India Brands:ZifiTaxim-OTopcefOmnixSupraxMahacefCefolacMiliximTricefZimnicCefspan
Adult Dose
400 mg
Once daily
Pediatric Dose
8 mg/kg
Max 400 mg/day
Half-life
3–4 h
Normal renal function
Bioavailability
40–50%
Oral; food unaffected
Min age
6 months
Approved
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Dose Calculator
Enter weight and indication to calculate dose and suspension volume
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Indication-wise Dosing Reference
Adult and weight-based pediatric doses by condition
Indication
Adult Dose
Pediatric Dose
Duration
Uncomplicated UTI
400 mg OD or 200 mg BD
8 mg/kg/day OD or BD
7 days
Pharyngitis / Tonsillitis (GAS)
400 mg OD or 200 mg BD
8 mg/kg/day OD or BD
10 days minimum
Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
400 mg OD
8 mg/kg/day Suspension
10 days
Acute Exacerbation Chronic Bronchitis
400 mg OD or 200 mg BD
8 mg/kg/day
5–10 days
Uncomplicated Gonorrhoea
400 mg Single dose
8 mg/kg (max 400 mg) Single dose
1 day
Typhoid / Enteric fever
200 mg BD
10–15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses
14 days
Shigellosis
400 mg OD
8 mg/kg/day OD
5 days
Salmonella / Enteric fever (alternative)
400 mg OD
10 mg/kg/day OD
10–14 days
📌 Max pediatric dose: 400 mg/day. Approved from 6 months of age. For GAS pharyngitis, complete 10 days to prevent rheumatic fever.
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Suspension Volume Reference
Based on 8 mg/kg/day — for AOM or typhoid, adjust dose per indication
Weight (kg)
Total Daily Dose
100 mg/5 mL — Volume/day
50 mg/5 mL — Volume/day
Frequency
Zifi, Taxim-O Forte, Omnix available as 50 mg/5 mL or 100 mg/5 mL dry syrup. Shake well before each dose. Refrigerate after reconstitution; do NOT freeze.
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Renal Dose Adjustment
Adults — based on CrCl (Cockcroft-Gault). No hepatic adjustment required.
Normal renal function
CrCl > 60 mL/min
400 mg OD
Moderate impairment
CrCl 21–59 mL/min
260 mg OD
Severe impairment
CrCl ≤ 20 mL/min
200 mg OD
Haemodialysis / CAPD
On dialysis
200 mg OD
⚠️For CrCl 21–59 mL/min, oral suspension is preferred over tablets (tablets not recommended at this level per FDA PI). Cefixime is not significantly cleared by haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis — do not supplement post-dialysis.
C. difficile diarrhoea (CDAD) — may occur weeks after
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Stop immediately
AGEP (reported in India & Bangladesh)
Anaphylaxis / angioedema
Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
False +ve urine glucose (Fehling's / Benedict's)
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Pharmacokinetic Parameters
Key PK data for clinical reference
Parameter
Value
Notes
Oral Bioavailability
40–50%
Suspension slightly higher than tablet; food does not significantly alter absorption
Tmax (time to peak)
2–6 h (tablet) · ~3 h (suspension)
Cmax 2.1 µg/mL after 400 mg tablet; 1.7 µg/mL after 400 mg suspension
Serum half-life (t½)
3–4 hours
Prolonged to 6.4 h (mod. renal impairment), 11.5 h (severe)
Protein binding
~65%
Primarily albumin
Metabolism
Not metabolised in vivo
No hepatic phase I/II metabolism — no hepatic dose adjustment
Excretion
~50% urine (unchanged) + bile (>10%)
Not removed by haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
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Clinical Pearls
Key points for prescribing
🔴For GAS pharyngitis, always complete a minimum 10-day course even if the patient feels better — incomplete courses risk rheumatic fever.
⚠️For Acute Otitis Media, use oral suspension — not tablets. Suspension produces higher peak blood levels and was the formulation used in AOM clinical trials.
💊For gonorrhoea, always add Azithromycin 1 g stat or Doxycycline 100 mg BD × 7 days to cover likely Chlamydia co-infection.
✅No hepatic dose adjustment needed. Cefixime is not metabolised by the liver — safe to use at standard doses in hepatic impairment. No dose supplement required post-dialysis.
Can be taken with or without food — absorption is not significantly affected
Once-daily dosing is as effective as twice-daily for most standard indications
Caution in penicillin allergy — ~5–10% cross-reactivity with cephalosporins
Warn patients on urine glucose strips — false-positive results may occur with Fehling's/Benedict's reagent
Reconstituted suspension: store cool (refrigerator acceptable). Do NOT freeze. Discard after expiry date.
Shake suspension bottle well before each dose; measure with calibrated spoon/syringe
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dose of cefixime for children?
The standard pediatric dose of cefixime is 8 mg/kg/day, given once daily or in two divided doses. The maximum dose is 400 mg/day. For typhoid fever, 10–15 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for 14 days is recommended. Approved for children ≥ 6 months of age.
What is the adult dose of cefixime?
The standard adult dose is 400 mg once daily or 200 mg twice daily for 7–10 days depending on indication. For uncomplicated gonorrhoea, a single 400 mg dose is used. For typhoid fever, 200 mg BD for 14 days.
How do I calculate the cefixime syrup dose for my child?
Dose (mg) = Weight (kg) × 8. For 100 mg/5 mL syrup: Volume (mL) = dose ÷ 100 × 5. For 50 mg/5 mL syrup: Volume (mL) = dose ÷ 50 × 5. Maximum dose is 400 mg/day. Use the calculator above for instant calculation.
What are the common brand names of cefixime in India?
Popular cefixime brands in India include Zifi (FDC), Taxim-O (Alkem), Topcef (FDC), Omnix (Cipla), Suprax (Lupin), Mahacef (Macleods), Cefolac, Zimnic (Intas), Tricef, and Milixim. Available as tablets, dispersible tablets, and dry syrups.
Does cefixime require renal dose adjustment?
Yes. Reduce to 260 mg/day for CrCl 21–59 mL/min (suspension preferred). Reduce to 200 mg/day for CrCl ≤ 20 mL/min or on haemodialysis. No hepatic dose adjustment is required as cefixime is not metabolised by the liver.
Can cefixime be given with food?
Yes — cefixime can be taken with or without food. Food does not significantly affect the absorption or efficacy of cefixime. This makes it convenient for patients who experience GI discomfort when taking medicines on an empty stomach.
Sources: FDA Prescribing Information — Suprax (Cefixime); Drugs.com Dosage Guide (updated 2025); AAP Pediatric Dosing Recommendations; Medscape Drug Reference; MSF Essential Drug Guidelines; PediatricOncall India; PMC 2024 — Shafi et al., Cefixime in URTIs; Medindia Brand Database.
⚠️This calculator is for clinical decision support only. Doses should be adjusted based on clinical response, local susceptibility patterns, renal function, and individual patient factors. Not a substitute for clinical judgment or prescribing guidelines.