What is the recommended oral dose of cefuroxime (Cefuroxime) for a typical adult patient with no significant medical history?

Recommended Oral Cefuroxime Dose for Adults

For a typical adult patient with no significant medical history, the recommended oral dose of cefuroxime axetil is 250-500 mg twice daily, with the specific dose determined by infection type and severity. 1

Standard Dosing by Infection Type

Mild to Moderate Infections

• 250 mg twice daily is appropriate for most common infections including:
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections 1, 2
  • Mild upper respiratory tract infections 1
  • Skin and soft tissue infections 1

More Severe or Lower Respiratory Infections

• 500 mg twice daily should be used for:
  • Pneumonia or suspected pneumonia 1
  • More severe lower respiratory tract infections 1
  • Chronic rhinosinusitis (14-day course) 1
  • Early Lyme disease/erythema migrans (14-21 days) 1
  • Animal bites (14-day course) 1

Special Dosing Scenarios

• Single 1-gram dose is effective for uncomplicated gonorrhea 3

Key Administration Considerations

Cefuroxime axetil must be taken with food to increase absorption 1 - this is a critical point that directly impacts bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

Maximum Dosing Limits

• The maximum adult daily dose is 4000 mg/day 1
• Standard twice-daily dosing allows for adequate therapeutic levels while maintaining convenient administration 4

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not prescribe cefuroxime axetil on an empty stomach - absorption is significantly reduced without food 1
• For serious or invasive infections requiring higher, more consistent serum levels, IV cefuroxime every 8 hours (not oral) should be considered 1
• The oral formulation has 68% bioavailability when taken appropriately with food 3