Brand Name for Cefadroxil
The brand name for Cefadroxil is Duricef.
Cefadroxil is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that is available as an oral formulation. According to the FDA drug information, cefadroxil monohydrate is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic intended for oral administration 1. It is chemically designated as 5-Thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, 7-[[amino(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetyl]amino]-3-methyl-8-oxo-, monohydrate.
Pharmacological Properties
Cefadroxil has several distinguishing pharmacokinetic properties compared to other first-generation cephalosporins:
- Longer serum half-life allowing for less frequent dosing (once or twice daily)
- Absorption is virtually unaffected by food intake
- Higher and more sustained concentrations in body tissues and fluids 2
- Primarily eliminated via renal excretion
Clinical Applications
Cefadroxil is commonly used in the treatment of:
- Upper and lower respiratory tract infections (93% complete cure rate) 3
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Bone and joint infections
Dosing Information
According to clinical guidelines, the typical dosing of cefadroxil is 500 mg PO every 12 hours 4. This less frequent dosing schedule (compared to some other cephalosporins that require dosing 3-4 times daily) may improve patient adherence to treatment regimens.
Antimicrobial Spectrum
Cefadroxil demonstrates activity against:
- Gram-positive organisms including Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible)
- Some gram-negative bacteria
- Limited activity against Haemophilus influenzae 4
Recent research has shown that cefadroxil has comparable in vitro activity to cephalexin against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), with both having MIC50 values of 2 μg/mL and MIC90 values of 4 μg/mL 5.
Cross-Reactivity Considerations
For patients with penicillin allergies, it's important to note that cefadroxil shares an identical R1 side chain with cephalexin 4. This means that patients with IgE-mediated allergies to one of these medications may have cross-reactivity with the other.
Clinical Advantages
The convenient dosing schedule of cefadroxil (twice daily) compared to some other first-generation cephalosporins (such as cephalexin which is often dosed four times daily) may improve patient compliance, which is often a determining factor in the successful management of outpatient infections 2.