Can I take cefixime while pregnant or breastfeeding?

There is no NHS Medicines A–Z page for cefixime. Here is what the US drug label says.

In short

Pregnancy: There isn't a simple UK NHS summary for this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Breastfeeding: There isn't a simple UK NHS summary for this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist

This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

The details: what each source says

Cefixime in pregnancy

The US drug label says

8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category B Pregnancy Category B. Reproduction studies have been performed in mice and rats at doses up to 40 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus due to cefixime. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Prescribing label, section “8.1 Pregnancy”: CEFIXIME (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.

Cefixime while breastfeeding

LactMed says

Although no information is available on the use of cefixime during breastfeeding, cephalosporins are generally not be expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with cephalosporins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Cefixime is acceptable in nursing mothers.

“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Cefixime” (LM47), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Cefixime while breastfeeding.

The US prescribing label says

Nursing Mothers It is not known whether cefixime is excreted in human milk. Consideration should be given to discontinuing nursing temporarily during treatment with this drug.

Prescribing label, section “Nursing Mothers”: CEFIXIME (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.

Other names

Indian brands (per NPPA): Taxim-O, Zifi.

Sources

  1. US drug label: CEFIXIME (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC., human prescription drug, label effective 28 July 2026, set ID d6718f02-8eea-4c2f-9aa2-65121d9a6e4c. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
  2. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Cefixime” (LM47), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.

Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.