# Cefpodoxime in Nigeria

Cefpodoxime has 23 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 13 registration holders; 20 further listings have lapsed.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/cefpodoxime/
- Drug class: Third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic (oral) (Antibiotics)
- Also known as: Cefpodoxime proxetil, Vantin, Kadcep
- Prescription required: yes
- Last updated: October 2026

## Price in Nigeria

As of October 2026, Cefpodoxime sells for about ₦5,400 online in Nigeria (₦5,250–₦5,550) (Cefdoxim) at MedPlus. The online price is roughly unchanged since August 2026. That figure is for Cefdoxim; 17 other cefpodoxime brands are NAFDAC-registered and generic versions usually cost less. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.

## What is Cefpodoxime?

Cefpodoxime is an oral third-generation cephalosporin — one of the small group of powerful cephalosporins that can be swallowed rather than injected. It disrupts the bacterial cell wall, and its range covers both the gram-positive organisms behind many throat and skin infections and the gram-negatives behind urinary and chest infections. That breadth is what makes it useful when a first-line antibiotic has failed.

Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows twenty-three active cefpodoxime registrations from thirteen companies — seventeen of them cefpodoxime alone and six combined with clavulanic acid. A good share are made in Nigeria, including Kadark's Kadcep and Miraflash's Mospodox range, alongside Indian-made products such as Cefdoxim and Cfpoxime. The paediatric suspensions are well represented, which matters, because ear infections in children are one of its main uses.

Cefpodoxime sits beside cefixime in Nigerian practice, and the two are often used interchangeably. The practical difference is coverage: cefpodoxime keeps more activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which makes it the better fit for skin and some ENT infections, while cefixime has the stronger reputation for typhoid. Both belong in the WHO 'Watch' group of antibiotics, meaning both are worth reserving rather than reaching for first.

## What is Cefpodoxime used for?

- Otitis media, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and sinusitis
- Acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
- Skin and soft-tissue infections, where its staphylococcal cover helps
- Typhoid fever, as an oral alternative
- Uncomplicated gonorrhoea in some regimens, though resistance limits this

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: The usual adult dose is 100mg to 200mg twice daily, for five to ten days depending on the infection — 200mg twice daily is typical for chest and skin infections, 100mg twice daily for uncomplicated urinary infections. TAKE IT WITH FOOD: cefpodoxime absorption depends on stomach acid and is significantly better after a meal, which is one of the few places where the instruction genuinely changes whether the antibiotic works.
- Children: Children are dosed by weight, usually around 8 to 10mg per kg per day divided into two doses, given as the 40mg/5ml or 100mg/5ml suspension. Reconstitute with clean water to the mark, shake well before each dose, measure with a syringe rather than a kitchen spoon, and refrigerate once mixed — most suspensions keep about fourteen days. Confirm the dose against the child's weight with a pharmacist.
- Elderly: No routine dose change for age, but the dose is reduced in significant kidney impairment, which is more common with age.

Antacids, cimetidine and proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole reduce cefpodoxime absorption substantially, because it needs stomach acid to dissolve. If you take an acid-reducing medicine, tell the prescriber — this combination can quietly make the antibiotic ineffective, which looks like treatment failure and often leads to a second unnecessary antibiotic. Complete the full course, and remember that cefpodoxime does nothing for malaria or for viral coughs and colds.

## Side effects

Common: Diarrhoea; Nausea and abdominal pain; Headache; Skin rash; Vaginal thrush after a course.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): Severe allergic reactions — more likely in people allergic to penicillins or other cephalosporins; Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea — severe, persistent or bloody; Severe skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome — rare; Liver enzyme disturbance and, rarely, jaundice; Blood-count abnormalities and kidney inflammation — rare.

When to see a doctor: Seek urgent care for swelling of the face or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing. See a doctor promptly for severe or bloody diarrhoea — do not simply take an anti-diarrhoeal — for a blistering rash, or for yellowing of the eyes or skin. If the infection has not improved within 48 to 72 hours, go back to the clinic rather than adding another antibiotic yourself.

## Warnings

Do not take if: Known allergy to cefpodoxime or any cephalosporin; History of severe immediate penicillin allergy (anaphylaxis) — an alternative class is safer; Previous severe skin reaction to a beta-lactam antibiotic; Dose reduction required in significant kidney impairment.

Interactions: Antacids, cimetidine and proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole — these reduce absorption significantly and can make the antibiotic fail; Probenecid — raises and prolongs cefpodoxime levels; Warfarin — cephalosporins can raise the INR; monitor; Other kidney-stressing drugs such as aminoglycosides — combined kidney strain; Live oral typhoid vaccine — the antibiotic blunts it; separate the two.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Cephalosporins as a class have a good record in pregnancy and are among the antibiotics used when one is genuinely needed, always on medical advice. Small amounts pass into breast milk; breastfeeding is normally continued while watching the infant for loose stools or thrush.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Kadcep (Kadark Pharmaceuticals Limited, made in Nigeria); Mospodox 200 mg Capsule (Miraflash Nig Ltd, made in Nigeria); Mospodox 100 mg/5 mL Suspension (Miraflash Nig Ltd, made in Nigeria); Cefdoxim Powder (Digitall Healthcare Ltd, made in India); Cfpoxime 200 (Chanrai HealthCare Limited, made in India).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/cefpodoxime/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC number on the pack — Kadcep carries A11-100552 and Mospodox 200mg carries A11-0859 in our copy of the register.
2. Other registered products include Mospodox 100mg/5ml suspension (A11-0875), Cefdoxim Powder (B4-6622) and Cfpoxime 200 (B4-2238).
3. Confirm any brand with our NAFDAC checker before paying.
4. Several registered products are made in Nigeria, so a locally made cefpodoxime verified in the register is a sound choice rather than a compromise.
5. Buy from a registered pharmacy and check the expiry date, especially on paediatric suspensions, which are often kept longer than they should be.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### What is the difference between cefpodoxime and cefixime?

Both are oral third-generation cephalosporins and they overlap heavily. The main practical difference is that cefpodoxime keeps more activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which makes it the better fit for skin infections and some ear, nose and throat infections, while cefixime has the stronger track record for typhoid fever. Cefpodoxime must be taken with food; cefixime need not be. Which one you get is a prescribing judgement, and in Nigeria availability and price often decide it.

### Should cefpodoxime be taken with or without food?

With food, always — and this genuinely matters. Cefpodoxime needs stomach acid to dissolve and absorb, and taking it on an empty stomach reduces how much reaches the bloodstream. The same logic explains why antacids, cimetidine and omeprazole interfere with it: they raise the stomach's pH and cut absorption. If you take any acid-reducing medicine regularly, say so before accepting a cefpodoxime prescription.

### Is cefpodoxime good for typhoid?

It is used for typhoid as an oral option, though cefixime is the more established choice in Nigerian practice. Either way, typhoid should be treated on the basis of a proper diagnosis: the Widal test alone is notoriously unreliable, and a blood culture where available is far better. Not every fever is typhoid — malaria remains the commonest cause of fever here — and a fever treated with the wrong antibiotic is both ineffective and a contribution to resistance.

### Can my child take cefpodoxime?

Yes, on prescription and dosed by weight. Cefpodoxime is commonly used for ear infections in children and comes as 40mg/5ml and 100mg/5ml suspensions. Reconstitute the powder with clean water to the mark on the bottle, shake well before each dose, measure with a syringe rather than a kitchen spoon, and keep it refrigerated — most suspensions are discarded after about fourteen days. Never give a leftover bottle from a previous illness or guess the dose.

### How much is cefpodoxime in Nigeria?

It sits in the mid-range for antibiotics — more expensive than amoxicillin or erythromycin, comparable to cefixime, cheaper than injectable cephalosporins. Around fourteen companies hold active registrations and several manufacture locally, which keeps the price competitive. Check the price section of this page for current sampled figures, and price a full course rather than a strip.

### Can I take cefpodoxime if I am allergic to penicillin?

It depends on the allergy. Cephalosporins and penicillins share part of their chemical structure, so there is a small risk of cross-reaction — but it is much lower than once believed, and many people with a mild penicillin rash take cephalosporins safely. A history of true anaphylaxis to penicillin is different and generally means avoiding cephalosporins in favour of another class such as a macrolide. Always tell the prescriber what your reaction actually was, because 'penicillin allergy' covers everything from an upset stomach to a life-threatening event.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)