severe, watery diarrhea that may be bloody. If you notice these symptoms, stop taking cefprozil and contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Bacterial resistance: Misuse of an antibiotic such as cefprozil may lead to the growth of resistant bacteria that will not be killed by the antibiotic. If this happens, the antibiotic may not work for you in the future. Although you may begin to feel better when you first starting taking cefprozil, you need to take all of the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor to finish ridding your body of the infection and to prevent resistant bacteria from taking hold. Do not take cefprozil or other antibiotics to treat a viral infection such as The Common Cold; antibiotics do not kill viruses, and using them to treat viral infections can lead to the growth of resistant bacteria.

Kidney function: Kidney Disease and decreased kidney function may cause Cefzil to build up in the body, causing side effects. People with kidney disease or reduced kidney function should discuss with their doctor how Cefzil may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Cefzil, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Overgrowth of organisms: Prolonged or repeated use of cefprozil may result in an overgrowth of bacteria or fungi and organisms that are not killed by the medication. This can cause problems such as yeast infections.

Pregnancy: It is not known if cefprozil is safe for use by pregnant women. Cefzil should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Cefzil, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: Cefzil passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking cefprozil, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: It is not known if cefprozil is safe for children under 6 months of age.