cefaclor monohydrate sustained release tablets
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Karlor CD. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Karlor CD against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with this medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Karlor CD is used for
Karlor CD contains cefaclor monohydrate as the active ingredient.
It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria in different parts of the body, including infections of the:
ears, nose, throat and tonsils (upper respiratory tract)
chest and lungs (lower respiratory tract)
bladder and kidneys (lower urinary tract)
skin.
This medicine belongs to a group of antibiotics called cephalosporins. These antibiotics work by killing the bacteria that are causing your infection.
Ask your doctor if you any questions about why Karlor CD has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
There is no evidence that it is addictive.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine for children under the age of 12 years.
Before you take it
When you must not take it
Do not take Karlor CD if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
any medicine containing cefaclor monohydrate
other cephalosporins
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Do not take Karlor CD if you have had a serious allergic reaction to penicillin.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not give this medicine to a child under the age of 12 years.
Safety and effectiveness in children younger than 12 years old have not been established.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Do not take this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor has instructed you to do so.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
kidney disease
severe bowel conditions
liver disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you start taking Karlor CD.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Karlor CD may interfere with each other.
These include:
antacids
If you need to take an antacid, do not take it within 1 hour of taking Karlor CD.
probenecid (e.g. Pro-Cid).
These medicines may be affected by Karlor CD or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Karlor CD.
How to take it
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much Karlor CD you need to take.
This will depend on the type of infection you have.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not cut, crush or chew the tablet.
When to take it
Take Karlor CD at about the same time each day with food.
This will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the tablets.
How long to take it
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
It is important to complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you do not, the bacteria causing your infection may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Karlor CD. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling sick, vomiting, upset stomach or diarrhoea.
While you are taking it
Things you must do
Tell your doctor if the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days or if they become worse.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Karlor CD, especially if you are being started on any new medicine.
Tell your doctor, surgeon or dentist that you are taking Karlor CD if you are about to undergo surgery or an operation.
It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
If you are diabetic, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using urine sugar tests.
Karlor CD may cause false test results with some urine sugar tests.
Things you must not do
Do not take Karlor CD to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Karlor CD affects you.
It may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Karlor CD.
This medicine helps most people with infection, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
diarrhoea
itchy rash
oral thrush - white, furry, sore tongue or mouth
vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge.
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild and short-lived.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea
vomiting
drowsiness
headache
hyperactivity, nervousness, insomnia, confusion, dizziness, hallucinations
severe muscle stiffness
swelling of the joints with or without fever
pain in the joints with or without fever
itching or swelling of the skin
yellowing of the skin or eyes
frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
The above list includes serious side effects which may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Karlor CD:
severe abdominal cramps or stomach cramps
watery and severe diarrhoea which may also be bloody
fever, in combination with one or both of the above.
Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.
You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel, requiring urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you notice any of the following:
sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin with swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing.
This is a very serious side effect requiring urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. This side effect is very rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. These include:
swelling of the liver
inflammation of the kidney.
Some of these side effects can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking it
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees Celsius.
Do not store Karlor CD or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product Description
What it looks like
Karlor CD 375 mg tablets are blue. Packs contain 10 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredient:
Karlor CD contains cefaclor monohydrate equivalent to 375 mg of cefaclor.
Inactive ingredients:
mannitol
hypromellose
hydroxypropylcellulose
methacrylic acid copolymer
stearic acid
magnesium stearate
propylene glycol
talc - purified
colour mixture dark blue YS-1-4273.
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
