Side Effects

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Conditions you need to look out for A small number of people taking Axacef get an allergic reaction or potentially serious skin reaction. Symptoms of these reactions include: • severe allergic reaction. Signs include raised and itchy rash, swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth causing difficulty in breathing. • skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spot surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge). • a widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin. (These may be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis). Other conditions you need to look out for while taking Axacef include: • fungal infections. Medicines like Axacef can cause an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the body which can lead to fungal infections (such as thrush). This side effect is more likely if you take Axacef for a long time. • severe diarrhoea (Pseudomembranous colitis). Medicines like Axacef can cause inflammation of the colon (large intestine), causing severe diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever. • Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Some patients may get a high temperature (fever), chills, headache, muscle pain and skin rash while being treated with Axacef for Lyme disease. This is known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Symptoms usually last a few hours or up to one day. ➔ Contact a doctor or nurse immediately if you get any of these symptoms. Common side effects These may affect up to 1 in 10 people: • fungal infections (such as Candida) • headache • dizziness • diarrhoea • feeling sick • stomach pain. Common side effects that may show up in blood tests: • an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) • an increase in liver enzymes. Uncommon side effects These may affect up to 1 in 100 people: • being sick • skin rashes. Uncommon side effects that may show up in blood tests: • a decrease in the number of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot) • a decrease in the number of white blood cells • positive Coomb’s test. Other side effects Other side effects have occurred in a very small number of people, but their exact frequency is unknown: • severe diarrhoea (pseudomembranous colitis) • allergic reactions • skin reactions (including severe) • high temperature (fever) • yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin • inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). Side effects that may show up in blood tests: • red blood cells destroyed too quickly (haemolytic anaemia). Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.