SUPRAX (cefixime) is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months and older with the following infections:

•   Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections ( 1.1)
•   Otitis Media ( 1.2)
•   Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis ( 1.3)
•   Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis ( 1.4)
•   Uncomplicated Gonorrhea (cervical/urethral) ( 1.5)

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of SUPRAX and other antibacterial drugs, SUPRAX should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. ( 1.6)

SUPRAX is indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months of age or older with uncomplicated urinary tract infections caused by susceptible isolates of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis.

SUPRAX is indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months of age or older with otitis media caused by susceptible isolates of Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. (Efficacy for Streptococcus pyogenes in this organ system was studied in fewer than 10 infections.)

Note: For patients with otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, overall response was approximately 10% lower for cefixime than for the comparator [see Clinical Studies ( 14)].

SUPRAX is indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months of age or older with pharyngitis and tonsillitis caused by susceptible isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes. (Note: Penicillin is the usual drug of choice in the treatment of Streptococcus pyogenes infections. SUPRAX is generally effective in the eradication of Streptococcus pyogenes from the nasopharynx; however, data establishing the efficacy of SUPRAX in the subsequent prevention of rheumatic fever is not available.)

SUPRAX is indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months of age or older with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis caused by susceptible isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.

SUPRAX is indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months of age or older with uncomplicated gonorrhea (cervical/urethral) caused by susceptible isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (penicillinase-and non-penicillinase-producing isolates).

To reduce the development of drug resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of SUPRAX and other antibacterial drugs, SUPRAX should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antimicrobial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

• Adults: 400 mg daily ( 2.1)
• Pediatric patients (6 months and older): 8 mg/kg/day ( 2.2)

The recommended dose of cefixime is 400 mg daily. This may be given as a 400 mg tablet or capsule daily or the 400 mg tablet may be split and given as one half tablet every 12 hours. For the treatment of uncomplicated cervical/urethral gonococcal infections, a single oral dose of 400 mg is recommended. The capsule and tablet may be administered without regard to food.

In the treatment of infections due to Streptococcus pyogenes, a therapeutic dosage of cefixime should be administered for at least 10 days.

The recommended dose is 8 mg/kg/day of the suspension. This may be administered as a single daily dose or may be given in two divided doses, as 4 mg/kg every 12 hours.

Note: A suggested dose has been determined for each pediatric weight range. Refer to Table 1. Ensure all orders that specify a dose in milliliters include a concentration, because SUPRAX for oral suspension is available in three different concentrations (100 mg/5 mL, 200 mg/5 mL, and 500 mg/5 mL).

Children weighing more than 45 kg or older than 12 years should be treated with the recommended adult dose. SUPRAX (cefixime) chewable tablets must be chewed or crushed before swallowing.

Otitis media should be treated with the chewable tablets or suspension. Clinical trials of otitis media were conducted with the chewable tablets or suspension, and the chewable tablets or suspension results in higher peak blood levels than the tablet when administered at the same dose.

Therefore, the tablet or capsule should not be substituted for the chewable tablets or suspension in the treatment of otitis media [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)] .

In the treatment of infections due to Streptococcus pyogenes, a therapeutic dosage of cefixime should be administered for at least 10 days.

SUPRAX may be administered in the presence of impaired renal function. Normal dose and schedule may be employed in patients with creatinine clearances of 60 mL/min or greater. Refer to Table 2 for dose adjustments for adults with renal impairment. Neither hemodialysis nor peritoneal dialysis removes significant amounts of drug from the body.

After reconstitution, the suspension may be kept for 14 days either at room temperature, or under refrigeration, without significant loss of potency. Keep tightly closed. Shake well before using. Discard unused portion after 14 days.

•   Contraindicated in patients with known allergy to cefixime or other cephalosporins. ( 4)

SUPRAX  (cefixime) is contraindicated in patients with known allergy to cefixime or other cephalosporins.

• Hypersensitivity reactions including shock and fatalities have been reported with cefixime. Discontinue use if a reaction occurs. ( 5.1)
• Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea: Evaluate if diarrhea occurs. ( 5.2)
• Risk in Patients with Phenylketonuria (PKU): Before prescribing SUPRAX chewable tablets in a patient with PKU, consider the combined daily amount of phenylalanine from all sources, including SUPRAX chewable tablets. ( 5.6)

Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions (including shock and fatalities) have been reported with the use of cefixime.

Before therapy with SUPRAX is instituted, careful inquiry should be made to determine whether the patient has had previous hypersensitivity reactions to cephalosporins, penicillins, or other drugs. If this product is to be given to penicillin-sensitive patients, caution should be exercised because cross hypersensitivity among beta-lactam antibacterial drugs has been clearly documented and may occur in up to 10% of patients with a history of penicillin allergy. If an allergic reaction to SUPRAX occurs, discontinue the drug.

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including SUPRAX, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.

C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing isolates of C.  difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial drug use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.

If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial drug use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial drug treatment of C. difficile, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.

The dose of SUPRAX should be adjusted in patients with renal impairment as well as those undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis (HD). Patients on dialysis should be monitored carefully [see Dosage and Administration ( 2)] .

Cephalosporins, including SUPRAX, may be associated with a fall in prothrombin activity. Those at risk include patients with renal or hepatic impairment, or poor nutritional state, as well as patients receiving a protracted course of antimicrobial therapy, and patients previously stabilized on anticoagulant therapy. Prothrombin time should be monitored in patients at risk and exogenous vitamin K administered as indicated.

Prescribing Suprax (cefixime) in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Phenylalanine can be harmful to patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). SUPRAX chewable tablets contain aspartame, a source of phenylalanine. Each 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg strength contains 3.3 mg, 5 mg and 6.7 mg of phenylalanine, respectively. Before prescribing SUPRAX chewable tablets in a patient with PKU, consider the combined daily amount of phenylalanine from all sources, including SUPRAX chewable tablets.

Most common adverse reactions are gastrointestinal such as diarrhea (16%), nausea (7%), loose stools (6%), abdominal pain (3%), dyspepsia (3%), and vomiting. ( 6)

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Lupin Pharma at 1-800-399-2561 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The most commonly seen adverse reactions in U.S. trials of the tablet formulation were gastrointestinal events, which were reported in 30% of adult patients on either the twice daily or the once daily regimen. Five percent (5%) of patients in the U.S. clinical trials discontinued therapy because of drug-related adverse reactions. Individual adverse reactions included diarrhea 16%, loose or frequent stools 6%, abdominal pain 3%, nausea 7%, dyspepsia 3%, and flatulence 4%. The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including diarrhea and loose stools, in pediatric patients receiving the suspension was comparable to the incidence seen in adult patients receiving tablets.

The following adverse reactions have been reported following the post-approval use of cefixime. Incidence rates were less than 1 in 50 (less than 2%).

Gastrointestinal

Several cases of documented pseudomembranous colitis were identified in clinical trials. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after therapy.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions (including shock and fatalities), skin rashes, urticaria, drug fever, pruritus, angioedema, and facial edema. Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and serum sickness-like reactions have been reported.

Hepatic

Transient elevations in SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, hepatitis, jaundice.

Renal

Transient elevations in BUN or creatinine, acute renal failure.

Central Nervous System

Headaches, dizziness, seizures.

Hemic and Lymphatic System

Transient thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, prolongation in prothrombin time, elevated LDH, pancytopenia, agranulocytosis, and eosinophilia.

Abnormal Laboratory Tests

Hyperbilirubinemia.

Other Adverse Reactions

Genital pruritus, vaginitis, candidiasis, toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Adverse Reactions Reported for Cephalosporin-class Drugs

Allergic reactions, superinfection, renal dysfunction, toxic nephropathy, hepatic dysfunction including cholestasis, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, and colitis.

Several cephalosporins have been implicated in triggering seizures, particularly in patients with renal impairment when the dosage was not reduced [see Dosage and Administration ( 2) and Overdosage ( 10)] . If seizures associated with drug therapy occur, the drug should be discontinued. Anticonvulsant therapy can be given if clinically indicated.