Patient leaflet - ZINNAT 125 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
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– Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
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– If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse.
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– 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.
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– If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
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1. What Zinnat is and what it is used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Zinnat
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3. How to take Zinnat
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Zinnat
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. what zinnat is and what it is used for
Zinnat is an antibiotic used in adults and children. It works by killing bacteria that cause infections. It belongs to a group of medicines called cephalosporins.
Zinnat is used to treat infections of:
- the throat
- sinus
- middle ear
- the lungs or chest
- the urinary tract
- the skin and soft tissues.
Zinnat can also be used:
- to treat Lyme disease (an infection spread by parasites called ticks).
Your doctor may test the type of bacteria causing your infection and monitor whether the bacteria are sensitive to Zinnat during your treatment.
2. what you need to know before you take zinnat
Do not take Zinnat:
- if you are allergic to cefuroxime axetil or any cephalosporin antibiotics or any of the other ingredients of Zinnat (listed in section 6).
- if you have ever had a severe allergic (hypersensitive) reaction to any other type of betalactam antibiotic llllllllllll
(penicillins, monobactams and carbapenems).
- If you think this applies to you, don’t take Zinnat until you have checked with your doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zinnat.
Children
Zinnat is not recommended for children aged under 3 months, as the safety and effectiveness are not known in this age group.
You must look out for certain symptoms, such as allergic reactions, fungal infections (such as candida) and severe diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis) while you are taking Zinnat. This will reduce the risk of any problems. See ‘Conditions you need to look out for’ in Section 4.
If you need a blood test
Zinnat can affect the results of a test for blood sugar levels, or a blood screen called the Coombs test. If you need a blood test:
- Tell the person taking the sample that you are taking Zinnat.
Other medicines and Zinnat
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Medicines used to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach (e.g. antacids used to treat heartburn) can affect how Zinnat works.
Probenecid
Oral anticoagulants
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medicine like this.
Contraceptive pills
Zinnat may reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. If you are taking the contraceptive pill while you are being treated with Zinnat you also need to use a barrier method of contraception (such as condoms). Ask your doctor for advice.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding and fertility
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.
Driving and using machines
Zinnat can make you dizzy and have other side effects that make you less alert.
- Don’t drive or use machines if you do not feel well.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Zinnat
- Zinnat tablets contain parabens which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
- This medicine contains 0.00152 mg sodium benzoate in each 125 mg tablet
- This medicine contains 0.00203 mg sodium benzoate in each 250 mg tablet
- This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.
- Check with your doctor that Zinnat is suitable for you
3. how to take zinnat
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Take Zinnat after food. This will help to make the treatment more effective.
Swallow Zinnat tablets whole with some water.
Don’t chew, crush or split the tablets — this may make the treatment less effective.
The recommended dose
Adults
The recommended dose of Zinnat is 250 mg to 500 mg twice daily depending on the severity and type of infection.
Children
The recommended dose of Zinnat is 10 mg/kg (to a maximum of 125 mg) to 15 mg/kg (to a maximum of 250 mg) twice daily depending on:
- the severity and type of infection
Zinnat is not recommended for children aged under 3 months, as the safety and effectiveness are not known in this age group.
Depending on the illness or how you or your child responds to treatment, the initial dose may be changed or more than one course of treatment may be needed.
Patients with kidney problems
If you have a kidney problem, your doctor may change your dose.
- Talk to your doctor if this applies to you.
If you take more Zinnat than you should
If you take too much Zinnat you may have neurological disorders, in particular you may be more likely to have fits (seizures).
- Don ’t delay. Contact your doctor or your nearest hospital emergency department immediately. If possible, show them the Zinnat pack.
If you forget to take Zinnat
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Just take your next dose at the usual time.
If you stop taking Zinnat
Don’t stop Zinnat without advice
It is important that you take the full course of Zinnat. Don’t stop unless your doctor advises you to — even if you are feeling better. If you don’t complete the full course of treatment, the infection may come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Conditions you need to look out for
A small number of people taking Zinnat get an allergic reaction or potentially serious skin reaction. Symptoms of these reactions include:
- severe allergic reaction. Signs include raised and itchy rash, swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth causing difficulty in breathing.
- skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spot surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge).
- a widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin. (These may be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis).
Other conditions you need to look out for while taking Zinnat include:
- fungal infections. Medicines like Zinnat can cause an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the body which can lead to fungal infections (such as thrush). This side effect is more likely if you take Zinnat for a long time.
- severe diarrhoea (Pseudomembranous colitis). Medicines like Zinnat can cause inflammation of the colon (large intestine), causing severe diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever.
- Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Some patients may get a high temperature (fever), chills, headache, muscle pain and skin rash while being treated with Zinnat for Lyme disease. This is known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Symptoms usually last a few hours or up to one day.
- Contact a doctor or nurse immediately if you get any of these symptoms.
Common side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
- fungal infections (such as Candida)
- headache
- dizziness
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick
- stomach pain.
Common side effects that may show up in blood tests:
- an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) an increase in liver enzymes.
Uncommon side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:
- being sick
- skin rashes.
Uncommon side effects that may show up in blood tests:
- a decrease in the number of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot)
- a decrease in the number of white blood cells
- positive Coomb’s test.
Other side effects
Other side effects have occurred in a very small number of people, but their exact frequency is unknown:
- severe diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis)
- allergic reactions
- skin reactions (including severe)
- high temperature (fever)
- yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
Side effects that may show up in blood tests:
- red blood cells destroyed too quickly (haemolytic anaemia).
Reporting of side effects
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 at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store zinnat
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store in the original pack at or below 30°C.
Do not use Zinnat if the tablets are chipped or there are other visible signs of deterioration.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the pack after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Don’t throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Zinnat contains
- The active substance in each tablet is 125 mg or 250 mg cefuroxime (present as cefuroxime axetil).
- The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium type A, sodium lauryl sulphate, hydrogenated vegetable oil, silica colloidal anhydrous, hypromellose, propylene glycol, methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and Opaspray white M-1–7120J [containing titanium dioxide (E171) and sodium benzoate (E211)].