💊 Antibiotic · 3rd-Gen Cephalosporin
Cefixime Dose Calculator
Weight-based dosing for adults and children — all indications, suspension volumes, Indian brand names, and renal adjustment in one place.
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
Dose Calculator
Enter weight and indication to calculate dose and suspension volume
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.
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.
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.
Brand Names Available in India
Plain cefixime brands — combination products (with Ofloxacin, Clavulanic acid etc.) not listed
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Forms Available | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zifi Popular | FDC Ltd. | Tablet, DT, Dry Syrup | 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
| Taxim-O Popular | Alkem Laboratories | Tablet, Dry Syrup | 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
| Topcef Popular | FDC Ltd. | Tablet, Dry Syrup | 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
| Omnix Popular | Cipla Ltd. | Tablet, Dry Syrup | 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
| Suprax | Lupin Ltd. | Tablet, Oral Suspension | 200 / 400 mg |
| Mahacef | Macleods Pharma | Tablet, Dry Syrup | 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
| Cefolac | Elder Pharma | Tablet, Dry Syrup | 100 / 200 mg |
| Milixim | Millimed | Tablet, DT | 100 / 200 mg |
| Zimnic | Intas Pharma | Dry Syrup | 50 mg/5 mL |
| Tricef | Troikaa Pharma | Tablet | 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
| Cefspan | Laurus Labs | Capsule, Syrup | 100 / 200 / 400 mg |
Antibacterial Spectrum
Coverage profile
Active Against
- E. coli
- Haemophilus influenzae (β-lac +/-)
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Proteus mirabilis
- Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS)
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- Salmonella spp., Shigella spp.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (limited)
NOT Active Against
- Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/MSSA)
- Penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Enterococcus spp., Anaerobes
Adverse Effects
Common (≥ 1%)
- Diarrhoea, loose stools Most common
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
- Rash, pruritus, urticaria
- Headache, dizziness
- Transient ↑ SGPT, SGOT
Serious / Rare (< 2%)
- 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)
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 |
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
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.