SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Cefaclor 250mg/5ml Suspension Keftid 250mg/5ml Suspension

2    QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Per 5ml

250.00mg 600.00mg

3    PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Powder for oral suspension.

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Cefaclor is indicated for the treatment of infections caused by sensitive microorganisms. These are infections of the respiratory tract which include pneumonia, bronchitis (including deteriorations in chronic bronchitis), tonsillitis, pharyngitis and the management of sinusitis. Cefaclor is also effective in otitis media. It is active in acute and chronic urinary tract infections including cystitis and pyelonephritis and also in infections of the skin and soft tissues. Cefaclor may also be used in the eradication of nasopharyngeal streptococci but resulting prevention of rheumatic fever and/or bacterial endocarditis has not been proven.

The following micro-organisms are susceptible in vitro to cefaclor: - Alpha and beta-haemolytic streptococci

-    Staphylococci (including coagulase-negative, coagulase-positive and penicillinase-producing strains)

-    Strep. pneumoniae

-    Strep. pyogenes (group A beta-haemolytic streptococci)

-    Branhamella catarrhalis

-    E. coli

-    Proteus mirabilis

-    Klebsiella spp.

-    Haemophilus influenzae (including ampicillin-resistant strains)

Cefaclor is inactive against Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp., most strains of Enterobacter and Serratia spp., Morganella morganii, Proteus vulgaris and Providencia rettgeri. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci and most strains of enterococci including Strep. faecalis are resistant to cefaclor.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

The route of administration is oral.

Adult:

250mg every eight hours, may be doubled to 500mg every eight hours for more severe infections. Total daily dosage should not exceed 4g.

Children: 20mg/kg/day in divided doses every eight hours. This may be increased to 40mg/kg/day in divided doses in otitis media, sinusitis, more serious infections and those caused by less susceptible bacteria. In otitis media and pharyngitis the total daily dosage may be divided and given every twelve hours.

Bronchitis and pneumonia: 20mg/kg/day in divided doses three times daily.

Total daily dosage should not exceed 1g.

Doses may generally be administered three times daily as follows:

Age	Dose
1 month to 1 year	62.5mg
1-5 years	125.0mg
Over 5 years	250.0mg

In infections caused by beta-haemolytic streptococci, treatment should be continued for at least 10 days.

The safe use of Cefaclor in babies aged below one month has not been proven.

Elderly:

The normal adult dose is appropriate.

Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis:

Due to a 25-30% decrease in plasma half-life, a loading dose of 250mg -1g before dialysis is recommended with a maintenance dose between dialysis sessions of 250mg - 500mg every six to eight hours.

4.3 Contraindications

Cefaclor should not be used in patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to cephalosporins.

Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine and should therefore not be used in patients suffering from the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria.

Cefaclor is contraindicated in patients with porphyria.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Warnings:

Prolonged use of an anti-infective may result in the development of super-infection due to the emergence of resistant organisms.

Before instituting therapy with cefaclor, every effort should be made to determine whether the patient has had previous hypersensitivity reactions to cefaclor, cephalosporins, penicillins or other drugs. Cefaclor should be given cautiously to penicillin sensitive patients, because cross hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, among beta lactam antibiotics has been clearly documented.

If an allergic reaction to cefaclor occurs, the drug should be discontinued and the patient treated with the appropriate agents.

Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with virtually all broad spectrum antibiotics, including macrolides, semi synthetic penicillins and cephalosporins. It is important, therefore, to consider its diagnosis in patients who develop diarrhoea in association with the use of antibiotics. Such colitis may range in severity from mild to life threatening. Mild cases usually respond to drug discontinuance alone. In moderate to severe cases, appropriate measures should be taken.

Cephalosporin antibiotics may cause a positive result in Coombs’ testing. When Coombs’ testing is performed on neonates whose mothers received cephalosporins prior to labour, it should be noted that a positive result may be due to the drug. This should also be borne in mind during anti-globulin testing for haematological or crossmatching procedures. Cefaclor may also cause a false positive urine glucose result when Benedict’s or Fehling’s solutions or copper sulphate tablets are used in the testing.

This product contains sorbitol (E420). Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine.

Precautions:

Cefaclor should be administered with caution in the presence of markedly impaired renal function. Since the half life of cefaclor in anuric patients is 2.3 to 2.8 hours (compared to 0.6 0.9 hours in normal subjects), dosage adjustments for patients with moderate or severe renal impairment are not usually required. Clinical experience with cefaclor under such conditions is limited; therefore, careful clinical observation and laboratory studies should be made.

Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The anticoagulant effect of warfarin may be enhanced by simultaneous treatment with cefaclor therefore prothrombin times should be monitored and warfarin dosage adjusted if necessary.

The excretion of all cephalosporins may be reduced by concomitant administration of probenecid leading to increased plasma cephalosporin concentrations.

Cefaclor may decrease the efficacy of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives.

The absorption of cefaclor may be reduced by antacids.

Animal studies have shown no teratogenic effects. However, care should be taken as there is inadequate data on the safety of cefaclor in pregnant women. Studies during lactation have detected trace amounts in breast milk (0.2 microgram/ml up to 5 hours after an oral dose of 500mg). As the effect on the infant is not known, care is required if cefaclor is administered during lactation.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Cefaclor does not affect the ability to drive or operate machinery.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Very common (>1/10); common (>1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated form the available data).

Infections and infestations

Frequency not known; Genital pruritus, vaginitis and vaginal moniliasis.

Blood and the lymphatic system disorders

Rare: Thrombocytopenia, transient lymphocytosis and leucopenia. Other haematological reactions include haemolytic anaemia, aplastic anaemia, agranulocytosis and reversible neutropenia.

Frequency not known: eosinophilia

Immune system disorders

Rare: Allergic reactions, usually resolving when treatment is stopped, (for example pruritus, urticaria and morbilliform eruptions).

Frequency not known: Serum sickness-like reactions in the form of erythema

multiforme minor, arthritis/arthralgia and/or fever. This type of reaction is probably a hypersensitivity reaction and has usually developed with second and subsequent courses of cefaclor. Symptoms usually develop a few days after commencing treatment with cefaclor and disappear within a few days of stopping the drug. Symptom resolution can be aided with the administration of antihistamines and corticosteroids. Serious sequelae have not been reported. This reaction has been reported most often in children.

Psychiatric disorders

Frequency not known: nervousness, confusion, insomnia hypertonia, reversible hyperactivity and hallucinations

Nervous system disorders Common: Headache

Frequency not known: Dizziness, drowsiness,

Class effect of beta lactam antibiotics: beta lactam antibiotics may trigger seizures.

Gastrointestinal disorders Rare: pseudomembraneous colitis

Common: Diarrhoea (not usually severe enough to discontinue treatment), Colitis, Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal discomfort

Hepato-biliary disorders

Frequency not known: Transient hepatitis and cholestatic jaundice Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Rare: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme major), toxic epidermal necrolysis and anaphylaxis (which may be more common in patients allergic to penicillins).

Renal and urinary disorders

Rare: reversible interstitial nephritis, slight elevations in blood urea or serum creatinine and abnormal urine test results.

General disorders and administration site conditions Frequency not known: positive Coomb’s tests,

Rare: Slight elevations in ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatise

It should be noted that there is a lack of modern frequency data for cefaclor adverse events.

4.9 Overdose

The symptoms of Cefaclor overdose are non-specific and are generally nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and gastric upsets.

Treatment for Cefaclor overdose is mainly supportive. If a large amount has been ingested (more than 5 times the normal daily dose) then gastric lavage will be necessary.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Cefaclor is a broad-spectrum, second generation cephalosporin. It is bactericidal against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. The reported mode of action is predominantly by the inhibition of cell wall synthesis in susceptible bacteria. This is mainly achieved by inhibiting the trans-peptidation reaction, the final stage of the cell wall synthesis process, thus preventing the complete formation of peptidoglycan cross-links. Other earlier stages in this synthesis process may also be inhibited and there may be some induction of bacterial lysis.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Cefaclor is well absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract with oral doses of 250mg and 500mg producing peak plasma concentrations of approximately 6mcg/ml and l3mcg/ml respectively 0.5 to 1 hour post-dosing. The presence of food in the stomach may delay drug absorption but the total amount absorbed is the same. The reported plasma half-life is 0.5 to 1 hour; this may increase slightly in renal failure and is reduced by 25-30% by haemodialysis. Cefaclor is widely distributed in the body and also crosses the placenta. Trace amounts are excreted in breast milk. Cefaclor is rapidly excreted unchanged by the kidneys with up to 85% of an oral dose appearing in the urine within 8 hours. Oral doses of 250mg and 500mg produce peak urine concentrations of 600mcg/ml and 900mcg/ml respectively.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

No further preclinical safety data.

PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Sodium Benzoate Silicon Dioxide (Colloidal)

Xanthan Gum

Sorbitol

Aspartame

Citric Acid (Anhydrous)

Taste Modifier Strawberry Flavour Banana Flavour Pineapple Flavour Raspberry Flavour Allura Red (E129)

Sodium Content: 0.83mg per 5ml spoonful.

6.2    Incompatibilities

Cefaclor has no major incompatibilities.

6.3    Shelf life

Dry powder: 24 months from the date of manufacture. Reconstituted suspension: 14 days from the date of reconstitution.

6.4    Special precautions for    storage

Dry powder: Store below 25°C in a dry place.

Reconstituted suspension: Store at 2-8°C.

High density polyethylene bottle with cap composed of polypropylene and polyethylene, containing a homogeneous, white to slightly pink coloured powder which is easily dispersed in water to form a pink suspension with an odour of fruit.

Pack size: 100ml.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal

The suspension should be prepared by the addition of 82ml of water.

7    MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Co-Pharma Limited,

Unit 4, Metro Centre,

Tolpits Lane

Watford

Herts

WD18 9SS

8    MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL 13606/0178

9    DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

06^th December 1996

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

18/02/2015